As a growing enterprise, you need an eCommerce platform that can scale with you. Since all programs are not built equally, it’s important to carefully weigh your options before replatforming. Today, we’ll compare Shopify Plus with Oracle CX Commerce so you can make the most informed decision for your company.
First, let’s discuss some background information on each platform.
What is Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus is the enterprise-level tier of the DIY eCommerce builder under the same name. The cloud-based SaaS (software-as-a-service) platform offers users with little to no development knowledge an “out of the box” eCommerce store creation and management experience. The Plus version is built specifically for large brands expecting heavy traffic and quick growth.
What is Oracle CX Commerce?
Similarly, Oracle CX Commerce is a SaaS solution for online B2B (business-to-business) and D2C (direct-to-consumer) commerce, delivered as a part of the Oracle Cloud, or the brand’s suite of products. Oracle’s cloud-based applications promise users a smart, streamlined way of doing business so their stores can remain ultra-competitive in this fierce eCommerce market.
How do Shopify Plus and Oracle CX Commerce Compare?
While both platforms can help your blossoming business grow, the potential paths to success differ. Based on your company infrastructure and goals, you should carefully consider the pros and cons of each platform before making a decision. Today, we’ll discuss the best and most beneficial features of both Shopify Plus and Oracle CX Commerce so you can find out which company better suits yours.
Shopify Plus Pros
Shopify Plus introduces a plethora of new applications and features for users on their enterprise-level tier. For example, Shopify Flow is a customization that allows for automation of inventory and order processes that were otherwise manual. This reduces time and funds wasted due to human error.
On the note of automation, Shopify Launchpad facilitates the easier creation of sales events and campaigns. With it, you can create settings to automatically update special themes or initiate large discounts. Plus, it even tracks and analyzes sale performance, with options to quickly adjust the marketing plan as needed.
Another boasting point for Shopify is simply named Shopify Pay. This special payment gateway processes all of the most popular payment methods. However, it also offers Plus plan users the option to allow customers to save their checkout information for later. This creates a faster, more user-friendly checkout process — increasing the likelihood your customers will shop again. With Shopify Plus, business owners also have the ability to create discount codes and gift cards, too.
And, if that’s not good enough, Shopify Plus also comes with newly written scripts to automate or personalize the shopping cart experience even further. For example, it helps with dynamic upselling, cross-promoting products, automatic discounts, and intuitively removing certain payment/shipping methods based on the cart’s contents.
As a company expands, B2B commerce becomes more possible — and profitable. Shopify Plus offers built-in wholesale channels with smart features for your reseller network. With a personalized wholesale login section, different price lists, submission of payment orders, and more, you can further expand your selling opportunities.
Last, but definitely not least, take your business to ultra-new levels with extended API integration capabilities. Shopify Plus permits for major customizations to functionality and interface by means of 5x API call rates and improved data flow efficiencies.
Shopify Plus Cons
Though Shopify Plus is extremely helpful, it’s not without some bugs. Here are a few cons that current users had to report:
- The ability to merge accounts for users with the same email address would be helpful.
- Shopify’s API used to be difficult to manage, but updates have helped, and more seem to be on the horizon.
- Additional triggers would be nice when setting up flow paths.
- Options on the app store could be increased or included to avoid the need for third-party applications.
- If not using Shopify’s built-in analytics, other analytical integrations are a bit tricky.
Oracle CX Commerce Pros
Oracle CX Commerce prioritizes B2B commerce with a self-service customer channel. It allows your wholesale shoppers to enjoy a comfortable, personalized user experience that still has the powerful features needed to meet B2B requirements. With custom catalogs and prices, account hierarchies and permissions, approval workflows, punchout procurement, and more, you can facilitate better B2B commerce.
However, Oracle CX Commerce doesn’t leave D2C commerce behind. The platform is designed with customization in mind so that you can bolster customer engagement, sales, and loyalty every step of the way. Plus, with a centralized system of control, even non-technical users can easily manage store content from one simple, intuitive interface.
Another “pro” in Oracle’s "column" is the ability to add a flexible, scalable quoting service to your online store. For both B2B and D2C customers, the CPQ (configure, price, quote) tool helps improve margin control by providing more professional, more accurate quotes and proposals.
Plus, Oracle CX Commerce boasts of a unifying experience, based on the infrastructure of the platform itself. As just one portion of Oracle’s powerful suite of tools, users can take advantage of intelligent customer analytics and reporting. With features like a unified customer profile, real-time personalization, identity resolution, built-in AI, and configuration data models, you can quickly learn to better serve your customers — individually, and as a whole.
Oracle CX Commerce Cons
Though Oracle’s suite of software provides many benefits to its users, the platform is not perfect. Here are a few areas where current users thought Oracle CX Commerce could improve:
- The initial setup process is not very user-friendly.
- Documentation is vague and poorly organized, making the location of useful information quite difficult.
- The program could provide a more thorough search system to let clients better search for products.
- Transaction processing speeds are quite slow.
- Oracle support teams are not very transparent with the timelines surrounding bugs/issues.
- Logging and administrative access are limited.
- Initial implementation of Oracle’s software is expensive and requires the use of multiple partners.
- The pricing models are harsh and out of scope for mid-range businesses.
- ATG Web Commerce is a very specialized skill, thus causing difficulty in locating support staff for it.
- Lack of community support due to the newness of the product.
Which eCommerce Platform is Better – Shopify Plus or Oracle CX Commerce?
At the end of the day, the platform best for you really depends upon you: your store, needs, and goals. Though both platforms have plenty to offer, it’s likely that one is stronger suited to your business plan. Carefully weigh the pros and cons above, and you are sure to choose the best eCommerce platform!
If you have more questions about Shopify Plus, check out our review here. Or, check out one of our other eCommerce comparison blog posts:
