Plugins or modules can enhance the capabilities of WordPress and PrestaShop e-commerce platforms. The term ‘plugin’ is used more often in WordPress, whereas PrestaShop uses ‘module’.
They are however interchangeable. In this article, we will refer to them as plugins for easy readability.
What is a Plugin?
Plugins are tools designed to add new features and functionality to the website for a more customised experience. They can help to improve the user experience, drive sales and conversions, and build customer trust and loyalty.
This article will show you 5 useful e-commerce plugins for any platform, including WordPress and Prestashop.
1.Page Builders (Elementor / Easy Builder)
Elementor or easy builder plugins are useful for e-commerce merchants in Singapore as they allow them to easily create and design professional-looking websites without coding skills.
These plugins provide a wide range of templates, design elements, and widgets that merchants can use to customize their websites and create a unique and visually appealing online store.
The basic Elementor includes elements like testimonials, star ratings, and an image carousel. Or you can opt for the Pro version which grants you access to more features.
Merchants can use drag-and-drop elements to easily design their websites without the need for coding skills. It also allows them to preview their website as they design it, which makes it easy for them to make changes and adjustments as needed.
Not using Elementor or Easy Builder can lead to a loss in time and design quality. Without these plugins, merchants would have to manually code their websites, which can be time-consuming and may lead to mistakes.
Additionally, the website’s design may not be as visually appealing or professional-looking if created without the help of these plugins.
2. Banners (Slider Revolution)
Slider Revolution creates engaging sliders for WordPress/PrestaShop e-commerce. They can easily create and customise sliders that showcase products, promote special offers, and engage with customers.
One of the key benefits of using Slider Revolution is the ability to create visually appealing and attention-grabbing sliders. The plugin offers various design elements and features, such as custom backgrounds, fonts, colours, animation, and transition effects.
Slider Revolution also enhances the user experience on the site. It has built-in support for links and buttons that direct users to specific pages or products. The plugin can also customise and optimise the sliders for different devices and screen sizes.
It has responsive design features that adjust the layout and content of the sliders to fit the user’s device, ensuring that the sliders look and function well on all devices.
3. Marketing (HubSpot)
HubSpot is a useful plugin for e-commerce merchants in Singapore, as it provides a comprehensive set of tools for inbound marketing, sales, and customer service. It allows merchants to attract, engage and delight customers, and grow their business.
With HubSpot, merchants can create and manage their website, blog, and social media content, as well as track and analyse website traffic and visitor behaviour. It also provides tools for lead generation and management, email marketing, and sales automation. Additionally, it has a CRM feature that helps merchants to manage and nurture their relationships with customers and leads.
Without this plugin, merchants would have to manually manage their websites, track website traffic, and manage customer relationships. This can be time-consuming and may lead to mistakes.
Furthermore, without HubSpot’s tools, merchants may be unable to generate leads effectively, track customer behaviour, or manage their sales process, which can negatively impact their business growth.
4. Mass Emailer (MailChimp)
Mailchimp is a useful plugin for e-commerce merchants in Singapore as it allows them to easily create and manage email marketing campaigns. It helps merchants to reach and engage with customers, increase sales, and grow their business.
Mailchimp offers various features such as email design templates, automated email campaigns, list segmentation, and tracking of email performance. This allows merchants to create professional-looking emails and track the success of their campaigns.
Additionally, Mailchimp’s tracking of link clicks and open rates can help merchants understand which emails and campaigns are most effective, so they can optimise and improve their marketing efforts.
Using Mailchimp also saves time and effort compared to manually emailing customers. Without Mailchimp, merchants would have to manually create and send emails, track performance and make changes to improve the email campaign. This can be very time-consuming and may lead to mistakes.
5. Payment Gateway (Stripe / HitPay)
Stripe and HitPay are two popular payment gateway plugins for e-commerce merchants in Singapore.
They enable merchants to easily accept payments from customers through various channels, such as credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. They are known for their security and compliance, ensuring that transactions are safe and secure.
However, Stripe and HitPay have some differences. Stripe is used internationally, so shops that cater to international customers would be better off using Stripe as their payment gateway.
Stripe
In addition, Stripe payments do not require users to go to a separate page to make their payments. Customers can easily do so on the checkout page, which increases conversion. Stripe also allows merchants to manage their transactions from a single dashboard and offers detailed analytics.
HitPay
On the other hand, HitPay offers a simplified user interface and lower transaction fees. It also offers fast integration with various e-commerce platforms and easy refund management.
Being a local Singaporean payment gateway, it can be more convenient for Singapore-based merchants to use as it is tailored to the local market. For example, it has payment integration with PayNow, which is a popular and easy payment method for Singaporeans when dealing with online payments.
Conclusion
Plugins are essential tools that enhance the capabilities and functionality of WordPress and PrestaShop e-commerce platforms. They allow site owners to customise their platforms to suit their needs and goals.
Plugins also add new features that improve the user experience, drive sales and conversions, and build customer trust and loyalty. There are many plugins available which allow site owners to optimise and improve their e-commerce platform in various ways.
This can make the platform more effective and successful.
If you require professional assistance with website funding grants or need expert advice on web development and IT solutions for your e-commerce store, contact eFusion Technology at (65) 6292 3086 to let the experts guide you through the process.
