BigCommerce vs Shogun: Drag-and-Drop Storefront Design vs Advanced Customization for Large Businesses

In today's fast-paced digital commerce landscape, selecting the right tools to build and enhance your online store can make all the difference. As a technology leader, the decision often boils down to two key elements: ease of use and depth of customization. This brings us to compare two popular technologies: BigCommerce and Shogun. Both platforms offer unique advantages, making them suitable for different business needs.

Understanding BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a leading ecommerce platform known for its scalability and robust out-of-the-box features. As an enterprise-grade solution, it supports large online stores with extensive product catalogs and complex transactions, ensuring a smooth and efficient operational flow.

Design Simplicity and Flexibility

One of the standout features of BigCommerce is its user-friendly drag-and-drop storefront design. This simplicity is a game-changer for businesses that may not have an in-house development team. Even those without extensive technical knowledge can create a visually appealing and functional online store. The intuitive interface ensures a fast setup, which is crucial when time is of the essence.

Scalability and Robust Features

BigCommerce excels in offering a comprehensive suite of robust features essential for large enterprises. These include SEO tools, various payment gateways, and a point-of-sale (POS) system, providing an all-in-one solution that grows with your business. These features come embedded within the platform, reducing the need for additional third-party integrations.

"I appreciate BigCommerce's scalability and its capability to manage large product catalogs and high-traffic volumes," shares Corby Fine, Vice President of Digital Marketing & Performance at IGM Financial Inc.

Diving into Shogun

Shogun, on the other hand, is a powerful frontend experience platform that emphasizes advanced customization. It allows users to build bespoke ecommerce experiences that cater precisely to their brand’s unique needs.

Advanced Customization and Control

For large businesses with specific requirements, Shogun shines with its advanced customization capabilities. If you have technical expertise in-house or partner with a development agency like Deploi, Shogun offers the flexibility to create customized frontend experiences with pixel-perfect precision. With support for modern frameworks such as React, Shogun provides an unparalleled level of control over your online store’s design and functionality.

Performance and Optimization

Shogun isn't just about aesthetics; it also focuses on performance. By leveraging PWA (Progressive Web App) technology and other optimizations, Shogun ensures fast load times and a seamless user experience across all devices. This performance boost is pivotal in today’s mobile-first world, where users expect quick and responsive interactions.

As Robert Beredo, Global Chief Digital Officer at Nudestix & Nudeskin, notes, "Shogun's emphasis on advanced customization allows us to create a truly unique shopping experience that aligns perfectly with our brand ethos."

Key Features Comparison

User Experience

• BigCommerce: Offers an intuitive drag-and-drop design interface, which makes it easy for non-technical users to set up and manage their stores.
• Shogun: Requires some technical expertise but offers extensive customization options, allowing for highly personalized user experiences.

Customization

• BigCommerce: Provides a balanced approach to customization with various themes and templates, along with access to HTML/CSS for advanced users.
• Shogun: Excels in customization with its frontend builder, enabling the creation of bespoke designs using modern development frameworks.

Performance

• BigCommerce: Ensures reliable performance with built-in optimizations and a scalable infrastructure capable of handling high transaction volumes.
• Shogun: Focuses on peak performance with its use of PWA technology, resulting in fast page load times and a smooth browsing experience.

Integration and Extensibility

• BigCommerce: Comes with a plethora of pre-built integrations and apps, making it easy to extend functionality without deep technical knowledge.
• Shogun: While also supporting integrations, it is ideally suited for businesses that need highly specific functionalities and are willing to invest in custom development.

Support and Community

• BigCommerce: Offers robust customer support and extensive documentation to help users navigate through setup and management.
• Shogun: Provides dedicated support for its users, but the complexity may necessitate additional guidance or reliance on a skilled development team.

Cost Considerations

The financial aspect is always a crucial factor when selecting a platform. Both BigCommerce and Shogun offer distinctive pricing structures.

• BigCommerce: Typically provides straightforward pricing tiers based on the scale of your business and features required. It’s a more controlled cost structure, especially suitable for those looking for a predictable monthly expense.
• Shogun: May involve higher upfront development costs due to the need for custom coding and possibly ongoing costs related to maintaining and updating bespoke features.

Making the Right Choice

Ultimately, your choice between BigCommerce and Shogun should align with your business's size, technical capabilities, and design ambitions.

• If you need a rapid, straightforward setup with robust features and scalability, BigCommerce is likely your best bet. Its drag-and-drop design makes it accessible to businesses without extensive technical resources.
• If your goal is to have highly customized, brand-specific features and you have the technical expertise (or a partner like Deploi) to support it, Shogun is an excellent choice. It allows you greater creative freedom to design unique user experiences that stand out in the competitive ecommerce landscape.

Conclusion

Both BigCommerce and Shogun offer substantial advantages, each tailored to meet different business needs. As you evaluate these two platforms, consider your scalability requirements, customization needs, and technical resources. By aligning your technology choice with your business goals, you can ensure a seamless, engaging, and high-performing online storefront that delights your customers and drives growth.

At Deploi, we understand the intricacies of these platforms and can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your vision. Reach out to us for more insights and support on your digital transformation journey.