What is an Online Store?
An online store is a website through which all types of tangible products, digital products, and virtual products are sold. The sales process is carried out electronically through the available electronic payment methods in the Middle East. The store owner can generate shipping labels from customer orders to ship the product to the buyer using available shipping companies or even deliver it personally.
An online store has a control panel that allows the store owner to add and edit products, track orders and change their status, monitor inventory, generate shipping labels, and extract financial and operational reports.
Essentially, an online store is similar to an informational website in terms of domain name, cloud hosting, and website files. The difference is that it functions as a store where the buyer can create an account to track their orders. Additionally, the store displays products, accepts payments, and links to shipping services.
What are the options for a client to create an online store?
To create an online store in the Middle East, there are two options:
- Programming from scratch (usually takes 3 to 6 weeks)
- Store through an e-commerce platform (usually takes 1 to 2 weeks)
What is the difference between a store through a platform and a store through programming?
The differences between a store built on e-commerce platforms and a store programmed from scratch are as follows:
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
|---|---|---|
| No subscription fee for any platform Ability to fully customize the design without restrictions Ability to develop the store with new ideas Full control over the control panel and development | Longer implementation period Higher cost for the client Requires contracting with a shipping company and an electronic payment company and bank | Store from scratch |
| Short implementation period Lower cost for the client Easy to link payment methods and shipping methods instantly Easy and clear control panel for the client Technical support provided by platforms | Restrictions on full fundamental changes to the site design Monthly subscription required Sometimes requires purchasing a specific package | Store on an e-commerce platform |
What are e-commerce platforms?
Before starting to create an online store on a specific platform, you should choose one of the following platforms:
- Zid (https://zid.sa)
- Salla (https://salla.sa/site)
- InnoShop (https://innoshop.co)
- Fathershops (https://fathershops.com)
What are the tools used to create a store from scratch?
When programming an online store from scratch, we use the following tools:
- OpenCart
- WooCommerce
- Shopify
How are payment methods linked to the store?
First, it is required to contract with an electronic payment company in the Middle East, such as:
- Amazon Payment Services - https://paymentservices.amazon.com
- HyperPay - https://hyperpay.com
- PayTabs - https://site.paytabs.com
- Moyasar - https://moyasar.com
- TapPayments - https://tap.company
How are shipping methods linked to the store?
All that is required from the client to activate shipping in their online store is a merchant account number with the relevant shipping company.
If the store is on the Salla or Zid platform, it is easy to link shipping by entering the merchant account number with the relevant shipping company.
If the store is programmed from scratch, it is easy to link shipping as long as the shipping company is well-known, such as SMSA, FedEx, DHL, or Aramex.
What are the client's requirements to create a store on the Salla platform?
If the client wants us to set up their store on the Salla or Zid platform, the requirements from the client are as follows:
- Subscription to the Salla Pro package (to enable full design customization)
- Purchase one of the templates from Salla
- Copy of the commercial registration
- Copy of the owner's ID
- Mobile number or WhatsApp number
What are the client's requirements to create a store through programming from scratch?
If the client wants us to program a store from scratch using tools like WooCommerce or OpenCart, the requirements from the client are as follows:
- Merchant account with one of the shipping companies (SMSA, FedEx, Aramex, etc.)
- Bank account in the name of the business entity at one of the banks (AlAhli, AlRajhi, SABB, etc.)
- Activation of electronic payment acceptance at the client's bank by contracting with an electronic payment company (PayTabs, HyperPay, Amazon Payments, etc.)
- Project logo and identity, if available
- Project profile booklet containing information about the project, contact methods, and other details
- List of 10 products to be entered with their information, prices, and images (if more than 10 products are required, additional fees will apply)
