Omnichannel commerce, built into the foundation
NextChapter is an omnichannel commerce specialist for retailers, brands and complex commerce organizations in Europe. Since 2012, we have been helping organizations connect physical and digital commerce and manage growing commerce complexity.
Our multiˣ suite brings products, inventory, orders, content and sales channels together in one central commerce environment. Webshops, physical stores, marketplaces and other channels work from shared data and connected processes, while integrations connect the existing ERP, POS, WMS, logistics, payment and marketing landscape.
The difference is in the foundation. NextChapter did not start as webshop technology with omnichannel capabilities added later. Omnichannel commerce has been the architectural starting point from the beginning.
For companies where commerce gets complex
Running a webshop is relatively straightforward. Connecting multiple stores, stock locations, webshops, marketplaces, countries, brands and business units is not.
That is where NextChapter is designed to add value.
Retailers use NextChapter to connect stores and digital channels and enable processes such as real-time store inventory, Click & Collect, Ship from Store and intelligent fulfilment. Brands and manufacturers use the suite to centrally manage commerce across D2C, B2B, marketplaces, retailers and international markets. Franchise organizations, retail collectives and enterprises use the same foundation to combine central governance with the flexibility required by individual stores, members, countries or business units.
The result is one connected commerce operation instead of separate processes for every channel.
One suite instead of a fragmented commerce landscape
Growing commerce organizations often accumulate technology over time. A webshop here, a PIM there, another solution for order management, separate marketplace connections and custom integrations between them.
Each individual solution may work well, while the overall commerce operation becomes increasingly difficult to manage.
The NextChapter multiˣ suite brings core commerce capabilities together. Webshops & CMS, PIM, OMS, marketplace connectivity, integrations, promotions, personalization and additional commerce capabilities share one foundation.
This does not mean every existing system needs to be replaced. NextChapter connects with ERP, POS, WMS, payment, logistics, marketing and other specialist solutions where they belong in the architecture.
The goal is not to put everything into one system. The goal is to create one connected commerce operation.
Products, inventory and orders connected across every channel
True omnichannel commerce requires more than connecting a webshop to a store.
Product information needs to be consistent across channels. Inventory needs to be visible where it can actually be sold. Orders need to be routed to the right stock location. Content needs to support different storefronts, countries and brands without creating unnecessary duplication.
NextChapter brings these processes together through a central data and process layer.
The integrated PIM provides a central source for product information. The OMS coordinates orders, inventory and fulfilment across channels and stock locations. Webshops, CMS and marketplace capabilities turn that information into customer experiences across the channels where an organization sells.
This makes processes such as multi-stock fulfilment, Click & Collect, Ship from Store, store inventory online and local assortments part of the same commerce operation.
Designed to scale without rebuilding your commerce operation
Growth creates new complexity. A new country introduces languages, currencies and local assortments. A new brand can introduce different storefronts and processes. Acquisitions may add ERP systems and business units. New stores and warehouses create additional inventory and fulfilment possibilities.
NextChapter is designed to absorb that complexity without requiring a separate commerce operation for every new channel, country or entity.
Organizations can centrally manage multiple brands, countries, webshops, stores, stock locations and fulfilment models while maintaining local flexibility where it adds value.
Because multiˣ is delivered as cloud-native SaaS with continuous releases, organizations continue to develop on the same foundation rather than repeatedly moving to a new major version.
When is NextChapter a good fit?
NextChapter is particularly relevant when commerce has moved beyond managing a single online sales channel.
A typical NextChapter organization combines several dimensions of complexity: physical stores and e-commerce, multiple stock locations, international storefronts, marketplaces, different ERP or POS environments, multiple brands or a network of franchisees, dealers or independent retailers.
At that point, the challenge is no longer simply how to run a webshop. It becomes how to orchestrate products, inventory, orders, content and channels as one commerce operation.
For an organization operating a single straightforward webshop with limited integration and omnichannel requirements, a simpler e-commerce solution may be a better fit.
How is NextChapter different from other commerce approaches?
There are several ways to build a modern commerce architecture, and there is no single approach that is right for every organization.
The right choice therefore depends not only on features, but on how much commerce complexity an organization wants to build and maintain itself.
Webshop-first solutions primarily focus on online selling and extend into other commerce processes through apps, integrations or additional products. This can be an effective approach for organizations where the webshop remains the center of the commerce operation.
Best-of-breed architectures combine specialized solutions for areas such as PIM, OMS, CMS and e-commerce. This allows organizations to select a specialist for every capability, but also introduces more integrations and vendors to manage.
Composable commerce gives organizations extensive freedom to select individual components and assemble their own technology landscape. This can provide maximum architectural flexibility, particularly for enterprises with the technical resources to build and maintain that ecosystem.
NextChapter takes an integrated suite approach. Core capabilities such as PIM, OMS, CMS, webshops and marketplace connectivity are designed to work together, while APIs and integrations provide the flexibility to connect specialist external systems.
NextChapter compared with other commerce solutions
Organizations considering NextChapter may also evaluate commerce solutions such as Shopify Plus, Adobe Commerce, VTEX, commercetools and Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
These solutions take different approaches to commerce architecture and serve different types of organizations. Some prioritize rapid online commerce, others maximum composability or large enterprise environments.
NextChapter is particularly positioned for European retailers, brands and complex commerce organizations that want to connect physical and digital commerce while keeping core capabilities such as PIM, OMS and e-commerce within one integrated suite.
The right solution depends on factors including your channels, physical retail footprint, international ambitions, existing technology landscape, internal technical resources and preferred commerce architecture.
Proven in complex commerce environments
More than 350 organizations use NextChapter to manage their commerce operations.
Our experience ranges from retailers connecting physical stores and online commerce, to brands operating across B2B, D2C and marketplaces, and franchise organizations with independent entrepreneurs.
That experience matters because omnichannel commerce is not only a technology challenge. Inventory ownership, fulfilment rules, product structures, integrations, local autonomy and central governance all influence how the right commerce architecture should work.
NextChapter combines that expertise with the multiˣ suite to help organizations turn commerce complexity into a scalable operation.
SPORT 2000, a formula with +90 franchise entrepreneurs needed a new modern and future proof Unified Commerce platform.
A brandhouse with a unique mix of B2C shops, a B2B dealer portal and Marketplaces. Linked to their ERP.
An exclusive omnichannel retail concept for Philips employees, with webshops and physical stores across Europe.
Frequently asked questions
What is NextChapter?
NextChapter is a European omnichannel commerce specialist. The NextChapter multiˣ suite connects products, inventory, orders, content, physical stores, webshops and other sales channels within one integrated commerce environment.
What is the NextChapter multiˣ suite?
The multiˣ suite is NextChapter's omnichannel commerce suite. It combines webshops & CMS, PIM, OMS, marketplace connectivity, integrations and additional commerce capabilities on one central foundation.
Does NextChapter include a PIM and OMS?
Yes. NextChapter includes both Product Information Management and Order Management capabilities. The PIM centrally manages and enriches product information, while the OMS coordinates orders, inventory and fulfilment across sales channels and stock locations.
Does NextChapter support physical stores?
Yes. Physical retail is an integral part of NextChapter's omnichannel approach. The suite supports processes such as real-time store inventory, Click & Collect, Ship from Store, multi-stock fulfilment and connecting POS environments with digital commerce.
Is NextChapter suitable for international commerce?
Yes. NextChapter supports organizations operating multiple countries, languages, currencies, assortments and storefronts while maintaining central control over products, content and commerce processes.
Is NextChapter suitable for B2B commerce?
Yes. NextChapter supports B2B commerce, particularly for organizations combining B2B with B2C, D2C or other sales models. Capabilities include customer-specific pricing, assortments and commerce environments.
What are alternatives to NextChapter?
Depending on the required commerce architecture, organizations evaluating NextChapter may also consider Shopify Plus, commercetools, SCAYLE, Spryker, Shopware, VTEX, Adobe Commerce and Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
The main differences are found in areas such as integrated versus composable architecture, native commerce capabilities, physical retail requirements, international complexity and the amount of technology an organization wants to integrate and manage itself.
Is NextChapter the right fit for your organization?
Choosing a commerce solution starts with understanding your operation, not comparing feature lists.
We help retailers, brands and complex commerce organizations determine how products, inventory, orders, content, stores and digital channels should work together — and what commerce architecture is needed to support their next stage of growth.