Three basic options
Choosing an e-commerce platform usually comes down to three paths. Each has its place; the right choice depends on what a company sells and how it sells.
Hosted subscription platforms get you started quickly and require no technical knowledge. They make sense for companies that sell standard products, run a single store and don't need custom workflows. Their limit is that they are only as flexible as the platform allows.
Open-source software offers a large plugin ecosystem. It's flexible, but as each need is met with yet another plugin, the maintenance load grows, and plugins can break each other or break with updates.
Boutique platforms such as IMFLEXI are built and maintained by a dedicated team and shaped around your needs. They stand out when you have a non-standard product structure, dealer sales or multiple stores.
Decision table
| Need | Hosted platform | Open source | Boutique platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick start, standard products | Suitable | Suitable | Suitable |
| Dealer-specific pricing and accounts | Limited | With plugins | Built in |
| Product configurator | Limited | With plugins | Built in |
| Multiple stores and languages | Depends on plan | With plugins | Built in |
| Custom ERP connection | Limited by the API | With development | Part of the project |
| Maintenance responsibility | The platform | You | The platform team |
The table gives a general direction; products within the same category can differ a lot. What matters is how a platform handles the rows that are critical for you.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Are my products standard, or do they take shape based on the customer's choices?
- Will I show different prices to dealers or corporate customers?
- Where do stock and prices come from — the ERP, a spreadsheet or the website itself?
- Do I sell on marketplaces now, or will I in the future?
- Do I plan to add a new brand, language or country in the next two years?
- When something goes wrong, who will be my point of contact?
If you answer "yes" to two or three of these, there's a good chance you'll hit the limits of a hosted platform fairly soon.
Don't forget the cost of migrating
Changing platforms isn't just setting up a new system. Product data, customer accounts, order history and, most importantly, your product URLs in search engines all have to move with you. That's why we recommend factoring in your growth plans, not just today's needs, when you make the first choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is a boutique platform overkill for a small store?
If your needs are standard, a hosted platform may well be enough, and we'll tell you so honestly. A boutique platform starts to make sense once your products or sales model become more specialized.
Will I be locked into IMFLEXI's source code?
The platform is developed and maintained by Globya. Your data is yours; you can export your product, customer and order data in standard formats.
I can't decide — where should I start?
We start with a short preliminary analysis to map out your needs. For details, see our free preliminary analysis page.
You can go back to the full e-commerce service page, or get in touch with us with any questions.