The store system comparison - Selection criteria & checklist
Not all store systems are the same – as a glance at the variety of solutions and providers on the market shows. Choosing the right system for your own online store is a challenging task for many retailers, especially if they are entering eCommerce for the first time. Numerous providers vie for attention, lists of functions are long, price models are difficult to compare – the choice can quickly become overwhelming.
This is exactly where this store system comparison comes in. The page bundles:
If you can clarify and answer the majority of these requirements and questions for yourself, you are very well prepared to find your way through the “jungle” of store systems and make an informed decision.
A structured comparison of store systems based on relevant criteria is the foundation for making the right choice. Our free downloadable checklist will help you make the right decision.
Before you go into detail, it’s worth taking a look at the fundamental question: What are the benefits of having your own online store – and what role does it play in your business model? Our guide to successful eCommerce shows you the most important arguments:
How to proceed when selecting a store system
Before going into the details, it helps to take a clear look at the process: How do you approach the decision for a store system in a structured way and without getting bogged down?
Selection process in 4 steps
A tried and tested procedure can be roughly divided into four steps:
1. clarify framework conditions
2. limit system types & providers
3. check functional & technical requirements
4. test phase & well-founded decision
With a clear 4-step process, you can avoid ad-hoc decisions and maintain an overview when selecting a store system.
Avoid typical mistakes when choosing a store system
In addition to the criteria, it is helpful to know which typical mistakes should be avoided:
If you keep an eye on price, resources, interfaces and migration, you can avoid the biggest stumbling blocks when deciding on a system.
Just look at the price
Getting started at a low price can be tempting. However, if important functions are missing or the system does not grow with you, there will be considerable additional costs for workarounds, migration or individual developments later on.
Underestimating resource requirements
Even the best store system does not do all the work for retailers. Setup, maintenance, content creation and optimization require time and expertise – internally or via service providers.
Considering integrations and interfaces too late
If you know from the outset that ERP, CRM, marketplaces or logistics systems are to be integrated, you should consider these requirements at an early stage – especially if existing systems are in place.
Ignoring migration and the exit scenario
Store systems are usually used for several years. Nevertheless, it makes sense to consider early on how portable data is and what a subsequent system change might look like.
A clear, realistic assessment of your own situation helps to avoid these stumbling blocks.
Strategic Framework conditions & objectives
Before comparing individual store systems, your own starting position should be clearly outlined. If you know where you want your store to go, you can make a much more targeted selection.
Business model, target groups & growth
The central preliminary questions include:
Which business model is being pursued?
B2C, B2B or a hybrid form? Are you aiming for one-off orders or subscription models? Should services, digital products or physical goods be sold?
What does the product range look like – today and in the future?
Which markets are to be served?
The clearer these points are, the more specifically systems can be selected that match the product range, target groups and growth targets.
The right store system is created in the area of conflict between the business model, growth targets and available resources.
Budget, resources & project schedule
In addition to content-related goals, economic and organizational framework conditions are decisive:
Budget for acquisition and furnishing
Budget for ongoing operations
Availability of know-how and time
By answering these questions in advance, you can avoid surprises later on and evaluate listings more realistically.
System types & architecture of the store system
Store systems differ not only in their range of functions, but also in their technical architecture and operating model. These fundamental decisions have an impact on costs, flexibility and dependencies.
SaaS, on-premise & open source in comparison
Important system types are:
SaaS (Software-as-a-Service)
On-Premise / Self-Hosted
Open source systems
The choice of system type has a fundamental impact on start-up speed, flexibility, costs and dependence on one provider.
It should be noted for the purposes of comparison:
Hosting, scalability & internationalization
Further structural questions about the system architecture:
Where is the store hosted and where are the servers located?
Good scaling of the system?
Is the system fit for internationalization?
These criteria help to weed out systems that do not fit in with long-term growth plans.
Functional requirements for a store system
Once the framework conditions and system type have been determined, it is worth taking a closer look at the specific functions in day-to-day operations: How well does the store system support operations?
A good store system combines product and content management, user experience and marketing with payment, shipping and integrations to form a coherent whole.
Product, product range & content management
Central questions about the back end and product management:
Usability of the back end
Product and catalog management
Content management
UX, store design, marketing & SEO functions
A store system should offer solid foundations for user experience, store design and marketing:
Templates and design
Product presentation
User experience & convenience functions
Marketing & SEO
These functions have a direct impact on visibility, conversion and customer loyalty.
Navigation, layout and customer journey should not be secondary factors when choosing a system: they influence conversion, brand perception and customer satisfaction. We explain in detail which UX aspects you should consider when setting up and designing your store on our guide page:
The SEO capabilities and GAIO suitability of your store system will determine how Good your store will be visible in search results and AI overviews. We have compiled a list of the SEO features a system should offer and what you need to look out for in detail on our GAIO & SEO guide page:”
Payment methods, shipping & interfaces
Payment and shipping are crucial for customer satisfaction and conversion. Important checkpoints:
Available payment options
Shipping and logistics
Interfaces and integrations
A store system should offer sufficient flexibility to cover current and future requirements.
If you plan to use multiple sales channels or automate warehousing and shipping, the combination of store system and ERP should be considered from the outset. We explain in detail what this interaction looks like in practice on our guide page:
Technical, legal & security aspects
In addition to the functional level, technical quality, safety and legal framework conditions play a central role.
Performance, stability & expandability
Important questions about the technical basis:
A system that quickly reaches its limits under load can slow down growth considerably.
Data protection, compliance & data security
Legal and safety aspects should be included in the customer review at an early stage:
Data protection & compliance
Safety & protective measures
Tax and legal requirements
Migration, updates & roadmap of the provider
A store system is not a snapshot in time, but is operated for years. That’s why it’ s worth looking ahead:
Migration capability & exit scenario
Further development & roadmap
Update policy and release cycle
Asking questions at an early stage prevents later dependencies that are difficult to resolve.
Operation, support & Total costs
In addition to functionality and technology, operation, support and overall cost-effectiveness also determine whether a store system is a good fit in the long term.
When comparing store systems, the total costs over several years should always be taken into account - not just the seemingly low entry price.
License models, running costs & TCO
The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) includes:
One-off costs
Ongoing costs
It is worth looking not only at the initial price, but also at the costs over several years. This allows you to compare systems that may seem cheap at first glance, but may become more expensive in the long term – or vice versa.
Support, training & community
Good store systems also depend on a strong environment:
Support from the provider
Training & knowledge transfer
Community & ecosystem
A strong environment reduces dependency on individual service providers and facilitates the long-term development of the store.
Download the store system checklist
Our printable or interactively fillable store system checklist is a great way to make use of all the points mentioned in the decision-making process. It will help you keep an overview.
On several clearly structured pages you can:
Use the checklist to evaluate 2-3 store systems based on standardized criteria, add notes on strengths and weaknesses and make an informed decision at the end.
With an evaluation matrix, store systems can be compared objectively and strengths and weaknesses can be made transparent.
Conclusion - how to find the right store system
Choosing the right store system is a crucial step for the success of an online store. It influences:
The checklist presented here bundles the most important criteria and questions so that the decision for a store system can be made in a balanced and reliable manner.
For a more in-depth look at individual aspects, it is worth taking a look at the other pages of the guidebook world on the subject of store systems – for example on:
This creates a step-by-step decision-making basis that retailers can use to choose a store system that is not only a good fit for their business model today, but also for the years to come.
“Once you have recorded your requirements in a structured way using the checklist, it’s worth looking back at the big picture: system types, setups and the role of the online store in the overall concept. Our guide summarizes these basics in a compact format – click here for an overview:
The store system comparison – selection criteria & checklist
