E-Commerce Software Comparison

How does Sana Commerce measure up?

Are you looking for the perfect E-Commerce Software?

There are a lot of e-commerce vendors out there, and they all claim to be the best. There’s no doubt that each one is the best for someone, but the real question is: which e-commerce software is the best for you? It all depends on your industry, business size, goals and needs. We want to help you find the perfect solution for your business, even if it’s not ours.

What are the different types of E-Commerce Software?

Below, you’ll find an overview of the four main types of e-commerce software. Once you’ve learned more about each type, you can download the chart to see how they compare on ERP connectivity and integration, maintenance, customer view, online customer access to documentation, order fulfillment process, web store launch process, design and add-on possibilities.

ERP Integrated

ERP integrated e-commerce software is built directly in the ERP, transforming the ERP into a single source of truth.

Shopping Cart

Shopping cart software exists independently from the ERP and other backoffice systems and has its own table structure.

Connectors

Connectors refer to a third-party application used to sync a web store with an ERP system.

Interfaced

Interfaced e-commerce options include a CMS and a connector to sync information to and from the ERP system.

Example: Sana Commerce

Integrated e-commerce solutions are built to turn the ERP into engine running an online store. Using the data from the ERP along with the e-commerce site, it becomes possible to create more relevant, engaging and personalized online experiences.

This software integrates front- and back-office systems to provide a unified business environment that much more easily scalable, customizable and extensible, in addition to providing time-saving automation functionality.

It gives customer service reps a single view of a customer across all channels. Orders from multiple channels and inventory are all managed from one system and can efficiently fulfilled from that same system. Even a customer’s order history can be leveraged to provide personalized and relevant offers.

Shopping Cart Software

Examples: Magento, BigCommerce, Shopify, WooCommerce

This type of application is used to standup the front end web store, but has its own table structure. This means all the information used online has to be created in that system (e.g. product information, product attributes, pricing, inventory). Likewise, orders captured online from the front end web store write back to the shopping cart platform, which again, is separate from any back office system.

This type of software is heavily focused on B2C, which is less complex than B2B. So when it comes to B2B sales, these applications often lack functionality needed for complex ordering, for example, adequate roles, rights or authorizations for placing orders as a business.

Connectors

Examples: i95Dev, Malibu Commerce, eBridge Connections

Connectors are the third party application used to sync a web store with an ERP system. While these applications create a bi-directional flow of information between two systems, this typically occurs at a pre-defined interval, meaning it’s not true real-time. Data is also replicated and synchronized rather than available in real-time directly from the ERP.

Interfaced E-Commerce Software

Example: K-eCommerce

These applications include a tool to manage the customer-facing frontend web store, so CMS and other e-commerce functionality like capturing web orders or promotions. They also include a connector, built in-house, to sync information to and from the ERP system.

This type of application are that it does not offer a true real-time synchronization and data replication still has to occur. And in some instances, just like with shopping cart applications, certain data that already resides in the ERP, has to be recreated in the application due to limitations of the connector the competitor has architect.