Why Most Ecommerce Platform Advice Is Dead Wrong Today

Author

Rich Barker
May 05, 2025

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The TRUTH about Shopify vs Adobe Commerce (...stop spreading lies about which is better):

After 30 years in ecommerce, here's what most "experts" get wrong about these platforms:

They're BOTH excellent - just for different use cases.

Here's when to use each one:

Choose Shopify for B2C ecommerce if you:

  • Need to launch fast

  • Want predictable costs

  • Have revenue under $50M

  • Need best-in-class marketing tools

  • Don't require heavy customization

Let's break down why Shopify excels for B2C:

Speed to Market:

  • Launch a professional store in days, not months

  • Pre-built themes mean minimal development time

  • User-friendly admin panel requires minimal training

  • Quick integration with payment processors

Predictable Costs:

  • Clear monthly pricing tiers

  • No surprise hosting or maintenance fees

  • Transparent transaction fees

  • Built-in security and updates included

Marketing Excellence:

  • Native integration with Meta, Google, and TikTok ads

  • Built-in email marketing tools

  • Advanced analytics and customer tracking

  • Automated abandoned cart recovery

  • Simple discount code creation

Perfect for Growing Brands:

  • Scales smoothly up to $50M in revenue

  • Extensive app marketplace for added functionality

  • Regular platform updates with new features

  • 24/7 technical support included

Choose Adobe Commerce (Magento) for B2B if you:

  • Need full code customization

  • Want data privacy

  • Have complex pricing workflows

  • Require multi-store/language setup

  • Need legacy system integration

Let's explore why Adobe Commerce dominates B2B:

Complete Customization:

  • Full access to source code

  • Custom workflow creation

  • Unique pricing rules per customer

  • Specialized ordering systems

  • Integration with any third-party tool

Data Privacy & Control:

  • Host on your own servers

  • Complete ownership of customer data

  • No revenue sharing required

  • Enhanced security options

Enterprise Features:

  • Multiple store management from one dashboard

  • Advanced inventory management

  • Complex B2B pricing matrices

  • Custom quote systems

  • Sophisticated role permissions

Legacy System Integration:

  • Seamless ERP connectivity

  • Custom API development

  • Warehouse management integration

  • Complex shipping logic support

The problem?

"Experts" on LinkedIn spread misinformation to secure platform commissions.

They claim one platform is "dead" or "outdated" when they've never actually worked with both.

This misleading advice hurts businesses making critical tech decisions.

Here's the truth:

Both platforms are thriving in their lanes.

Choose based on YOUR business needs, not someone's commission goals.

Whenever you're ready, here's how we can help you:

Harris Web Works is a digital transformation agency that helps supply chain partners (manufacturers, wholesalers & distributors) meet new generational buyer demands & expectations by installing streamlined e-commerce systems.

To learn more about how we can help you future-proof your business, click here.