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Many individuals believe that the architecture industry is still focused within the brick-and-mortar world.

While there is no doubt that the end results of any project are amazing to behold, digital technology is now playing more of an important role than ever before. We are not only referring to platforms such as Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD in this sense. Another important facet of many businesses now centres around the notion of online sales and client engagement. This makes a great deal of sense, as customers are similarly taking to the Internet in order to interact with architects and to realise their visions. What role can e-commerce platforms play and what should professionals take into account when choosing the most appropriate service? 

The Undeniable Synergy of E-Commerce and Architecture 

Architects are facing an increasingly digital world. From the initial conceptualisation of a project to its ultimate completion, they are relying heavily upon virtual technology. However, the same can be said in regards to online exposure and client engagement. E-commerce platforms have grown flexible to the point that they are now able to offer extremely targeted solutions such as: 

• The ability to communicate with clients within a real-time framework.
• Detailed billing and invoicing templates.
• The acceptance of numerous types of electronic payments.
• Cross-channel marketing capabilities to boost the presence of an architectural firm.

These features have resulted in a number of impressive benefits. First and foremost, it is now possible to leverage the true reach and scope of the Internet. It should also be mentioned that the user-friendly nature associated with such platforms will free up time that would have otherwise been devoted to in-house IT tasks. Architects can therefore focus their efforts upon pertinent projects as opposed to being concerned about the more technical details of web development. It is nonetheless important to appreciate how to find the best ecommerce platform on the market. 

Selecting the Appropriate Cloud-Based Service 

Flexibility is key when selecting the most appropriate e-commerce solution for the needs of an architectural firm. The framework should be able to mould itself around the needs of the business as opposed to forcing an enterprise to “cut corners” in order to achieve the desired results. This flexibility should also include the capability of matching the branding of a specific company; offering up a sense of uniformity to the end user. These must then be combined with other logistical aspects such as secure payment gateways, drag-and-drop functionality, excellent levels of customer support, and multi-channel marketing. These are a handful of the features which have come to define the Shopify e-commerce system. 

Not only does this cloud-based application offer an unrivalled sense of adaptability, but it can work in conjunction with legacy-based software. Migrating to this platform will therefore take no time and all; allowing a business to maintain its ongoing operations during the process. Architects need to remain one step ahead of the digital curve and such an e-commerce solution will deliver quantifiable results.

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