eCommerce is the future of retail, and in this digital age, it's hard to imagine a business that doesn't have an online presence. 

The rise of eCommerce platforms has made it easier for businesses to set up an online store and start selling products. However, not all eCommerce platforms are created equal, and some are simply not future-proofed for long-term success. In this article, we'll explore why local proprietary eCommerce platforms are not future-proofed like Shopify Plus (or a few others but let's face it, we're a touch biased).

Customisation limitations

One of the biggest limitations of local proprietary eCommerce platforms is that all customisations must be done by the platform itself.

This means that if you want to make any changes to your online experience, you have to go through the platform owner, which can be a time-consuming and frustrating process. Given the rapid change of technology, and consumer's expectations, speed to market can be critical for growth, and delays can be costly.

In contrast, Shopify Plus offers unparalleled flexibility when it comes to customisation. With Shopify Plus, businesses can work with their agency's  designers and developers (or their own in house team) to create their own customisations and add-ons without needing to go through the platform owner, Shopify.

This makes it easier for businesses to adapt to changing market conditions and stay ahead of the competition.

Client prioritisation

Another limitation of proprietary eCommerce platforms is that internal resources generally favour the biggest clients on the platform, with them leading the roadmap and direction while other clients wait for work to be done.

If you're a smaller business, you may not get the same level of customisation support as larger businesses, but as you don't have access to the code or ability to engage external development resource, you're often left in the difficult position of waiting for your turn.

Shopify Plus is cloud-based, and the level of service is matched across all clients. As long as you pay Shopify's licence fees, you get access to the platform, hosting, security and 24/7 support with Shopify directly, no matter what plan you're on. 

Shopify Plus also empower agencies like Pocket Square to offer primary support and customisation access for those who are looking to push their growth and capabilities much further. This means that even small businesses can benefit from the same level of customisation support as larger businesses, making Shopify Plus a more inclusive and accessible option.

As it's cloud based, you also can easily shift to a new agency if the level of service you're receiving is not where you need it.  That means agencies like Pocket Square have to work hard to keep our clients happy because they can leave at any point.

R&D & Innovation

Finally, R&D and Innovation of the platform is directly tied to the platform owners revenue, customer mix and corporate structure. 

Shopify is a public company, trading in 175 countries with 11,600 employees globally. Their focus is on empowering entrepreneurs and democratising ecommerce with R&D and innovation at the heart of everything they do. Their market cap is $58 Billion, which gives Shopify's customers access so one of the most aggressive eCommerce roadmaps in the market. You can see some of their most recent announcements here: https://www.shopify.com/au/editions/winter2023

In contrast, local solutions can't even begin to compete with numbers at this scale. 

As we move into 2023 and the retail landscape continues to shift, businesses must ask themselves what they platform they believe will be able to cater to the needs of their customers today, and into the future.

Proprietary eCommerce platforms may seem like a cost-effective option for businesses looking to scale, but they are not future-proofed for long-term success. Shopify Plus offers unparalleled flexibility, inclusivity, and functionality, making it the best choice for businesses that want to stay ahead of the competition.