Platform guides
Choosing a platform is a business decision dressed as a technical one. Each guide scores the options against the work your team actually does, so you can shortlist with the tradeoffs in view. Start with the decision you need to make.
Wholesale platforms
For a brand selling to retailers and weighing Shopify B2B, NuORDER, JOOR, Pepperi and BigCommerce B2B. Ten needs scored, from finding buyers and seasonal selling to payment terms and the ERP behind it, so you can shortlist on how your retailers actually order.
Integration platforms
For a business connecting Shopify to an ERP, a warehouse, a wholesale portal or the accounts, and weighing Celigo, Jitterbit and Patchworks against a connection built for it. Ten needs scored on what keeps an integration working after launch, not on the length of the connector list.
Ecommerce platforms
For a consumer brand deciding whether to stay on Shopify, move to BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce or Salesforce Commerce Cloud, or fix the store it already has. Ten needs scored, from launch and checkout to POS, international selling and multiple stores.
Returns and exchanges platforms
For an Australian store deciding whether Shopify's own returns are enough, or whether Loop Returns, Refundid, ReturnGO or AfterShip Returns earns its fee. Ten needs scored, from exchanges and instant refunds to Australian carriers, POS and pricing.
Search and merchandising tools
For a store deciding whether Shopify's free Search & Discovery is enough, or whether Tagalys, Algolia or Athos Commerce (formerly Searchspring) earns its fee. Ten needs scored, from relevance and filtering to who arranges the collections and how much of it happens inside the theme.
Loyalty platforms
For a store deciding whether it needs a points program at all, and if it does, whether LoyaltyLion, Smile or Yotpo Loyalty fits. Ten needs scored against Shopify's own segments, discounts and store credit, with the plan gates that change the answer.
Email and SMS platforms
For an Australian store choosing between Klaviyo, Attentive and Shopify Messaging (formerly Shopify Email). Ten needs scored, from segmentation and automation to pricing, including which of the three can send SMS to Australian numbers.
Reviews and UGC platforms
For a store choosing between Okendo, Yotpo, Judge.me and REVIEWS.io. Ten needs scored on whether reviews get collected, shown on the product page and used elsewhere, with the country limits that decide what an Australian store can actually syndicate.
Choose a useful starting point
A platform decision is also a decision about buyers, products, stock, fulfilment and the people who will run it. If you already know what is getting in the way, tell us and we can start there.
