Despite numerous platforms claiming to deliver exceptional scalability, commercetools vs Salesforce Commerce Cloud are among the few that truly live up to the hype. However, that also means choosing between them becomes twice as challenging. Given so many notable advantages, how can you decide which solution is right for you?
Don’t worry; our team is here to help! We’ll break down the comparison between these two platforms based on the following key factors:
Without further ado, let's get started!
Between commercetools vs Salesforce, Which Wins?
Overall, commercetools vs Salesforce Commerce Cloud are both well-known eCommerce platforms, but their approaches are not exactly identical. Specifically, commercetools is a modern, headless platform built on a microservices architecture; meanwhile, Salesforce Commerce Cloud is part of the broader Salesforce ecosystem tightly linked with other Salesforce products.
So, which one is the better choice here? Our answer is Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
Despite not marketing itself as headless, this platform actually offers the same advanced flexibility as commercetools, all while STILL providing user-friendly default settings for beginners. Its support and pricing structure are also far more robust and comprehensive than commercetools, to say the least.
Curious about how these platforms stack up in detail? Keep reading for a more insightful breakdown!
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commercetools vs Salesforce: 7 Key Differences
To make sure you fully grasp the key differences between commercetools vs Salesforce Commerce Cloud, our team has assessed the two platforms based on seven key factors:
1. Pricing (Salesforce Commerce Cloud wins)
First of all, our comparison between any two platforms always begins with the pricing, and commercetools vs Salesforce is no exception. Here's what we have discovered:
commercetools pricing
Our research indicates this platform used to comply with a straightforward pricing structure with three subscription tiers: Basic, Standard, and Advanced. Nevertheless, it has since shifted to a more flexible pricing model, meaning potential customers must actively contact their team for a personalized quote.
While exact costs vary, the starting point is generally about $30,000 per year. The overall expense depends on several factors:
- Revenue-based licensing: The licensing fee adjusts according to your company's annual earnings. By illustration, a business generating $200 million in annual revenue might incur approximately $240,000 in licensing costs each year.
- Third-party integrations: Incorporations of additional services like marketing platforms, CRM software, or ERP systems likely entail separate subscription or licensing fees. The specific number differs based on the provider and your required configuration.
- Development and customization: To implement tailored solutions, you may need to turn to developers or consultants whose services range from $1,000 to over $10,000, depending on project complexity. The same also applies to advanced features like premium support, detailed analytics, robust security protocols, etc.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud pricing
In contrast, Salesforce Commerce Cloud still sticks to a subscription-based pricing model. Customers can choose from the two fixed packages below:
- Starter Suite: $25/user per month
- Pro Suite: $100/user per month (designed for more advanced selling needs)
Nevertheless, these two plans only provide foundational features, such as email marketing tools and simplified storefront builders, which leave medium to large-scale businesses mostly underserved.
That's why the custom subscription package, the “Pay As You Go” plan, remains Salesforce's most popular option here. Its pricing is set at 1% of gross merchandise value (GMV) to align costs with performance, meaning businesses only have to pay in proportion to their sales. Other project specifics also influence costs, but overall, you can expect starting fees to hover around $25,000 to $30,000.
The Verdict
As you can see, Salesforce Commerce Cloud offers both fixed and custom options to meet diverse needs, whereas commercetools focuses primarily on the latter. For that reason, Salesforce clearly has the edge when it comes to pricing advantages.
2. Ease of use (Salesforce Commerce Cloud wins)
Next, our team assessed how user-friendly commercetools vs Salesforce are, especially for fresh beginners. Let's see how the results turn out.
commercetools ease of use
Overall, the onboarding process is impressively straightforward. After choosing a pricing plan or signing up for a free trial, you're directed to the dashboard STRAIGHT away. The interface is sleek and intuitive, with a well-organized menu on the left-hand side for more convenient navigation.
However, once you dig deeper into the menu options, the distinct lack of default settings will become rather obvious. The reason is simple: commercetools has always made it clear that the platform strongly focuses on optimal flexibility – another criterion we'll discuss in greater detail later on.
All in all, while the platform is still quite easy to navigate, thorough utilizations of its potential clearly demand extremely high levels of technical expertise. For many beginners, this learning curve is not an easy hurdle to overcome.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud ease of use
A quick look reveals that Salesforce Commerce Cloud offers a relatively similar onboarding experience. Once your purchase is complete, you're guided to a well-structured dashboard that includes an accessible, streamlined core menu. Every feature is just a click away!
On the other hand, what sets Salesforce apart from commercetools is the stronger focus on simplicity. Unlike its rival, the platform still provides a wide range of pre-configured settings across different categories. Adjusting these settings is quick and hassle-free, too; you simply need to toggle the options on or off to set the changes in motion!
The Verdict
It's quite clear that commercetools expects users to have mastered advanced technical skills before purchases, which explains their VERY limited default settings. Meanwhile, Salesforce caters much better to less experienced users and, as a result, easily takes the lead in this round.
3. Scalability (A tie)
Since both platforms claim to cater to enterprise-level businesses, it's only natural to wonder how they handle scalability for you. That's why our team put them to the test during months of extensive trials; scroll down for more details:
commercetools scalability
All our members can confidently say that commercetools is an extremely tough competitor here. Its headless architecture separates the front-end and back-end, which offers the flexibility to tweak, modify, or integrate them in basically ANY way you like without disrupting the core systems. Simply put, as long as you have the expertise, almost everything you envision is achievable.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud scalability
At first glance, Salesforce Commerce Cloud operates as a monolithic platform by default, where the front-end and back-end are combined in a single environment.
But here's the great news: this structure doesn't mean your customization options are limited! In fact, you can still use Commerce APIs to decouple the storefront and back-end. There's also the Progressive Web App (PWA) Kit that allows businesses to create custom, headless storefronts using modern web technologies.
The Verdict
Despite the differences in their approaches, it's clear that both commercetools vs Salesforce provide significant, nearly limitless customization to contribute to your business' steady growth. So, we're calling this round a tie.
4. Customization (Salesforce Commerce Cloud wins)
We have just explored the scalability capabilities of both platforms. Now, let's dig a little deeper into their specific customization options so you can see exactly what they have to offer.
commercetools customization
As of this writing, commercetools provides four main customization toolkits:
- API extensions: Enable custom business logic to dynamically modify API behavior in real time based on specific rules and conditions. Provide tailored responses to API calls.
- Java SDK customization: Uses the Java SDK to fine-tune serialization and deserialization processes while ensuring smooth integration with your existing systems.
- CLI tools: Streamline the development, testing, and deployment of customizations using command-line interfaces.
- UI Kit and application components: Access a library of reusable UI components and design systems to maintain consistency and accelerate custom user interface development within the Merchant Center.
As you can see, though these toolkits promise unprecedented customization potential, they DO require a solid technical background and, hence, are not so beginner-friendly. Without prior expertise, unlocking their full potential is not as easy as it sounds.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud customization
For those new to customization, Salesforce Commerce Cloud offers a more accessible starting point. Its Business Manager interface provides a user-friendly dashboard to manage and configure various aspects of your site (such as site preferences, product catalogs, checkout flows, and shipping methods,) all without requiring any coding.
Still, since these preset options mostly cover the essentials, advanced customization is required nonetheless if you want to fully tailor all the functionalities. Some standout tools include:
- Domain extensions: Use Apex to extend or replace default functionalities in specific commerce domains, like pricing or cart management.
- Endpoint extensions: Modify the behavior of Connect API requests and responses to align with your business logic without altering the core system.
- Open Commerce API (OCAPI) hooks: Implement server-side customizations with hooks that allow for precise control over API interactions, including before, after, and modify-response hooks.
- Storefront Reference Architecture (SFRA): Customizes storefront functionalities without disrupting core cartridges or plugins – ideal for updates and maintenance.
- Product configurator: Tailors product components and attributes, supporting complex product bundles and real-time pricing updates to meet specific business needs.
The Verdict
Both commercetools vs Salesforce offer extremely robust customization options that will undoubtedly satisfy even the most experienced developers. Nevertheless, for those just starting out (or working within a limited budget before hiring experts), Salesforce is clearly the better choice overall.
5. Multichannel integration
Given customers' diverse preferences and communication methods, it's extremely essential to set up your site for smooth data synchronization across multiple channels. So far, both commercetools vs Salesforce have addressed this challenge in their own unique ways; let's take a closer look:
commercetools multichannel integration
As established in the previous sections, commercetools is built on a headless commerce architecture. Simply put, its APIs easily connect to virtually any front-end or channel, including web stores, mobile apps, IoT devices, social commerce platforms, and physical stores. That way, you can ensure a unified customer experience across all touchpoints.
Furthermore, commercetools also offers Channels APIs, which allow businesses to define, manage, and associate sales channels with products, inventories, pricing, etc. This design paves the way for effortless handling of channel-specific inventory allocation and promotions, with few to no limitations as of our writing.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud multichannel integration
How about Salesforce Commerce Cloud? Similar to commercetools, Salesforce also provides robust Commerce APIs and the SFRA framework, which can be predefined and customized to sync and integrate multiple channels. Users also have plenty of options to build automated workflows for specific channel operations (inventory restocking alerts, for instance). The possibilities are practically endless here.
Furthermore, apart from custom integrations, Salesforce also offers built-in solutions for users who prefer not to rely solely on APIs.
Specifically, its Order Management System (OMS) includes inventory pooling and allocation by channel or region, as well as store-level inventory integration for Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store (BOPIS). Even better, once you integrate your site with other Salesforce products (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud), running omnichannel campaigns gets easier than ever.
The Verdict
Both Salesforce vs commercetools offer excellent custom solutions for effective multichannel data management. Still, unlike commercetools, Salesforce also introduces extensive built-in products and features targeted at non-coders as well. For this reason, Salesforce emerges as the clear winner in the comparison.
6. Marketing features (Salesforce Commerce Cloud wins)
Once you've addressed the most challenging parts of site building, it's time to move on to the next step: ensuring the site is effectively promoted. How does commercetools vs Salesforce Commerce Cloud help you achieve this critical goal, though? Let's break it down:
commercetools marketing features
Currently, commercetools provides a Merchant Center section that gives you complete control over promotions and discounts. Feel free to create and manage discount rules (such as the types of discounts and when they apply) or decide how your promotional campaigns are displayed on your site.
Unfortunately, they're basically all the core built-in features you have got. Of course, we do not say your site is exclusively limited to them, but incorporating advanced functionalities certainly requires significant reliance on APIs and development expertise. And that's something we've discussed multiple times already in previous segments; there's nothing new to highlight here.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud marketing features
On the other hand, Salesforce Commerce Cloud doesn't force you or your team to spend days configuring the APIs for marketing campaigns (though, if you want to, that's still an available option).
Instead, the platform offers a dedicated Online Marketing section with hundreds of customizable settings. You can modify campaign outlooks, set up coupons and discount rules, design gift certificates, and even perform A/B testing to determine what works best!
And that's not all. The Salesforce AppExchange also offers around 800 marketing apps, neatly organized into 13+ categories to help you narrow your search effectively. Most are very budget-friendly (some starting as low as $7/month and offering freemium features) – an excellent choice for any business looking to optimize their marketing spend.
The Verdict
We all know commercetools excels in limitless custom functionalities, but that doesn't mean businesses have all the time and resources in the world to configure everything from scratch! Hence, Salesforce Commerce, with its top-notch built-in marketing system, leaves a much stronger impression here.
7. Support
Lastly, since leveraging both commercetools vs Salesforce require technical expertise, it would be best to have access to reliable and dedicated customer support. Keep scrolling to see how their support systems compare:
commercetools support
At the moment, commercetools offers free 24/7 support to all users, though access is strictly limited to support sites and status pages. For thorough phone support, you'll need to upgrade to Premium Support for an additional fee. Another alternative is to explore commercetools' documentation, which is free and readily accessible even without a commercetools account.
Salesforce Commerce Cloud support
Meanwhile, Salesforce Commerce Cloud provides multiple support channels, including phone support, live chat, and the option to leave feedback on their site (though the latter often goes unanswered, so we don't really recommend it). Its documentation is also a valuable resource for users working with APIs to customize their sites.
And the best part? Salesforce offers Success Plans in three tiers (Standard, Premium, and Signature), designed to help businesses achieve massive success via dedicated guides, eBooks, expert advice, and more. Just reach out directly to their team for more specific details on features and pricing.
The Verdict
It's quite evident that Salesforce Commerce Cloud offers far more comprehensive support, which extends beyond technical assistance to focus on businesses' long-term success. Hence, for our final assessment, this platform once again takes a clear lead.
Can You Migrate Between commercetools vs Salesforce Commerce Cloud?
Yes, you can.
However, keep in mind that this migration is likely much more challenging than traditional data transfers (e.g., from Wix to Shopify). All the unique customizations and integrations require VERY careful planning to ensure proper functioning on the new platform, after all. Even one minor yet unforeseen complication can throw a serious wrench into the entire timeline!
So, to ensure the smoothest transition, we strongly recommend partnering with a reliable service like LitExtension. Our comprehensive All-in-One Migration service ensures you can leave ALL the technical details to us. From start to finish, our team will handle everything, including complex tailored customizations, to satisfy your specific business needs! All you have to do is sit back and stay updated while we transform your new store into a thriving migration success.
But that's not all; our outstanding post-migration insurance confirms everything runs smoothly for you even after the migration is complete. Here's what we offer:
- Free re-migration within 30 days of the initial migration
- Free recent data updates for changes under 5% within 30 days
- Unlimited free smart updates for 90 days
So don't wait — contact us today and let us take the stress out of your migration journey!
FAQs
What does commercetools do?
commercetools is a headless commerce platform that provides APIs to help companies build and manage customized, scalable online shopping experiences.
Is Salesforce Commerce Cloud a CRM?
No, Salesforce Commerce Cloud is not a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. It is an eCommerce platform designed to help businesses manage and optimize their online sales. Nevertheless, you can still integrate it with Salesforce's CRM to access a complete overview of customers' interactions.
What is the former name of Salesforce Commerce Cloud?
This platform used to be called Demandware. Salesforce acquired it in 2016 and subsequently rebranded Demandware as Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
Final Words
We hope this exhaustive comparison has given you a much clearer understanding of commercetools vs Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Overall, while commercetools still stands out for its limitless flexibility, Salesforce Commerce Cloud's intuitive settings make it a far more popular choice for many growing businesses.
So, if you're considering migrating from commercetools (or any other platform, for that matter) to Salesforce Commerce Cloud, there's no better time to make the switch. And LitExtension Salesforce Migration is definitely your trusted partner for this huge journey. With our 12+ years of experience serving clients in more than 100 countries, you can trust us to get your new store up and running in no time!
For more information, check out our Salesforce Commerce guides and join our Facebook Community.
