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What is a shop system?
A shop system is software specifically developed for setting up and operating an online store. You can think of it as a central platform that integrates various tools, such as displaying your product range, processing payments and orders, and communicating with customers.
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Why use a shop system at all?
If you want to run an online store, the right e-commerce system will save you a lot of effort. It provides a central platform through which you can efficiently manage your products and customize your store's appearance. All of this happens via a single user interface, eliminating the need to manually program every aspect.
Overall, the shop system not only simplifies the daily operation of your online shop, but also optimizes the shopping experience of your customers.
What advantages does a shop system offer?
Immediate start
Above all, optimal e-commerce solutions should be user-friendly and flexible. Administration should be handled via a well-structured and clear menu that is easy for shop operators to navigate. Powerful product management features are also crucial, allowing for efficient categorization, listing, and updating of items. A powerful shop system also offers flexible payment methods and reliably protects customer data and their transactions.
Flexible scalability
A good shop system allows you to set up your online store quickly and easily, while also taking the growth of your online business into account. Extensibility and integration with other systems, such as CRM and ERP software, are essential for scaling. It should also support advanced SEO features and marketing tools to increase the shop's visibility and boost sales.
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What are the most popular shop systems?
In our comparison, we look at the largest shop systems in German-speaking countries. These include:
- Shopify
- Shopware
- Magento
- WooCommerce
- Strato
- Wix
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How do the shop systems differ?
Not all e-commerce systems are created equal. E-commerce platforms can generally be divided into two main categories: cloud-based solutions and on-premise systems. Both types have their specific advantages and target audiences.
Cloud-based store systems are popular because they are cost-effective and low-maintenance. All data is stored on external servers, so you don't have to worry about server maintenance or software updates yourself. Without any additional effort, you can rely on a professional, stable IT infrastructure for your store. Cloud solutions also offer impressive scalability: They can be expanded as your business grows. This makes them suitable if flexibility and independence from agencies, for example, are important to you. Shopify is a purely cloud-based solution.
On-premise shop systems, on the other hand, are installed directly on your own servers. This provides more control, but the initial costs and ongoing maintenance are generally higher than with cloud solutions. Additionally, you either need technical expertise yourself or should work with experts, such as specialized e-commerce agencies, to set up and expand your shop. Shopware and Magento are considered popular on-premise systems.
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The big comparison of e-commerce software
Which provider is the right choice for you? Our comparison, based on the knowledge of tante-e's online shop experts, will provide you with information and help you decide.
Shopware or Shopify?
Many Shopware retailers are currently facing the transition from Shopware 5 to Shopware 6, which sometimes involves significant additional effort and complications. Many are considering switching to Shopify.
Our comparison of providers shows that Shopware is suitable for larger companies that want to operate their store on-premises and have the budget to work with agencies. Shopify, on the other hand, offers more autonomy and the opportunity to fully utilize the existing customization options without external resources. As a cloud solution, Shopify handles all the hosting and server maintenance.
Magento (Adobe Commerce) or Shopify?
Magento is very similar to Shopware: If you prefer to take complete responsibility for hosting your store yourself, this is the right choice. You have a lot of customization options, but you can only take full advantage of this with appropriate programming skills or external help from agencies.
With Shopify, however, you can represent your brand flexibly and independently on your website. At the same time, you can focus entirely on further development rather than maintenance.
WooCommerce or Shopify?
WooCommerce is a plug-in for the WordPress content management system that extends it with online store functionality. So, if you already have a website with WooCommerce and want to sell a few products there, WooCommerce might be the right choice. However, you should consider the cost of running and maintaining your own server.
Shopify, as a cloud solution and specialized e-commerce system, appeals more to online retailers who want to grow their business long-term. It offers powerful in-house features such as multichannel and Shopify POS as a point-of-sale system for physical sales.
Strato or Shopify?
Strato is an affordable option for setting up a simple online shop and for hobby retailers trying their hand at e-commerce. However, in our experience, retailers who are full-time e-commerce owners quickly reach their limits with Strato.
Compared to Shopify, the customization options are significantly more limited. Features that are integral to Shopify, such as multilingual support or multichannel integrations, are only available with Strato in more expensive plans and with less power.
Wix or Shopify?
Wix has established itself as an intuitive website builder. While its shopping cart features are popular, the lack of access to the code hampers flexible extensibility for developers.
With Shopify, you don't need to code to customize your store thanks to professional designs and apps. However, the platform does offer access to the code for more complex customizations by experts. We therefore recommend Shopify for professional e-commerce projects.
Jimdo or Shopify?
Jimdo is a web service for websites that can be expanded with e-commerce features. So, if your focus is on your website and you also want to sell some products, Jimdo might be the right choice for you.
We recommend Shopify as a scalable shop system that meets even the most demanding enterprise requirements with Shopify Plus.
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Do you want to migrate from another shop system to Shopify?
How we perform shop migrationsA clean and seamless transition from another eCommerce platform to Shopify requires thorough analysis and planning. Therefore, we recommend working with experts who specialize in this type of migration.
At tante-e, we have experience in over 200 successful e-commerce projects and have already completed numerous shop migrations. We would be happy to support you with your online shop.
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How do you choose the right shop system?
Our comparisons can help you decide on your e-commerce software. We also recommend that you consider these questions in particular to make an informed choice:
- How big is your business and what are your growth plans? Consider the scalability requirements your chosen shop system should meet.
- Which payment methods do you want to offer? The right payment methods are crucial for a smooth customer journey. Especially with international requirements, make sure your shop system also supports local payment methods.
- How much is your budget for the shop setup and ongoing costs? The right payment methods are crucial for a smooth customer journey. Especially for international requirements, make sure the shop system also supports local payment methods.
- What technical resources are available to you? Consider whether you have the necessary technical expertise for an on-premise solution or whether you would benefit from intuitive cloud software.
- How demanding are your integration requirements with other systems? Check whether the shop system works seamlessly with other tools you already use or plan to use and whether it offers appropriate interfaces.
- What kind of customer support does the provider offer? Especially in e-commerce, bugs and issues require quick resolution. Make sure the provider offers reliable and easily accessible customer service.
- Are there any specific legal or regulatory requirements that must be met? Consider the specific regulations for your business and region.