In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, selecting the right platform to power your online business is crucial. BigCommerce, Salesforce, and Shopify are three popular options that offer a range of features and capabilities.

This article aims to provide readers with valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of these platforms across key areas such as branding, selling in person, reaching more shoppers, engaging via email, increasing store capabilities, customization options, pricing, customer support, scalability, and growth potential.

Make an informed decision with this comprehensive comparison.

Branding and Image

When it comes to branding and image, BigCommerce and Salesforce require third-party programs in order to create a strong brand presence. These programs are essential for dropshipping, wholesaling, and connecting with wholesalers.

With BigCommerce, merchants can integrate with platforms like Branding Brand or ShipStation to streamline their dropshipping operations and manage multiple wholesalers.

Salesforce, on the other hand, relies on apps like CloudCraze or Commerce Cloud to enhance the brand image and facilitate wholesaling activities. These third-party programs offer a range of features and functionalities, including inventory management, order tracking, and seamless integration with wholesalers’ systems.

Selling in Person

When it comes to selling in person, BigCommerce and Salesforce require the integration of a POS app, while Shopify offers a seamless solution right out of the box.

With its robust POS system, Shopify makes it easy for merchants to sell in brick-and-mortar and pop-up locations without the need for additional third-party programs.

Furthermore, Shopify’s POS is available globally, allowing businesses to track their sales from one centralized platform.

POS App Integration

BigCommerce and Salesforce require connecting a POS app to enable selling in person. This means that merchants using these platforms need to integrate a third-party point-of-sale (POS) app to conduct sales in brick-and-mortar stores or at events.

On the other hand, Shopify offers a comprehensive POS solution right out of the box, making it seamless for merchants to sell in physical locations. Shopify POS is available in 17 countries and allows businesses to track their sales from one centralized location. This eliminates the need for additional integrations and provides a streamlined experience for merchants.

With Shopify’s built-in POS capabilities, merchants can easily manage their in-person sales and synchronize them with their online store.

Seamless Brick-And-Mortar Sales

How does Shopify’s seamless brick-and-mortar sales solution compare to BigCommerce and Salesforce?

When it comes to selling in person, Shopify offers a robust POS solution out of the box, making it seamless for businesses to sell in brick-and-mortar and pop-up locations.

Unlike BigCommerce and Salesforce, which require connecting a third-party POS app, Shopify’s built-in POS system allows merchants to track sales from one place.

Available in 17 countries, Shopify POS simplifies the process of managing inventory, accepting payments, and providing a seamless customer experience.

With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, Shopify’s brick-and-mortar sales solution stands out, providing businesses with the tools they need to succeed in physical retail settings.

Global Availability of POS

The global reach of Shopify’s POS system allows businesses to expand their physical retail presence and capitalize on sales opportunities worldwide. Unlike BigCommerce and Salesforce, which require connecting a third-party POS app to sell in person, Shopify offers a robust POS solution out of the box. This makes it seamless for merchants to sell in brick-and-mortar and pop-up locations.

Shopify POS is available in 17 countries, allowing merchants to track sales from one centralized place. This global availability gives businesses the flexibility to reach customers in different regions and tap into new markets. With Shopify’s POS system, businesses can confidently expand their operations and increase their revenue by selling in person on a global scale.

Reaching More Shoppers

Shopify’s extensive list of channel integrations and apps allows businesses to tap into various online platforms, effectively expanding their reach to a larger pool of potential shoppers. With integrations like Instagram, Facebook, Walmart, Amazon, Google, TikTok, and Pinterest, Shopify provides a wide range of options for businesses to reach more customers.

The size of the Shopify ecosystem also makes it attractive for technology partners and developers, leading to the continuous growth of available integrations and apps. This not only extends the reach of businesses but also helps attract more shoppers by providing seamless access to popular online platforms.

Engaging via Email

When it comes to engaging customers via email, Shopify stands out with its user-friendly email app. Merchants can easily create, schedule, and track campaigns directly from the dashboard, allowing for quick and efficient communication.

On the other hand, Salesforce merchants can run campaigns through the Salesforce Marketing Cloud, but the setup process may not be as straightforward as with Shopify Email.

Ultimately, the choice between the two platforms depends on the level of simplicity and capabilities desired for email marketing campaigns.

Shopify’s User-Friendly Email App

One advantage of Shopify’s email app is its user-friendly interface, which allows merchants to easily create, schedule, and track campaigns directly from the dashboard.

Unlike Salesforce, where the setup process for running campaigns through the Salesforce Marketing Cloud can be complex, Shopify’s email app provides a streamlined and intuitive experience for launching campaigns quickly.

The user-friendly interface makes it easy for merchants to design visually appealing emails, select recipients, and determine the best time to send them.

The app also offers tracking capabilities, allowing merchants to monitor the success of their campaigns and make data-driven decisions for future email marketing strategies.

Salesforce Marketing Cloud Setup

The Salesforce Marketing Cloud setup for engaging via email can be a complex process. Unlike Shopify, which offers a built-in email app for creating, scheduling, and tracking campaigns directly from the dashboard, Salesforce requires merchants to run campaigns through the Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

This setup process is not as easy or user-friendly as with Shopify Email. With Shopify’s email app, merchants can launch campaigns quickly and easily, providing a seamless and efficient experience.

While Salesforce Marketing Cloud offers robust features and capabilities for email marketing, it may require additional time and resources to set up and optimize. Merchants should carefully consider their needs and resources when choosing between Salesforce and Shopify for engaging via email.

Enhancing Email Campaign Capabilities

As merchants seek to enhance their email campaign capabilities and engage with their audience more effectively, it is important to consider the features and functionalities offered by platforms such as BigCommerce, Salesforce, and Shopify.

When it comes to enhancing email campaign capabilities, Shopify stands out with its built-in email app. This app allows merchants to create, schedule, and track campaigns directly from the dashboard, providing a user-friendly experience for launching campaigns quickly.

On the other hand, Salesforce merchants can run campaigns through the Salesforce Marketing Cloud, but the setup process is not as easy as with Shopify Email.

Therefore, for merchants looking to enhance their email campaign capabilities in a simple and efficient manner, Shopify’s built-in email app offers a convenient solution.

Increasing Store Capabilities

With a wide range of apps available, Shopify offers merchants the ability to increase their store capabilities and enhance their overall ecommerce experience.

Shopify’s app store features over 6,000 apps, including 3,000 free options, that allow merchants to expand the functionality of their online stores. These apps cover a wide range of functionalities, from finding trending products to streamlining customer service processes.

Whether merchants are looking to optimize their inventory management, improve their marketing efforts, or enhance their website design, Shopify provides a multitude of options to meet their specific needs.

Seamless Integration With Dropshipping

A seamless integration with dropshipping is an essential feature for ecommerce platforms like BigCommerce, Salesforce, and Shopify. Dropshipping allows merchants to sell products without holding inventory, as the supplier ships the products directly to the customers.

BigCommerce offers built-in integrations with popular dropshipping providers like AliExpress and Printful, making it easy for merchants to set up and manage their dropshipping operations.

Salesforce, on the other hand, does not have native dropshipping integrations, but it does offer a wide range of third-party apps and extensions that can be used to connect with dropshipping providers.

Shopify, known for its extensive app store, offers various dropshipping apps that seamlessly integrate with the platform, allowing merchants to streamline their dropshipping processes.

Wholesale Features and Functionality

Shopify and BigCommerce offer comprehensive wholesale features and functionality for businesses looking to expand their B2B operations.

Both platforms provide tools that allow merchants to create separate wholesale storefronts, set unique pricing and discounts for wholesale customers, and manage inventory and orders specifically for their wholesale business.

Additionally, they offer features like minimum order quantities, tiered pricing, and custom catalog creation to cater to the needs of wholesale customers.

These platforms also integrate with popular B2B payment gateways, making it easy to handle transactions.

Customization Options and Flexibility

BigCommerce and Salesforce offer a variety of customization options and flexibility for businesses looking to tailor their online stores to their specific needs.

Both platforms provide a range of themes and templates that can be customized to match a brand’s aesthetic and style. Additionally, they allow for the integration of third-party apps and extensions to enhance the functionality of the online store.

BigCommerce and Salesforce also offer advanced customization options, such as the ability to modify the layout, design, and navigation of the website. This allows businesses to create a unique and personalized online shopping experience for their customers.

Furthermore, both platforms provide flexibility in terms of scalability, allowing businesses to easily expand their online presence as their needs grow.

Pricing and Cost Comparison

When comparing the pricing and cost of BigCommerce, Salesforce, and Shopify, it is important to consider the value for money and any potential hidden costs.

While all three platforms offer different pricing plans, it is essential to evaluate the features and capabilities included in each plan to determine which one provides the best value for your specific business needs.

Additionally, it is crucial to consider any additional expenses that may arise, such as transaction fees, app costs, or customization fees, to get a comprehensive understanding of the overall cost.

Value for Money

The pricing and cost comparison between BigCommerce, Salesforce, and other ecommerce platforms is a crucial factor in determining the value for money for businesses. When it comes to pricing, BigCommerce offers plans ranging from $29.95 to $299.95 per month, while Salesforce Commerce Cloud pricing is available upon request, indicating that it may be more expensive.

On the other hand, Shopify offers a range of plans starting from $29 to $299 per month, making it more affordable compared to Salesforce.

In terms of features and functionality, all three platforms offer different capabilities to meet the needs of businesses. However, Shopify stands out with its extensive app store, providing over 6,000 apps to enhance store capabilities.

Ultimately, businesses must carefully consider their budget and the features required to make an informed decision that offers the best value for money.

Hidden Costs?

An analysis of the pricing and cost comparison between BigCommerce, Salesforce, and Shopify reveals potential hidden costs that businesses should consider.

While all three platforms have different pricing models, it is important to look beyond the initial costs and consider additional expenses that may arise.

For instance, BigCommerce charges transaction fees on top of their monthly plans, which can add up depending on the volume of sales.

Salesforce, on the other hand, has complex pricing structures and requires additional modules for certain functionalities, leading to higher costs.

Shopify, although known for its affordable plans, also has additional fees for advanced features and integrations.

Therefore, businesses should carefully evaluate their needs and consider these potential hidden costs before making a decision on which platform to choose.

Customer Support and Training

Both BigCommerce and Salesforce offer comprehensive customer support and training programs to ensure that users have the knowledge and assistance they need to successfully navigate and optimize their ecommerce platforms.

BigCommerce provides 24/7 support through phone, chat, and email, along with an extensive knowledge base and community forum. They also offer a range of training resources, including webinars, videos, and documentation, to help users learn how to make the most of their platform.

Salesforce, on the other hand, offers personalized support through their success plans, which include access to a dedicated customer success manager. They also provide training through webinars, workshops, and Trailhead, their online learning platform.

Both platforms prioritize customer support and training to help their users succeed in their ecommerce endeavors.

Scalability and Growth Potential

To truly assess the scalability and growth potential of BigCommerce, Salesforce, and Shopify, it is important to consider their respective features and capabilities.

BigCommerce offers a scalable platform that can handle high volumes of traffic and transactions, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. It provides advanced features such as multi-store management, international selling, and flexible pricing options, which can support the growth of an online store.

Salesforce, on the other hand, is known for its robust CRM capabilities and integration with other Salesforce products. While it may not be as focused on e-commerce as BigCommerce or Shopify, it offers powerful tools for managing customer relationships and driving sales growth.

Shopify, with its extensive app ecosystem and user-friendly interface, is designed to help businesses scale and expand their online presence. It offers a range of tools and integrations that enable businesses to reach more shoppers and enhance their store capabilities.