Hey everyone,
I’m in a bit of a pickle and could use some advice. We’ve got this online store we built from scratch using React, AWS, and MySQL. It’s pretty cool with all the usual e-commerce stuff plus some fancy features like auctions and a custom admin tool.
Now my boss is thinking about moving to Shopify. The new folks we’re bringing in are all for it, saying it’ll be easier to change the site without bugging the dev team.
But here’s the thing: we’ve got some unique features I’m not sure Shopify can handle. We’re talking:
- Auction system with different bidding types
- Text alerts for auction updates
- Separate storefronts for different brands
- Complicated payment splitting
- Flash sales
- EDI and API integrations
- Drop shipping setup
I’ve never really used Shopify before. Can it actually do all this stuff? Or are we better off sticking with our custom setup?
What do you think? Is moving to Shopify a good move or should we stay put? Any thoughts would be super helpful!
Having worked with both custom platforms and Shopify, I can offer some insight. Shopify excels at standard e-commerce functionality and can handle many of your needs out of the box. However, your unique features like the auction system and complex payment splitting might prove challenging to implement. While Shopify’s app ecosystem is extensive, you may find that piecing together multiple apps to replicate your current functionality could become cumbersome and potentially costly. Custom development on Shopify is possible, but it might negate some of the benefits of moving to a managed platform. Consider carefully whether the trade-off between ease of management and flexibility is worth it for your business. If your custom features are core to your business model, staying with your current setup might be the wisest choice. Ultimately, the decision should align with your long-term business strategy and growth plans.
As someone who’s been through a similar transition, I can tell you it’s not a simple decision. We moved from a custom platform to Shopify a couple of years ago, and while it has its benefits, it also came with challenges.
Shopify is great for standard e-commerce, but your requirements are pretty complex. The auction system and custom bidding types might be tough to replicate, and you may need to compromise on some distinctive features you have currently. However, with an extensive app ecosystem, you might find third-party solutions for text alerts and flash sales. The complications around payment splitting and specific EDI/API integrations might require additional custom development.
Ultimately, if ease of management and quicker updates are your priorities, Shopify might be worth considering. But if maintaining your unique functionalities is critical, staying with your custom setup could be the better option.