Which is better for Cannabis Dispensaries? Native ecommerce vs. Iframes, subdomains, reverse proxy

The Pros and Cons of Native E-commerce Platforms vs. Iframe, Subdomain, and Reverse Proxy Solutions for Cannabis Dispensaries

If Iframes, subdomains, and reverse proxy were the best solutions for ecommerce why don’t other retail industries use them?

The cannabis industry is booming, and with that comes a growing need for dispensaries to establish an effective online presence. Digital sales are an essential part of this process, but not all e-commerce solutions are created equal. Dispensaries have several options for integrating online ordering systems, each with its advantages and drawbacks. Today, we will compare the native e-commerce platform like Rank Really High (RRH) with iframe, subdomain, and reverse proxy menu solutions to help cannabis dispensary owners make an informed decision.

What Are the Different Cannabis E-Commerce Solutions?

Before diving into the pros and cons, let’s break down the different dispensary e-commerce solutions commonly used by cannabis dispensaries.

1. Cannabis Native E-commerce Platform (like Rank Really High) A native platform is an e-commerce solution that is fully integrated into the dispensary’s website. All product listings, pricing, and inventory are part of the site itself, ensuring a seamless shopping experience.

2. Cannabis Ecommerce Iframe Solutions An iframe embeds an external e-commerce site or menu directly within the dispensary’s webpage. It essentially “frames” an external site inside the dispensary’s website, allowing customers to browse products from another source.

3. Dispensary Subdomain Solutions A subdomain is a separate but related website under the same domain, like “shop.mydispensary.com.” It allows dispensaries to host a separate e-commerce site that is connected to their main website, often with different functionality.

4. Reverse Proxy Solutions A reverse proxy setup involves directing traffic through a proxy server that displays an external site on your dispensary’s website. This allows you to display a third-party e-commerce solution without changing your URL.

Native Cannabis E-commerce Platforms: The Gold Standard for Cannabis Dispensaries

Pros:

1. Seamless User Experience
   With a native platform, everything happens in one place. Your customers can browse products, make purchases, and interact with your site all without leaving it. This leads to a much smoother shopping experience and higher engagement.

2. Better SEO
   Native platforms like Rank Really High are designed with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind. Since all content (product listings, descriptions, images) is hosted on the dispensary’s main site, search engines can crawl and index the site more effectively, increasing the likelihood of appearing in search results.

3. Full Control Over Branding
   Native platforms provide full control over your site’s design and user interface. This is crucial for maintaining brand consistency and ensuring that the online store reflects the dispensary’s overall aesthetic.

4. Advanced Analytics
   With a native platform, you gain more control over tracking and data collection. You can measure everything from user behavior to sales conversion rates, which are essential for refining your digital marketing and improving sales.

Cons:

1. Development Time and Cost
   Developing and maintaining a custom e-commerce platform requires significant time and resources. While solutions like Rank Really High help streamline this process, it may still be an investment for dispensaries, especially those with smaller budgets.

2. Maintenance
   A native platform requires ongoing maintenance, including regular updates and security patches, which could be an added burden for dispensaries with limited technical resources.

Iframe Solutions: Quick and Easy but with Trade-Offs

Pros:

1. Easy Integration
   Iframe solutions are relatively easy to integrate into an existing website. Since the e-commerce site is hosted externally, dispensaries do not need to worry about developing or maintaining an e-commerce system themselves.

2. Minimal Development Required
   The development work is minimal, making it a quick fix for dispensaries who need to launch an online store quickly.

Cons:

1. Poor User Experience
   Iframes often lead to a fragmented experience. Customers can be distracted by the fact that they are technically navigating away from the dispensary’s site to browse products, even if it’s visually embedded. This can lead to confusion, frustration, and abandoned carts.

2. SEO Limitations
   Since iframe content is hosted externally, search engines may not index the content properly, leading to reduced visibility in search results. This means you miss out on potential traffic from search engines, making SEO less effective.

3. Branding Inconsistencies
   The external site inside an iframe may not perfectly align with your dispensary’s branding. This disconnect could affect the user’s perception of your dispensary and reduce trust, which is critical in the competitive cannabis market.

4. Limited Data Tracking
   Since the e-commerce functionality is hosted on another site, tracking user interactions and sales data can be more challenging. This lack of data can hinder your ability to make informed marketing decisions.

Subdomain Solutions: A Separate Experience with Flexibility

Pros:

1. Flexibility in Design
   A subdomain allows dispensaries to customize the design and functionality of the e-commerce experience without interfering with the main website. You can create a unique online shopping experience tailored to your cannabis products.

2. SEO Potential
   If done correctly, subdomains can rank well in search engines, as they are treated as separate websites by Google. However, this requires proper SEO management, which can be more work than a native platform.

3. Control Over Inventory and Integration
   A subdomain allows dispensaries to integrate third-party tools like POS systems and inventory management solutions, providing greater flexibility in managing the back end.

Cons:

1. Separated User Experience
   While subdomains are part of the same domain, the user experience can still feel fragmented, as customers will technically be navigating to a new website. This separation can cause confusion and potentially reduce trust.

2. Additional Maintenance
   Like native platforms, subdomains require ongoing maintenance. This includes managing both the main website and the subdomain, which can become cumbersome.

Reverse Proxy Solutions: A Middle Ground Between the Main Site and External Services

Pros:

1. No Need for a Separate Website
   Reverse proxy solutions allow dispensaries to display an external site under their own domain without actually moving the user away from the site. This helps maintain a seamless experience while integrating third-party e-commerce solutions.

2. Simplicity in Integration
   Like iframe solutions, reverse proxies are relatively simple to set up, saving time and development costs.

Cons:

1. SEO and Data Challenges
   While reverse proxy setups help maintain a seamless domain, they still present challenges for SEO and tracking. Like iframe solutions, the content and data might not be fully accessible for search engines, leading to reduced visibility and analytics challenges.

2. Compromised User Experience
   Similar to iframe setups, reverse proxy solutions can also create a fragmented experience. While the domain remains consistent, the back-end e-commerce platform is still an external solution, potentially leading to a disjointed shopping experience.

Conclusion: Native E-commerce Platforms Are the Future for Cannabis Dispensaries

While iframe, subdomain, and reverse proxy solutions each have their advantages, the best solution for cannabis dispensaries is a native e-commerce platform like Rank Really High. Native platforms provide seamless user experiences, robust SEO opportunities, and full control over branding and data analytics. Although they require more upfront investment, the long-term benefits—better customer engagement, increased sales, and improved SEO performance—are invaluable for dispensaries aiming to thrive in the competitive cannabis market.

Ultimately, dispensary owners should consider their long-term goals, budget, and technical capabilities when deciding on the best e-commerce solution for their business. A native platform is a solid investment that pays off in the form of enhanced customer loyalty, higher sales, and improved digital marketing insights.