You might have figured this out already, but building an online store might be a little more complex than you think, especially if you want something of standard to compete with the big leagues or just perform basic business transactions.

This is where an e-commerce developer comes in for you. There are some people who can set up their online stores without external help, which is great when it comes to sorting out problems you might encounter in the future, but when starting out you need a solid foundation.

Hiring an expert developer can help with scalability, maintenance, security and other points that you would learn about in this article and the steps involved when hiring one for your business.

Who is an E-commerce Developer?

who is an ecommerce developer
An e-commerce developer is a software developer who is an expert at building, designing and maintaining online shopping platforms or stores.

This developer is responsible for the technical aspects of your online store and ensures that the store is fully functional, user-friendly and secured.

They also make sure that things like payment processing, back-end development, payment processing, integration with third-party services and security measures are all in place.

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Basic Responsibilities of an E-Commerce Developer

what does ecommerce developer do

Website Development and Design
Platform Selection
Integration with Third-Party Services
Security Implementation
Performance Optimization and Maintenance
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Mobile Optimization

1. Website Development and Design

This includes front-end development and back-end development. The e-commerce developer is responsible for creating the visual parts of your online store/platform and implements an engaging user interface and user experience (UI/UX).

This also involves building the server-side infrastructure which supports the website, handles databases, data transactions and business processes.

2. Platform Selection

This is a vital process when building your online store as it will determine a lot of your business processes in the future and how you, as the owner, intend to handle it once the developer hands over to you for management.

The developer has the authority to choose the best e-commerce platform based on the business needs currently and in the long run, as well as modifying the templates and plugins the platform has to offer.

3. Integration with Third-Party Services

Business is the art of buying and selling, which, of course, is done by the exchange of cash, but in the case of an online store, digital transfers.

The developer would be responsible for connecting your online store with payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Skrill, Google Pay e.t.c), Customer Relationship Management Tools (CRM) and other important services needed to ensure smooth business operations.

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4. Security Implementation

Your e-commerce developer has to ensure that your website is in line with security standards such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) for handling payment information.

Also putting certain measures in line like data encryption, protection against threats and SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates.

5. Performance Optimization and Maintenance

If you’ve ever been to a website that takes too long to load, your initial thought is always to leave and go to the next one.

This is an experience that your users must not have when they come to your website, which is why your developer needs to enhance website speed and performance to provide a seamless shopping experience.

They also need to regularly update the website to fix bugs, ensure compatibility, add new features and keep up with standards to minimize downtime and disruptions.

6. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Mobile Optimization

The developer would be responsible for Implementing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) best practices to improve the website’s visibility on search engines.

They also ensure that the integration of analytics tools to track user behaviour, sales performance and other key metrics to enable you to make data-driven decisions.

Your e-commerce site has to be fully responsive on mobile devices because, according to statistics, smartphones made up 77% of retail site traffic globally in the first quarter of 2024, so you don’t want the mobile experiences of your users to be filled with issues half the time.

How to Choose an E-Commerce Developer in 7 Steps

Deciding on the e-commerce developer that will get your online platform ready-to-go can be a big decision. Luckily, there’s a method for it. Here are 7 important steps you must take when hiring the right developer;

Clearly define your project requirements.
Determine your budget.
Review technical skills.
Validate previous work experiences and portfolio.
Evaluate collaboration and communication skills.
Agree on project timelines and expected Milestones.
Discuss site security and compliance.

1. Clearly define your project requirements

This is an important first step, not just for you but Why It’s Important: Clearly defining your project requirements ensures that both you and the developer have a mutual understanding of the project scope, objectives, and deliverables. It minimizes misunderstandings and sets clear expectations, which is vital for the project’s success.

To do this, you have to outline specific tasks your e-commerce developer would be handling, like website design, integration with payments, platform specification (Shopify, Woocomerce, Pretashop e.t.c), the goals related to website speed, scalability and security and maintenance and support.

As much as this is important for the developers, outlining these requirements gives your business a sense of direction and makes it possible for you to make data-driven decisions.

2. Determine your budget

You are probably excited about the goals set in place right now and want to get started right away, but you can’t do that without setting your budget for this project.

Setting your budget helps you know what your options are, but at the same time not reducing your quality by hiring the best. You can do this by dividing your budgets into different segments for testing, development, testing and maintenance.

You also have to factor in domain registration, plugins, hosting and the integration of third-party services.

Getting an affordable developer doesn’t mean you have to compromise the quality.

Rocketdevs has established that quality and affordable is 100% possible by ensuring that young startups and established businesses get access to affordable top-quality, pre vetted developers.

These developers are in the top 5% of their various fields after the hiring process with the help of the streamlined AI resume filtering tool called Resumatic.

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3. Review technical skills

If you don’t have any idea of technical skills, you will definitely need the help of an expert here to avoid getting robbed of actual talent.

Technical skills determine an e-commerce developer to build a secure, efficient and robust e-commerce platform that you need.

You need to ensure the needed proficiency in various e-commerce platforms and different programming languages.

Their ability to customize themes, plugins and integrate third-party APIs are a compulsory necessity.

Don’t also forget to verify their experience in mobile-friendly and responsive websites so as not to miss out on the reported 77% of users out there that check online stores with their mobile devices.

4. Validate previous work experiences and portfolio

The portfolio of an e-commerce developer gives you an insight into past experiences and what they stand to offer your online platform during development or in the long run.

You can prioritize developers who have worked on projects similar to yours and those who can clearly explain their approach to the development process, challenges they may face and solutions that can be implemented.

5. Evaluate collaboration and communication skills

This doesn’t just apply to e-commerce developers alone, but high-value talents, but technical experts should be able to explain their ideas in simple terms.

Assess how the developer effectively responds to questions asked and discuss their preferred communication channels.

Effective communication leads to smooth collaboration and a healthy working relationship. You can discuss their preferred communication channels and if their values align with your team culture. Note that it’s better to think long-term and not just for a one-time project.

6. Agree on project timelines and expected milestones

Milestones and timelines ensure that your project remains on track and is in the right phase at every interval, from initial development to testing and deployment.

You can track your progress by using project management tools, which can also help in communicating updates between teams. Don’t forget to set realistic deadlines and goals for each milestone and consider the complexity of tasks and the possible setbacks.

7. Discuss site security and compliance

E-commerce platforms are in charge of sensitive user data and financial transactions which require robust security and compliance to protect the information of users and you.

E-commerce platforms handle sensitive customer data and financial transactions. Ensuring robust security and compliance with relevant regulations is critical to protect your business and customers.

You need to discuss the e-commerce developer’s approach to implementing security measures such as SSL certificate, data encryption, regular security audits and secure payment gateways.

Note that you also have to verify the strategies they intend to put in place for data backup and disaster recovery if it pops up.

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The Best Platforms to Hire E-commerce Developers

Here are 5 major platforms that are crucial for hiring the best developers for your e-commerce platforms;

Rocketdevs
Clutch
Gigster
Toptal
PeoplePerHour

1. RocketDevs

hire ecommerce developer

Rocketdevs is the best value for developers on the web. We are experts on connecting dedicated and pre-vetted developers to startups/businesses that are in need of their service and are aligned to their business goals and values.

You don’t need to be a technical expert to understand how the platform works as all hiring processes are fully covered beforehand and it takes 6-8 hours.

Developers are carefully selected based on their expertise, past project performance and experience from full stack, to front and back-end and mobile developers.

Combining the power of Resumatic (AI resume filtering technology) and human expertise, Rocketdevs is able to sort out the best from the rest within a short time and efficiently.

This would ensure that you get the right e-commerce developer that is affordable and has top-notch quality to deliver.

2. Clutch

ecommerce developer

Clutch helps businesses find the right service providers for their needs. They provide a list of platforms that help e-commerce owners get their online store ready and operative.

You can also see the reviews and detailed information of each listed company that provides the service needed, which helps make informed decisions.

You can filter agencies based on criteria, location, budget, project size and e-commerce platforms.

3. Gigster

developer ecommerce

Gigster offers on-demand software development services by utilizing the combination of AI and human expertise to startups.

They match businesses with developers and project managers based on the needs of the employer and expertise of the e-commerce developer that you intend to recruit.

They focus more on assembling teams rather than freelancers for projects to ensure scalability and growth.

4. Toptal

get ecommerce developer

Toptal is a freelance marketplace where you get to get freelancers from developers to designers and finance experts.

Toptal connects businesses to talents that are guaranteed to be skilled enough to improve their growth and be aligned with their company’s values and goals.

E-commerce businesses have access to developers who are experts in their field and have the necessary skills in various e-commerce platforms that can be implemented into their own business.

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5. PeoplePerHour

hire ecommerce developer

PeoplePerHour is also a freelance marketplace that has a diverse pool of talents not limited to technical ones.

It allows for a wide range of project sizes and budgets that caters to the needs of your e-commerce platform.

Businesses can choose to hire freelancers on PeoplePerHour on an hourly basis or fixed process project which provides flexibility in budget, which is almost similar to the dynamics of Upwork.

If you want to use this, you can choose to create a detailed job posting, with your project requirements, desired skill, budget and timeline in order to attract the perfect e-commerce developer.

Differences between Rocketdevs, Clutch, Toptal, Gigster and PeoplePerHour

Category	RocketDevs	Clutch	Gigster	Toptal	PeoplePerHour
Service Model	Connect businesses to dedicated and pre-vetted developers tailored to specific business goals and values.	Acts as a service directory by listing various service providers and connecting them to different talent pools with reviews and criteria in place.	They focus on assembling scalable teams rather than individual freelancers.	Offers a diverse talent pool to businesses thereby acting as a freelancer marketplace but not limited to developers.	It also acts as a freelance marketplace with a wide range of talents for a wide range of project needs.
Developer Quality & Vetting	Utilizes AI technology combined with human expertise to ensure the top 5% of quality developers.	The quality of the talent depends on the individual service providers listed and solely relies on reviews for assurance.	Also combines AI and human expertise to match businesses with skilled developers and project managers.	A rigorous screening process ensuring only the top 3% of freelancers are available.	A diverse pool with a wide range of talents, but not all are pre-vetted to the same standards.
Selection Process	Effectively completes the hiring process within 6-8 hours after the request has been made ensuring a quick and seamless match.	Businesses manually search and filter based on their desired criteria and needs in order to get the right service provider.	Focuses on building entire teams tailored to project needs to ensure successful scalability.	Matches businesses with freelancers based on skills and alignment with company values and long-term goals.	Allows for flexible hiring on an hourly basis or fixed price projects, depending on your needs.
Pricing & Flexibility	RocketDevs offers affordable and transparent pricing opportunities with high-quality developers. Also, a 14-day trial which allows businesses to try out developers and return if not satisfied.	Clutch’s pricing all depends on the service provider chosen and their fixed rates.	Gigster provides affordable pricing for dedicated teams and makes it suitable for growing businesses.	Toptal has a higher rate which reflects on the quality of freelancers available.	PeoplePerHour supports a wide range of project sizes and budgets with hourly or fixed pricing options.

Next Steps: Hiring Your E-Commerce Developer?

where to get ecommerce developer
Now that you’ve established the 7 important steps you need to consider before you hire an e-commerce developer and the platforms that can help with that, what next?

It’s time for action, which means going developer hunting, but instead of just reading about it, you can put everything learned into action by doing active research on the platforms listed.

Rocketdevs is an expert at this and actively helps startups/businesses make informed decisions around expert hiring and the necessary steps you need to take when it comes to building a dedicated team and scaling effectively and efficiently.

Try out a developer for 14 days to get started.

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