Launching an online store: which integrations do you need at the start?

Online payments

The first essential integration is with online payment systems, which enable secure transactions. In Poland, the most popular solutions include PayU, Przelewy24, and Blik, which process thousands of transactions daily.

For international sales, Stripe is a widely used solution, offering a broad range of payment features and supporting cross-border transactions.

According to the aforementioned report, 61% of internet users use such payment methods, highlighting the importance of providing customers with a wide selection of payment options. When choosing a payment gateway, it's important not to focus solely on the commission rate—though it is a significant factor.

Commissions typically range from 2.5% to 0.5% of the transaction value, depending on the number of transactions and the type of products sold.

Another critical factor is system reliability, especially during periods of high traffic. It’s best to choose solutions that are resilient to overload and ensure uninterrupted availability, to avoid delays or interruptions in sales.

Additionally, consider what extra features might benefit your store, such as deferred payments, instalments, or subscriptions. Integrating a payment gateway is generally straightforward.

Most payment providers offer ready-made plugins for popular e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce, PrestaShop, or Shopify, which allow you to connect your store to the payment system quickly and easily.

Courier companies

The second essential integration involves connecting your store with courier services and logistics systems that automate the shipping process.

These solutions allow you to quickly dispatch parcels, generate shipping labels, and track deliveries—greatly simplifying daily operations. They also ensure error-free shipment management and reduce the risk of mistakes that can occur with manual data entry.

A remarkable 60% of Polish internet users consider fast and convenient delivery options one of the most important factors when choosing an online store. This underscores the importance of having a well-functioning logistics system in place.

Popular integration tools, such as Apaczka (Poland), InPost Manager (Poland), ShipX, Sendit, and Baselinker, enable automatic data transmission and order management, eliminating the need to manually enter information for each shipment.

Many of these tools offer ready-made plugins for popular e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and Shopify, which significantly simplify implementation and speed up integration with logistics systems. As your store grows and order volumes increase, it’s worth considering more advanced logistics solutions.

Features like integration with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) or real-time label generation can significantly enhance operational efficiency and speed up order fulfilment.

If your company plans to expand into international markets, integrating with global courier services that offer solutions tailored to foreign customers is also a smart move.

Invoicing system

Another important integration for an online store is connecting it with an invoicing system that enables issuing invoices and receipts in compliance with Polish legal regulations.

This is essential if you want to sell online and provide services while ensuring full compliance with tax requirements. Invoicing software allows for automatic document generation, saving time and eliminating errors associated with manual invoice creation.

Cloud storage

A good practice is to choose a cloud-based tool that integrates easily with your e-commerce platform—similar to how payment systems are connected. These invoicing programs often offer ready-made modules or plugins that allow quick integration with popular platforms such as WooCommerce, PrestaShop, or Shopify.

When implementing an invoicing system, it’s important to configure it correctly so that all invoices comply with current tax regulations. It's often helpful to issue a test invoice and send it to your accounting department to ensure that everything is properly formatted and legally compliant.

If your online store also operates a physical retail location, look for a solution that supports integration of both online and offline sales channels within a single invoicing system. Such platforms enable efficient management of all invoices, regardless of the sales channel.

When selecting invoicing software, consider additional features that can support inventory management. Many popular invoicing platforms integrate with WMS (Warehouse Management Systems), so once an invoice is issued, the order value is automatically deducted from your inventory. This kind of integration allows real-time stock tracking and eliminates the need for manual updates.

Most popular e-commerce platforms—like WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and Shopify—offer built-in modules for managing inventory. Invoicing systems come in a wide range of pricing options, from basic plans starting at just a few dozen złoty per year to more advanced tools costing a few hundred złoty annually.

Compared to the time saved and the efficiency gained, this is a small investment that brings convenience, compliance with regulations, and automation of key invoicing processes.

Marketing tools

Another key integration for an online store is connecting it with marketing tools—particularly email marketing and marketing automation systems.

Email marketing remains one of the most effective channels for customer communication. According to data from Campaign Monitor, the average return on investment for email campaigns is as high as 4200% (meaning 42 zł in revenue for every złoty spent), which underscores the importance of building a mailing list from the very beginning of your store’s operations.
(Source: Campaign Monitor – Email Marketing Benchmarks)

Essential Email Marketing Features

The most fundamental feature to implement early on is the newsletter signup option. This can be done in various ways—for example, by offering:

• A discount on the first purchase

• Access to exclusive promotions

• Membership in a private customer club

Effective incentives help grow your subscriber base, and collected email addresses become one of your most valuable assets—especially when advertising reach on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Google is affected by algorithm changes.

Why Use Marketing Automation?

You should also consider implementing marketing automation tools, which can:

• Recover abandoned carts automatically

• Send reminders about unfinished purchases

• Deliver personalised messages based on user behaviour

These features significantly boost conversions and strengthen customer relationships—without requiring manual outreach for each interaction.

Popular Tools and Integrations

There are many email marketing solutions on the market that offer seamless integrations with popular e-commerce platforms.
Some of the most widely used tools in Poland and globally include:

• MailerLite

• Mailchimp

• GetResponse

• ActiveCampaign

Most of these providers offer ready-made plugins for platforms such as WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and Shopify, making implementation quick and hassle-free.

Marketing That Scales with Your Store

Integrating email marketing and automation tools not only supports sales but also builds customer loyalty and enables long-term communication strategies.

Well-planned integrations make selling easier and provide a smoother shopping experience for your customers. When launching your online store, it’s crucial to focus on four foundational connections:

1. Online payment system

2. Courier and logistics integration

3. Invoicing software

4. Marketing tools

These integrations streamline order handling, speed up shipping, automate invoicing, and enhance customer communication.

What to Add As Your Store Grows

As your store develops, new needs will emerge. At that point, consider implementing more advanced systems, such as:

• ERP systems for complete business management

• WMS platforms for advanced warehouse operations

• Sales via marketplaces like Allegro, Amazon, or eBay

• Omnichannel integration to connect online and offline sales

• Customer data analysis tools like Google Analytics 4 or Hotjar

• CRM platforms such as HubSpot

• Loyalty programs and recommendation engines

• Dynamic advertising platforms, e.g., Facebook Ads, Google Ads

• Fulfilment services for outsourcing storage and shipping

These solutions help simplify day-to-day operations, improve customer satisfaction, and enable your store to grow faster and more efficiently.