Kerala's online shoppers spent over ₹12,000 crore in 2024, and the number is projected to grow by 35% in 2025. From handloom weavers in Balaramapuram to cashew exporters in Kollam, Kerala businesses are discovering that a well-built e-commerce website is the single highest-ROI digital investment they can make.
Choosing the Right E-Commerce Platform
WooCommerce (WordPress)
Best for: Small to medium retailers, content-heavy stores, businesses that need blog integration. Pros: lower upfront cost, massive plugin ecosystem. Cons: can become slow at scale without proper optimisation.
Custom Laravel E-Commerce
Best for: Businesses with unique workflows — multi-vendor marketplaces, subscription models, complex pricing logic. Pros: fully custom business logic, high performance. Cons: higher initial cost, requires expert developers.
Shopify
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want fast setup with minimal technical overhead. Pros: easy to manage, strong app store. Cons: monthly fees, limited customisation, not ideal for highly specific Indian compliance requirements.
Essential Features for Kerala E-Commerce Websites
Indian Payment Gateway Integration
Your customers expect to pay via UPI, Razorpay, PayU, or Paytm. Ensure your developer integrates at least two payment options to avoid cart abandonment. We recommend Razorpay as the primary gateway for Kerala businesses — it has the best success rate on Indian bank cards.
GST-Compliant Invoicing
All Indian e-commerce platforms must generate GST-compliant tax invoices automatically. This requires correct GSTIN handling, HSN/SAC code assignment, and state-wise tax calculation. DBes Techno builds this correctly from day one.
Logistics Integration
Shiprocket, Delhivery, and Kerala postal services can be integrated for automated shipment tracking and delivery notifications. This dramatically reduces customer service queries and improves satisfaction.
Mobile-First Shopping Experience
85%+ of Kerala shoppers use mobile. Your e-commerce site must be optimised for mobile — fast loading images, thumb-friendly navigation, one-tap checkout, and Apple Pay/Google Pay support.
E-Commerce SEO for Kerala Businesses
Building the store is step one. Getting traffic is step two. Your e-commerce SEO strategy must include: product page optimisation, category page SEO, Google Shopping integration (Product rich results schema), site speed optimisation, and content marketing to attract organic traffic.
Typical Costs for Kerala E-Commerce Development
- Basic WooCommerce Store (up to 50 products): ₹45,000 – ₹75,000
- Advanced WooCommerce with custom features: ₹80,000 – ₹1,50,000
- Custom Laravel E-Commerce: ₹1,50,000 – ₹4,00,000+
- Shopify store setup: ₹25,000 – ₹60,000 (+ ₹2,000/month platform fees)
Ready to take your Kerala business online? Contact DBes Techno for a free e-commerce consultation. We'll help you choose the right platform, feature set, and launch strategy for your specific business.
