Running an online store on BigCommerce means you need a storefront that works as hard as you do. Whether you sell electronics, home goods, apparel, or any other mid-end consumer products, the right apps can enhance your site’s functionality and improve the overall shopping experience. In this post, we’ll explore five top BigCommerce apps that help you manage product data, expand your reach, fine-tune shipping, boost site search, and tap into the growing subscription market. Let’s dive in!
1. Metafields Manager by Hypa Integrations
Every online store has unique product details to share – be it technical specifications, care instructions, or custom attributes that don’t fit into standard fields. Metafields Manager by Hypa Integrations lets you create and manage these custom fields (metafields) directly within BigCommerce, without any coding. Normally accessing metafield configuration and values requires the use of BigCommerce’s APIs, but Metafields Manager gives you an easy to use UI to access them directly.
What does Metagfields Manager do?
Metafields Manager provides an intuitive interface for viewing, creating, and updating metafields on products, variants, categories, brands, and more. Instead of relying on a developer to tweak hidden data, you can manage it all yourself from your BigCommerce dashboard.
How does Metagfields Manager improve your storefront?
By exposing extra product information on your storefront, you create a richer shopping experience. For example, you might add a “Warranty Details” section or an “Installation Guide” on product pages. The app also supports bulk import/export, saving you time when you need to update large catalogs. Its feature of shared metafields allows you to define a set of fields once and apply them across many products – perfect for ensuring consistency across your store.
Example scenario:
Imagine selling a product where detailed technical information and customer instructions are essential. With Metafields Manager, you can create custom fields to display this data on the product page, enhancing customer trust and reducing post-sale questions.
App link: Learn more about Metafields Manager by Hypa Integrations.
2. LitCommerce Product Feeds
Getting your products seen by a larger audience is crucial. LitCommerce Product Feeds helps you create and manage product feeds for thousands of marketing and shopping channels – including giants like Google Shopping, Bing Ads, Facebook/Instagram, and TikTok.
What does LitCommerce Product Feeds do?
This app centralizes your product feed management. Instead of manually uploading a CSV to every platform, you connect your BigCommerce store to LitCommerce and manage all feeds from one place. It lets you map BigCommerce fields to the required fields on external channels, create custom rules, and set up automatic syncing so that updates to your product information are reflected across all channels.
How does LitCommerce Product Feeds improve your storefront?
Although LitCommerce works off-site by managing your product feeds, it indirectly boosts your storefront by driving more qualified traffic to your site. Accurate, consistent, and up-to-date product listings across multiple channels mean potential customers find your products wherever they shop online. This efficiency saves time and reduces errors that might occur if you had to update each channel individually.
Example scenario:
If you’re launching a new product line, you can quickly set up feeds for Google Shopping, Facebook, and other platforms from a single dashboard. The app can also apply custom rules, like excluding specific product categories from certain channels, ensuring your marketing efforts are targeted and effective.
App link: Discover more about LitCommerce Product Feeds.
3. Advanced Shipping Manager
Shipping plays a critical role in customer satisfaction, and Advanced Shipping Manager (ASM) gives you full control over your shipping rules and methods on BigCommerce. Whether you’re handling products of varying sizes, weights, or shipping from multiple locations, ASM is designed to accommodate complex shipping scenarios.
What does Advanced Shipping Manager do?
ASM connects with over 50 carriers to pull real-time shipping quotes, allowing you to apply your own business rules. Key features include:
- Real-time shipping quotes using your negotiated or published carrier rates.
- Custom shipping tables and rules to handle different order conditions.
- Support for item-level origination, useful if you ship products from multiple locations.
Options to include dimensional weight calculations and restrict certain shipping methods for specific products.
How does Advanced Shipping Manager improve your storefront?
By presenting accurate shipping rates and a variety of shipping options at checkout, ASM builds customer trust and reduces cart abandonment. It tailors shipping options to match the specific needs of each order, ensuring that customers always see the most appropriate and cost-effective shipping methods.
Example scenario:
Suppose you sell products that vary widely in size and weight. ASM allows you to set up rules so that lighter items benefit from economical shipping options, while heavier items automatically trigger a different rate or shipping carrier. This level of detail ensures a fair and transparent checkout process, improving customer satisfaction and reducing support inquiries.App link: Learn more about Advanced Shipping Manager.
4. Smart Search and Product Filters by Searchanise
A seamless search experience is essential for keeping customers engaged. Smart Search and Product Filters by Searchanise replaces the default BigCommerce search with a powerful, fast-as-you-type search bar, complete with dynamic filtering options.
What does Smart Search and Product Filters do?
Searchanise provides an AI-powered search bar that shows autocomplete suggestions, corrects misspellings, and offers related categories and products. Additionally, it includes advanced filtering capabilities, allowing customers to narrow down their search results based on product attributes like size, color, price range, and more.
How does Smart Search and Product Filters improve your storefront?
By making it easier for customers to find exactly what they’re looking for, Searchanise enhances the overall shopping experience. A well-optimized search function can increase conversion rates and reduce the frustration of browsing through irrelevant products. The app’s analytics also offer insights into what your customers are searching for, enabling you to fine-tune your product offerings and marketing strategies.
Example scenario:
Imagine a customer looking for a specific item among hundreds of products. With Searchanise, as soon as they start typing, they’re presented with instant suggestions and the option to filter results by key attributes. This streamlined experience helps them quickly locate the desired product, leading to faster purchase decisions and higher satisfaction.App link: Explore Smart Search & Product Filters by Searchanise.
5. Rebillia Subscriptions
While the first four apps are all about enhancing your storefront’s functionality, Rebillia Subscriptions adds value if you’re looking to offer recurring billing options. This app integrates seamlessly into your BigCommerce store, allowing you to offer subscription-based products or services with ease.
What does Rebillia Subscriptions do?
Rebillia handles recurring billing and subscription management directly within BigCommerce. It allows you to set up subscription plans, memberships, and auto-ship programs, managing all recurring orders and billing automatically. This means customers can opt for recurring purchases with the same ease as a one-time transaction.
How does Rebillia Subscriptions improve your storefront?
For businesses that offer subscriptions or recurring orders, Rebillia can boost customer lifetime value and create a predictable revenue stream. Customers appreciate the convenience of managing their subscriptions online, and the app’s self-service portal reduces the need for support calls. It also provides valuable analytics on subscriber behavior and revenue trends.
Example scenario:
If you offer products that customers need to replenish regularly, like consumables or membership services, Rebillia lets you set up a subscription model. Customers can choose their preferred delivery intervals, and the app takes care of the recurring billing – all within your existing storefront.
App link: Check out Rebillia Subscriptions.
Conclusion
Enhancing your BigCommerce storefront isn’t just about having great products; it’s about having the right tools to manage data, expand your reach, streamline shipping, and create a smooth shopping experience. Apps we discussed – Metafields Manager, LitCommerce Product Feeds, Advanced Shipping Manager, and Smart Search & Product Filters – each address a crucial aspect of running an efficient online store. Meanwhile, Rebillia Subscriptions offers an easy way to tap into the growing subscription market.
These apps are designed to plug in quickly and start delivering value from day one. Evaluate which areas of your store could use a boost—be it product details, multi-channel marketing, shipping, or search—and give these apps a try. With the right tools, you can build a storefront that not only looks great but also works brilliantly for your customers and your bottom line.
If you’re looking for support integrating any BigCommerce app into your store – contact us today to see how we can help!
