For a Secure, Scalable & Financially Viable Ebusiness
Your choice of shopping cart determines the design & layout, performance of back end operations, store security, web-marketing capabilities, personalized customer services offered and almost every other aspect of your online storefront.
Based on the hosting services provided, the shopping cart industry can be divided into two major categories: ASP & Non-ASP. In this article we have compared remotely hosted shopping cart software solutions (also Known as ASP Shopping Carts) with Free, out of the box and open source shopping carts (All grouped under Non-ASP shopping carts).
This comparison will help you decide on the most suitable type of shopping cart for your business.
What are ASP & Non-ASP Shopping Carts?
- ASP Shopping Cart Software:
Application Service Provider (ASP) shopping carts are remotely hosted shopping cart softwares solutions that allow you to create, maintain and update your web store in a central web-based data location. ASP shopping cart providers also provide technological infrastructure and other services including store maintenance and support.
- Non-ASP Shopping Cart Software:
Non-ASP shopping carts include free, open source and out-of-the-box (Downloadable) shopping cart solutions. Such kinds of ecommerce solutions do not provide any hosting services and are not responsible for your store maintenance, security or store operations.
Hosted Shopping Carts (ASP) Vs Non-ASP Shopping Carts Comparison Table
| Criteria |
ASP Shopping Carts |
Non-ASP Shopping Carts |
| Start Up Cost |
Low |
High (Zero in case of open source shopping carts but
they require lot of customization) |
| Investment in Infrastructure |
Not Required |
Required |
| Data Management |
Easy management as data is stored at a central location.
(Note: Data security features depend on vendor- Evaluate data security
carefully before deciding.) |
Difficult to manage as data may be distributed at
multiple locations. |
| Pricing |
Pay Per Use. |
One time license cost. |
| Hosting Infrastructure |
Provided & Managed by the Application service provider. |
Provision & Management is your responsibility. |
| Responsibility for Store Uptime |
Rests On Software Provider. |
Rests On You. |
| Software Upgrades |
Usually Free. Real time upgrades possible, as the store
is centrally located. |
Usually Paid. Manual installation is required. |
Running a business using an ASP shopping cart proves less risky and is a more viable investment proposition especially for SMEs (Small & Medium Scale Enterprises) and low capital start up organizations.
More Value for Money:
ASP shopping carts work on a Pay Per Use pricing model and charge monthly
fees. You are not required to pay a one-time lump sum license fee, which
is the case with Non-ASP solutions.
Secondly, with remotely hosted shopping cart software you are not required
to invest in creating technological infrastructure to support and maintain
your online store. These are taken care of by the software provider.
Your monthly fees cover all your major expenses and are inclusive of
the rental charges for using the software, providing technological infrastructure,
and for hosting your website.
Lower Store Maintenance & Business Continuity Expenses:
Application Service Providers are responsible for the smooth functioning
of your storefront and safeguarding it from any emergency. All the expenses
are shared among multiple clients that make the cost of store maintenance
and business continuity more affordable then Non-ASP shopping cart softwares.
Software Upgrades and other services:
Since your shopping cart software is remotely hosted, you are assured
of easy and real-time software upgrades, which is not the case with
non-ASP shopping cart software solutions.
To summarize, remotely hosted shopping cart solutions
incorporates the qualities of easy store management with less investment
at an affordable business continuity expense.
Before you arrive at a final decision, closely analyze the advantages
and disadvantages of each type of shopping cart: ASP and Non-ASP shopping
cart software's.
Choose your shopping cart software (ASP or Non-ASP) taking into consideration
your business needs and constraints. It is necessary to carry out a
comparative analysis
based on predetermined criteria before coming to a conclusion.