How to Partner on an eCommerce Solution - Best of Breed or Full Suite?
The Challenge
In today's digital age, a functioning, quick, intuitive eCommerce solution is an essential part of any business. However, implementing or upgrading such a solution can be a complex and time-consuming process that requires a diverse set of skills, which an organization may not have in-house. As a result, it can be challenging to determine what skillsets are needed for the project and where to find them. This may lead you down multiple avenues, including trying to figure out what skillsets might be needed for a project like this and where you can find them.
The Choices
At this point, you essentially have two options: find a partner who can handle all aspects of the eCommerce implementation or opt for a best-of-breed partnership approach. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages and weighing them carefully can help you make an informed business decision.
Full Suite
To begin, let's examine the full-suite partner option. These companies are more scarce if not going with one of the very large global companies because of the extensive knowledge and expertise required to tackle all aspects of a successful ecommerce project, including SEO, creative design, integrations, content creation, branding, development, and more. It's important to note that while some companies claim they can handle everything, in reality, they may only have experience in one particular area that doesn't translate well to others. As a result, it's essential to thoroughly vet potential partners before choosing one and be wary of companies who claim to be able to do it all.
Risk Mitigation
While it's true that managing one vendor relationship can be more straightforward, as there's typically one point of contact and an overarching contract that ties all functions together, this approach also comes with certain risks. For instance, if one or more of the independent functions aren't meeting your expectations, it can be challenging to address the issue effectively. Additionally, being locked in with one vendor for all functions can be risky from a risk-mitigation standpoint. Since no one can be an expert in all areas, opting for a full-suite partner may mean sacrificing expertise in one or more critical areas of ecommerce implementation.
Best of Breed
The alternative option is to work with multiple partners, each of whom specializes in a specific area. While this approach can be more challenging to manage due to the need for multiple contracts and relationships, it has its advantages. For instance, by working with multiple partners, you avoid being entirely reliant on a single company for all aspects of your ecommerce implementation. Additionally, this approach allows you to leverage a broader range of expertise, which can lead to better results. To mitigate risks, it can help to choose partners who are accustomed to working together and have a proven track record of creating a more cohesive ecosystem of solutions that can be easily interchanged, giving you greater control over the project.