eCommerce Platforms Benchmark

In this article, we will analyze five of the most important eCommerce platforms in Latin America: Salesforce Commerce Cloud, VTEX, Shopify Plus, commercetools, and BigCommerce.

We have chosen to evaluate these platforms because they offer the necessary capabilities to meet the demands of an established business looking to create or improve its own online store. Additionally, they have solid support in Mexico and Latin America.

Aimed at eCommerce leaders, this benchmark assesses the key features of each platform to facilitate an informed decision. By examining the strengths, limitations, and functionalities of each, this document aims to help you select the platform that best suits your business needs.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Salesforce boasts a vast ecosystem of products that allows you to manage all your business, marketing, and sales processes. It offers CRM solutions, ERP, customer service, marketing tools, analytics, and more. This makes it a good option for large companies seeking robust solutions that address most of a company's challenges. It also stands out for the scalability and flexibility it offers large enterprises for development.

Advantages:

• Headless Capabilities: Offers APIs and tools like Storefront Reference Architecture (SFRA) that enable headless implementations, providing flexibility in creating personalized experiences.

• Integration with Salesforce: Connects natively with the CRM and other tools within the Salesforce ecosystem, facilitating data management and allowing personalization of the customer experience both online and in physical stores.

• Scalable: Ideal for companies handling large volumes of traffic and sales, ensuring optimal performance.

• Advanced Personalization: Thanks to Salesforce Einstein, it is possible to offer real-time personalized experiences using artificial intelligence, showing products and promotions according to purchasing behavior.

• Omnichannel Support: Perfect for companies with a presence in multiple sales channels, offering a unified customer experience.

Disadvantages:

• High Cost: It is one of the most expensive options on the market, which can be challenging for smaller companies or those with limited budgets.

• Learning Curve: Requires a specialized technical team to leverage all its functionalities and advanced configurations.

VTEX

VTEX has gained global relevance for its ability to combine marketplace, B2C, and B2B in a single platform. It allows companies to create personalized experiences and manage online commerce from one place. Originating from Brazil, VTEX has significantly expanded its presence in markets like Europe and the United States.

Advantages:

• Headless Commerce: Highly flexible, allowing personalization of shopping experiences without the limitations of traditional architecture.

• Integrated B2B and B2C: Enables sales to wholesale customers and end consumers from a single platform.

• Own Marketplaces: Allows creation and management of marketplaces, offering a competitive advantage by integrating third-party sellers.

• Quick Implementation: Its modular structure and predefined tools enable rapid market entry.

Disadvantages:

• Growing Global Expansion: Although it has increased its international presence, it is still consolidating in some markets outside Latin America.

• Cost for Small Businesses: Can be a financial challenge for businesses not ready to invest in an enterprise-level platform.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is the advanced version of Shopify, designed for companies seeking scalability and customization without the technical complexity of more robust platforms. Known for its ease of use and extensive ecosystem of applications, Shopify Plus is a popular choice among medium and large companies.

Advantages:

• Ease of Use: An intuitive interface that allows store management without the need for a specialized technical team.

• Headless Capabilities and Advanced Customization: Through APIs, Shopify Scripts, and tools like Shopify Hydrogen, advanced customizations and headless experiences can be achieved.

• Extensive App Store: A vast marketplace of applications that adds functionalities without the need for development from scratch.

• Scalability: Capable of handling large volumes of sales and traffic, adapting to business growth.

Disadvantages:

• Additional Costs: Many advanced functionalities require third-party applications, which can increase operational costs.

• Customization Limitations: Although it offers broad capabilities, it may fall short for companies needing code-level improvements.

commercetools

commercetools is a cloud-native and completely headless platform, designed for companies seeking total flexibility and absolute control over the user experience. Ideal for businesses wanting to customize every aspect of their store and willing to invest in specialized development.

Advantages:

• Headless and API-First: Provides maximum flexibility to create any desired shopping experience without the restrictions of a monolithic platform.

• Real-Time Inventory Management and Multiple Inventories: Offers these functionalities natively, facilitating efficient and accurate stock management in different locations.

• Scalability: Designed to support large volumes of data and transactions, suitable for global companies.

• Constant Innovation: Its architecture allows for agile and uninterrupted launching of new functionalities, quickly adapting to market trends.

Disadvantages:

• Requires Specialized Technical Team: Being highly technical, experienced developers are necessary for implementation and maintenance.

• Limited Analytical Capabilities: Does not offer advanced integrated analytical tools; integration with external Business Intelligence solutions is required for in-depth analysis.

• High Cost: Flexibility and customization imply a greater investment in development and technical resources.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce has grown in popularity by offering a robust solution for medium and large companies, with headless capabilities without the complexity of more technical platforms. It offers a balance between ease of use and flexibility to customize your store, making it an attractive option for growing businesses.

Advantages:

• Ease of Use: User-friendly interface that allows store management without extensive technical knowledge.

• Headless Capabilities: Through open APIs, it enables custom developments and unique shopping experiences.

• Suitable for Large Companies: BigCommerce Enterprise is designed to meet corporate needs, offering scalability and performance.

• Competitive Cost: More accessible compared to platforms like Salesforce or commercetools, offering a good return on investment.

• Omnichannel Support: Facilitates sales across multiple channels like marketplaces, social networks, and physical stores.

Disadvantages:

• Smaller App Ecosystem: Although growing, its application marketplace is smaller than competitors like Shopify.

• Limited Native Email Marketing: Integrated functionalities are basic; advanced campaigns may require specialized solutions.

• Highly Specific Customizations: May require additional development to meet extremely complex or customized needs.

Explanatory Notes:

1. Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Requires additional configurations to implement as headless.

2. Shopify Plus: Although not natively headless, it can be configured as such through its APIs and SDKs.

3. Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Supports integrations but may have limitations compared to fully composable platforms; may require customization.

4. VTEX: Supports composable commerce with a modular architecture and APIs to integrate specialized third-party technologies.

5. Shopify Plus:Allows integrations via APIs and applications but may have limitations in deep customizations compared to fully composable platforms.

6. BigCommerce: Supports composable commerce with open APIs and headless capabilities, allowing integration of specialized third-party technologies.

7. Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Offers powerful AI-based personalization tools, allowing products and offers to be displayed according to purchasing behavior.

8. VTEX: Includes advanced personalization functionalities, displaying products and promotions based on the customer's history and behavior.

9. Shopify Plus: Offers basic personalization; advanced capabilities may require third-party applications or custom development.

10. commercetools: Personalization depends on implementation; requires custom development and integration with personalization tools.

11. BigCommerce: Offers limited personalization; advanced functionalities may require third-party integrations.

12. Shopify Plus: Offers functionalities but may require additional integrations for a fully unified customer view.

13. BigCommerce: May require integrations with external systems to achieve unified user information across all channels.

14. commercetools: Real-time inventory functionality depends on implementation; requires configuration and possibly integration with inventory systems.

15. commercetools: Supports multiple inventories through customization and additional configuration.

16. commercetools: Provides basic analytics; advanced analyses may require integration with external tools.

17. Shopify Plus: Requires additional configuration or third-party applications to implement "Buy Online and Pick Up In-Store" functionality.

18. commercetools: Requires custom development to implement buy online and pick up in-store functionality.

19. Shopify Plus: Supports online campaigns, but activation in physical channels may require additional integrations.

20. commercetools: Requires custom development and/or integration with marketing systems for multichannel campaigns.

21. BigCommerce: Supports online campaigns; other channels may require additional integrations.

22. commercetools: Does not include AI natively but can integrate with external tools.

23. Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Offers integrated A/B testing capabilities, allowing merchants to perform tests and optimizations.

24. VTEX: Includes A/B testing functionalities, allowing experimentation with different versions of the store.

25. Shopify Plus: Offers A/B testing tools and integrates with specialized applications for more advanced tests.

26. commercetools: Requires integration with external tools or custom development to perform A/B testing.

27. BigCommerce: Provides A/B testing capabilities through native integrations and third-party applications.

28. Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Offers integration with marketplaces like Amazon but may require additional development or third-party integration.

29. VTEX: Provides native integrations with marketplaces like Amazon and Mercado Libre.

30. commercetools: Integration with marketplaces depends on custom development or third-party solutions.

31. Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Allows creating loyalty programs, discounts, and promotions but may require custom configuration or additional modules.

32. VTEX: Offers integrated tools to manage loyalty programs, discounts, and promotions.

33. commercetools: Requires customization or integration with external solutions to implement loyalty programs and promotions.

34. Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Does not have native email marketing; integrates with Salesforce Marketing Cloud or other external tools.

35. VTEX: Offers basic email marketing functionalities but may need to integrate specialized solutions for advanced campaigns.

36. commercetools: Does not include native email marketing; requires integration with external platforms for this functionality.

37. BigCommerce: Provides basic native email marketing tools, including simple automations; advanced functionalities may require integrations.

38. commercetools: Requires integration or customization to manage subscription sales.

39. Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Has limited capabilities for content management; generally requires integration with an external CMS for blog functionalities.

40. VTEX: Offers basic functionalities for content creation but may be limited for advanced blogging needs; may require integration with an external CMS.

41. commercetools: Does not have an integrated CMS; managing content like blogs requires integrating an external CMS.

42. BigCommerce: Includes integrated blog functionality that allows creating and managing content easily.

43. Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Features an admin interface with limited drag-and-drop capabilities; advanced customizations may require additional development.

44. VTEX: Offers content management tools with drag-and-drop functionalities to design pages and components.

45. commercetools: Does not offer a native drag-and-drop interface; requires integration with a headless CMS that supports this functionality.

46. BigCommerce: Includes a visual page editor with drag-and-drop, facilitating site customization without code.

47. Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Focused on custom personalization, it has few pre-designed templates.

48. VTEX: Offers some templates but is oriented toward developer-customized solutions.

49. Shopify Plus: Over 100 templates available in its official store, both free and paid.

50. commercetools: Templates depend entirely on customization; requires custom development.

51. BigCommerce: Has a wide selection of templates for online stores

Which eCommerce Platform Is Better?

Choosing the right eCommerce platform depends on your company's specific needs and strategic objectives.

• Salesforce Commerce Cloud is ideal for large corporations seeking deep integration and advanced personalization within the Salesforce ecosystem.

• VTEX offers a robust solution for companies seeking flexibility and wanting to operate their own marketplaces, with a growing global presence.

• Shopify Plus stands out for its balance between ease of use and customization capacity. It's a solid option for companies looking to scale quickly without investing in large technical teams.

• commercetools is perfect for companies requiring total flexibility and willing to invest in development to create unique experiences.

• BigCommerce is an attractive option for medium and large companies seeking a balance between ease of use and customization capabilities, with competitive costs.

It's important to analyze the functions, costs, and technical requirements of each platform. You should also consider how they fit your business needs, both now and in the future. Consulting with experts or representatives of each platform can provide additional insights to make the most informed and strategic decision.