Choose the right e-commerce platform for your business.

Comparison of the Viskan and Shopify platforms

The e-commerce platform you choose has a major impact on how successful your online business will be. Depending on your business and your goals, you need a solution that meets your needs and lets your e-commerce grow without friction. To make it easier for you to see which features and capabilities matter most for your business, we’ve compared two well-known e-commerce platforms on the market: Viskan E-commerce Platform and Shopify. 

Shopify or Viskan E-commerce Platform? - comparing features and customisation options

Flexibility and scalability for growth with Viskan E-commerce Platform

Viskan E-commerce Platform has a modular composable architecture that makes it easy to adapt the platform to your business and your needs. It comes with extensive functionality from the outset, and thanks to powerful APIs you can easily access a wide range of features and ready-made third-party solutions that let you develop and scale your e-commerce smoothly. With automated processes in place, you can spend more time increasing sales.

The platform’s extensive customisation and expansion options make it future-proof and well suited to your growth journey. It is also built for high volumes, so your flows, load times and more are not affected by heavy demand as your business grows. Viskan is a Swedish company. That gives you a secure, close and long-term relationship with knowledgeable experts, support in Swedish and a strong understanding of your business. 

Key features:

• Composable with Open API – giving you extensive scope to tailor the platform to your needs.
• High performance – able to meet the demands and load that come with growth.
• High degree of automation – contributing to greater efficiency and increased sales.
• Intuitive CMS - Easy to manage your entire site structure, design and content without theme limitations.
• Continuous upgrades – giving you greater competitiveness and the flexibility to respond to market changes. Another advantage of continuous upgrades that happen automatically is that you are not locked into a specific version of the platform. Otherwise, upgrading to the next version often requires time, resources and money.

Successful e-commerce businesses that have grown with Viskan:

A platform for straightforward e-commerce with Shopify

Shopify is a simple, user-friendly e-commerce platform that is easy to launch and configure. It lets you get your online business up and running quickly, without needing technical expertise. The platform has a large app ecosystem available through the Shopify App Store. That gives it an easy plug-and-play setup where you can add tools, services and features yourself.

Shopify has a mobile-first approach that creates a seamless experience across devices. Multi-store features also make it easier to manage different languages and currencies, among other things, for sales across multiple markets.

Key features:

• Easy to use – quick to get started with and simple to work in.
• App ecosystem – third-party apps available via the Shopify App Store.
• Content management - Easy to manage content within the limits of the theme.
• Free trial and simple onboarding – making it possible to get started at a low cost.

Comparison between Viskan E-commerce Platform and Shopify

So how do Viskan E-commerce Platform and Shopify differ depending on the stage your e-commerce business is at, what your business needs are, and how you plan to grow and develop?

Implementation

• Viskan E-commerce Platform: Focuses on customisation and long-term use during implementation and launch.
• Shopify: Quick to launch for simpler needs.

Costs

• Viskan E-commerce Platform: Higher initial cost but lower TCO over time. It is cost-effective to scale.
• Shopify: Low initial cost, but transaction-based costs increase as sales grow and the business scales. Return costs and transaction fees for external payment gateways are added on, making it a more expensive solution over time.

Customisation

• Viskan E-commerce Platform: Extensive scope to tailor the platform thanks to Open API, composable architecture and many seamless partner integrations. You have the freedom to build your own ecosystem for composable commerce. Unlimited dynamic templates for creating unique stores.
• Shopify: An all-in-one solution with a wide range of apps for different functions and services, but not the same level of customisation as a composable platform. Includes templates and themes for building stores.

Volumes

• Viskan E-commerce Platform: High performance that handles genuinely high volumes of transactions, orders and traffic. Has a powerful open API with no call limits that is updated every week, ensuring strong integration functionality even at high volumes and during change.
• Shopify: Scalable, but can have limitations when it comes to handling very high traffic volumes. Has limits on the number of API calls.

Complexity

• Viskan E-commerce Platform: Many valuable features are already built into the platform, reducing dependence on external apps. The platform is highly adaptable, even without coding skills.
• Shopify: Can be extended with a wide range of apps. As your business grows and new needs arise for more features and systems, the need for more apps also increases. That brings higher costs and greater complexity, as the apps become harder to oversee and changes in one app can affect other parts of the platform.

Support

• Viskan E-commerce Platform: In-depth support site and personal support in Swedish, Finnish and English. A dedicated account manager with a deep understanding of your business and your circumstances.
• Shopify: Comprehensive support site, virtual assistant and support team available 24/7. No personal contact.

Customer relationships

• Viskan E-commerce Platform: Builds long-term customer relationships with proven results. Every customer has a dedicated account manager at Viskan.
• Shopify: Has a very large number of customers, but shorter customer relationships (a majority leave Shopify after 9 months).

Which e-commerce platform is the best fit for your business?

The answer depends on your circumstances, your needs and your plans. If you’re a start-up that wants to get going quickly, one type of platform may be right for you, while another may be a better fit if you’re planning rapid growth and expansion into new markets. Here’s how Viskan E-commerce Platform and Shopify fit different situations.

Viskan E-commerce Platform is the right fit for your business if you:

• Need to adapt and tailor the platform to your specific requirements, and want to keep developing it with more functionality as your e-commerce grows.
• Expect rapid growth with high transaction volumes and sales across international markets, and want to avoid having your growth held back by limited technical support.
• Want to run sales efficiently and need a high level of automation that lets you focus on selling, while also getting access to tools such as an advanced CMS and comprehensive campaign management that help you sell more.
• Need powerful, easy-to-use support for B2B sales, omnichannel or subscription.
• Want a lower TCO over time as your business grows.
• Want a powerful, flexible e-commerce platform that can grow with your business and give you the support you need, no matter how large or fast your growth is.
• Are looking for a long-term partnership where, alongside the platform, you also get advice, tips and insights into how to develop your e-commerce. Viskan is a local Swedish partner with strong knowledge of your market and the ability to support you in your own language.

Shopify is the right fit for your business if you:

• Are a start-up that wants to get going quickly and needs an all-in-one solution that is easy to start using.
• Want to avoid larger technology investments at the outset.
• Run a small business and want to establish an online presence without needing in-depth technical knowledge.
• Do not have large product volumes.
• Want an easy-to-use platform and run a type of e-commerce business that does not require extensive functionality.
• Prefer built-in payment management.
• Want support and inspiration from a large community of users.

How to choose the right e-commerce platform for your business

Choosing an e-commerce platform is a decisive factor in your online store’s success. Your needs, goals and growth plans determine which solution is the best fit. Some businesses prioritise flexibility and advanced functionality, while others focus on fast, straightforward implementation.

By comparing different options and identifying which features matter most for your business, you can make a well-informed decision. Whichever platform you choose, it is important that it supports your business both today and in the future.

Viskan has extensive experience in delivering e-commerce solutions for brands, retail, B2B and subscription as a business model.

Want to know more about Viskan E-commerce Platform?