What is an e-commerce CMS?
An e-commerce CMS is a system that lets you manage content, products, and the layout of your online store without having to code. It’s the heart of any modern e-commerce platform and should integrate both technical and commercial needs.
-
Built-in PIM system (all-in-one solution)
Your CMS should offer smooth management of products and inventory. The easiest way to do this is with an integrated PIM (Product Information Management) system, allowing you to:
- Add and edit products
- Manage variants (sizes, colors, etc.)
- Set prices on both product and variant levels
- Automate stock status and notifications
-
Search engine optimization (SEO) directly in the CMS
SEO is essential for driving organic traffic. Your e-commerce CMS should have:
- The ability to edit meta titles and meta descriptions
- SEO-friendly URL structures
- Automatic generation of XML sitemaps
- Built-in support for structured data/schema markup
-
Mobile-friendly design and responsive themes
More than half of all e-commerce happens via mobile devices. Therefore, your CMS must support:
- Fully responsive design
- Mobile-friendly templates
- Performance optimization for mobile devices
-
Powerful campaign and discount functionality
To stay competitive, you need pricing flexibility. Your CMS should be able to handle:
- Unique discount codes
- Buy X, get Y discounts
- Time-limited campaigns
- Automatic discounts based on order value
-
Integration with payment and shipping solutions
An e-commerce CMS should offer ready-made integrations with:
- Payment solutions like Adyen, Swish, Klarna and credit cards
- Shipping providers like PostNord, DHL, and Budbee
- The option to offer free shipping under specific conditions
-
Support for multiple languages and currencies
-
If you sell internationally, your CMS should handle:
- Multiple language versions of your content
- Automatic or manual translation
- Prices in various currencies based on geolocation
-
User-friendly admin panel
A CMS should not require technical expertise. Important features include:
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Clear navigation and dashboard
- Role-based access for team members
-
Customer management and CRM features
Building good customer relationships is central to loyalty. Your CMS should include or be able to integrate:
- Customer profiles with purchase history
- Segmentation for targeted marketing
- Integrated or connected CRM system
-
Built-in or easy integration with email marketing
To drive repeat sales, email marketing is essential. Your CMS should:
- Offer integration with Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.
- Automate email flows (welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders)
- Enable newsletter sending directly from the system
-
Scalability and performance
Your CMS must grow with your business. This means:
- Hosting that can handle high traffic peaks
- The ability to add new features via plugins or API
- High page loading speeds
-
All-in-one platform with integrated CMS, PIM, and e-commerce engine
For full control over product data and content, it’s optimal if the CMS, PIM (Product Information Management), and e-commerce engine are integrated into a single system. This creates:
- A single source of truth for all product information
- Seamless management of content, product data, and sales logic
- More efficient workflows between marketing, sales, and IT
By combining these three core systems, you get better data quality, faster time-to-market, an improved customer experience, and often a more cost-effective solution.
-
Built-in analytics and reporting
Data-driven decision-making requires analytics. Your CMS should offer:
- Real-time reports for sales and traffic
- Integration with Google Analytics 4
-
Security and GDPR compliance
A secure CMS protects both your company and your customers. Key features include:
- SSL certificates
- Two-factor authentication
- GDPR compliance (cookie management, data export)
Conclusion: how to choose the right CMS for e-commerce
Your choice of e-commerce CMS should be based on your needs today, but also on what you’ll need in 12, 24, or 36 months. Choose a system that is flexible, secure, user-friendly, and supports your growth.
Having CMS, PIM, and e-commerce engine integrated in the same system is also a powerful solution that provides structure, speed, and scalability—three key factors in modern e-commerce. Read more about Litium’s all-in-one solution here.
If you want to know more about Litium and our CMS, don’t hesitate to contact us here »