Aphix vs nopCommerce | eCommerce Comparison
Comparing eCommerce platforms is not easy because there are so many platforms out there. However, in this article, we are doing the comparison Aphix vs nopCommerce so you don't have to. This way, making a decision is way easier for your business.
Deciding on an eCommerce platform that’s ‘fit-for-purpose’ for your business can be a very tough decision. Even though there are plenty of eCommerce platforms in the marketplace, very few are going to meet all of your business requirements or your budgetary needs.
In this eCommerce comparison post, we’ll be comparing the Aphix SaaS eCommerce platform against the open-source software nopCommerce. These are two very different eCommerce solutions, aimed at different business models for very different reasons.
We’ll be comparing the two platforms with regards to:
- Software Complexity
- ERP & 3rd party Integrations
- Scalability
- Security
- Hosting
- Deployment
- Pricing
See our comparison table below.
We start our comparison by looking at the complexity of each system, so let's jump right in.
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Complexity
Aphix offers a robust and easy to use eCommerce platform complete with built-in CMS. We have a dedicated team of implementation consultants, to set-up, test and deploy your eCommerce platform making the whole process extremely smooth for you. We also have a dedicated customer support team that can help you make changes or guide you in the right direction when you need it.
NopCommerce also offers an eCommerce solution. Admittedly, it has a nice looking interface but it’s not easy to use or easy to set up unless you have assistance from an experienced nopCommerce developer. Even though it’s open-source software, there is documentation which is available to the public that can help solve some of the set-up issues. In general, you will need to have your own IT resources or a 3rd party digital partner who will set up, secure, maintain and update the nopCommerce platform for you.
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ERP & 3rd Party Integrations
Aphix offers out-of-the-box real-time integration with most major ERP systems such as SAP, Sage, and Intact. The Aphix Platform uses the ERP system as the brain of the eCommerce operations, meaning you only have to maintain your data in one system, your ERP. Your customers can view the real-time product, pricing and account information plus stock availability, order history, statements and much more, all directly from your ERP.
NopCommerce is a stand-alone solution. It’s not built for ERP integration making it an unattractive proposition for businesses who wish to unify their operations through integration. Streamlining, automating, and scaling your business won’t be possible with a standalone solution. You’ll be managing the data in two places… the Nopcommerce back-end and in your ERP system. Even if you do manage to achieve some level of bespoke integration using a 3rd party... updating your website theme can break the integration meaning you have to start again.
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Scalability
Aphix’s eCommerce platform was created with scalability in mind. As a result, businesses can easily scale as they grow. Users can leverage additional eCommerce features and functionality such as multi-sites, multiple languages, multiple currencies and localisation that will help them to reach new markets with ease.
NopCommerce is highly configurable if you have the skills or IT resources dedicated to setting up and maintaining your eCommerce platform.
Scaling nopCommerce is going to be hard due to the lack of ERP integration and due to the fact that its version based and not a SaaS solution. With nopCommerce, you need to be on the latest version for security reasons and for new features. A SaaS solution like Aphix means you’re always on the latest version. Scaling is possible with nopCommerce, but the time and resources you are going to have to put into it eat into any other benefits to the system.
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Security
Aphix, as a certified ERP technology partner, takes our security measures seriously. We provide a “closed source” SaaS platform, meaning that only the Aphix team can access and edit the code of your eCommerce. We are PCI compliant, meaning we maintain all stores under a secure and safe network, and we offer SSL security, system monitoring, firewall management, backups, and security updates, to name a few.
NopCommerce offers open-source software, and as you probably already know open-source software and security don’t always go hand in hand. Open-source software allows computer code to be shared, viewed and modified by other users which can result in your eCommerce being hacked and sensitive information being leaked. Also, ensuring your eCommerce is secure, has an SSL certificate, and is properly monitored, is totally your own responsibility.
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Hosting
Aphix is cloud-based and provides hosting to all our customers on the world’s leading cloud web services, Amazon Web Services (AWS). Our amazon hosting usage is based on a fair use policy and a customers setup is in Amazon’s data centre closest to their ERP guaranteeing you an uptime of 99.95%. You’ll never have to worry about performance or uptime ever again.
nopCommerce doesn’t offer web hosting, meaning you are fully responsible for finding a hosting provider for your eCommerce platform. Being able to choose a hosting provider can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you have total control over it which is great, but on the other, it can be a huge problem if you don’t know what you need, as hosting impacts your eCommerce’s speed and size of the catalogue.
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Deployment
Aphix is proud of our rapid eCommerce deployment model. Rapid Implementation can take as little as seven days if you’ve all the data in your ERP and web content ready to go. A standard can usually take between eight to twelve weeks, this is mostly because companies need a bit more time to ensure all of their data is up to date and their content is fit for use on their new eCommerce store. In more extreme cases, where there are extra customisation requests or more complex requirements, the implementation process can take a bit longer.
NopCommerce’s deployment time completely depends on you. If you’ve got a 3rd party partner involved, in-house IT resources or if you’re building it yourself, nopCommerce can take some time to set up, test and deploy.
No two nopCommerce implementations are the same and there’s no certainty of how long it will take because the platform is so highly configurable that it’s more bespoke than an out-of-the-box solution like Aphix.
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Pricing
Aphix offers a very competitive, yet affordable offering not only for SME’s but also for larger companies. All of our products are part of the Aphix Digital Platform and integrate with most major ERP systems. Our offerings include integration, hosting, security checks, monitoring, upgrades, support, training, documentation, roadmap, and much more. You will be able to implement multiple products to improve your business.
NopCommerce is free to download, install, and run, but no software is really free. You will still have to pay for web hosting, web development, and security to name a few. NopCommerce customer support currently comes in at $799 for the year. Plus, due to the nature of the software, unless you’re a developer yourself, you’ll need some IT resources who can set up, maintain, and develop the features and functionality that you will need for your eCommerce business.
Summary
So you see, before you choose an eCommerce platform, you need to take a lot of factors into consideration.
Your choice and what platform is best for you will depend on your business requirements, your resources, your skills, or your timeline to the go-live date.
For newly founded companies with little to no resources, neither platform we explored is the way to go for apparent reasons.
If you don’t have an ERP system, but wish to launch an eCommerce solution then nopCommerce could be a good fit for you. This will only be successful if you have the time, the resources or a partner to manage the project.
If you’re a growing company that already has an ERP system or is considering implementing one, then the Aphix eCommerce platform will be the difference as it will future-proof your business for many years to come.
Streamlining and automating your business operations with little or no effort can be achieved with Aphix’s out-of-the-box eCommerce and ERP integration.
So, If you are interested in seeing our eCommerce platform, then you can request a demo or else feel free to email us on sales@aphixsoftware.com or call us on +041 213 7222 if you have any other questions.