NextChapter multiˣ suite or CloudSuite

NextChapter and CloudSuite are both Dutch SaaS solutions for organizations that need more than a basic webshop. Both support B2B and B2C, offer extensive e-commerce functionality and integrate with business systems.

However, they have a clearly different focus. CloudSuite specializes in B2B e-commerce for wholesalers and manufacturers. NextChapter, on the other hand, specializes in omnichannel and multichannel e-commerce (including B2B, B2C and D2C) for brands and retailers.

A different focus

NextChapter and CloudSuite overlap in B2B e-commerce, but beyond that, their focus differs.

NextChapter focuses on companies that sell across multiple channels. When these include both offline and online channels, we call it omnichannel. When they are digital channels only, we call it multichannel. In many cases, NextChapter customers sell across a combination of B2C, D2C and B2B channels. NextChapter offers a strong B2B solution suitable for 80% of the B2B market.

CloudSuite primarily focuses on wholesalers and manufacturers and has an explicit focus on B2B e-commerce. Its B2B features are specifically designed around the needs of these organizations.

A suite or a combination of different solutions

The way both solutions are structured also differs. NextChapter brings Webshops & CMS, PIM, OMS, Marketplace Gateway and integrations together within the multiˣ suite. Product information, inventory, orders, content and sales channels can therefore be managed from one central foundation. This creates a single source of truth and reduces dependency on separate systems and integrations between key commerce processes.

At the same time, NextChapter is built to be composable. Organizations can use the complete suite, but can also replace or complement individual components with other solutions when this better fits their IT landscape.

CloudSuite provides an e-commerce solution with a strong B2B focus at its core. For functionality outside this core, additional solutions and integrations are more commonly used. In practice, this more often results in a landscape consisting of multiple systems.

Both solutions can be deeply integrated with ERP systems, so this is not where the main difference lies. The key difference is how much commerce functionality is available within a single solution from the outset.

Online and physical stores

The difference between the two solutions becomes clearer when webshops and physical stores need to work together.

CloudSuite offers several omnichannel capabilities, such as in-store ordering kiosks and displaying store inventory online, helping to bring online and offline closer together.

NextChapter is specifically built to connect webshops, physical stores and other sales channels. Store inventory can be made available online, orders can be collected through click & collect or shipped directly from a store using ship from store. This allows physical stores to become part of inventory, order and fulfillment processes.

To make this work effectively, NextChapter offers hundreds of integrations with marketplaces, ERP, POS, WMS, payment and logistics systems.

Which solution is right for you?

The choice depends on your e-commerce focus. For pure B2B players that require deep B2B functionality and need to manage complex B2B processes, CloudSuite is a strong option.

For companies with broader e-commerce needs, selling across B2B, B2C and/or D2C channels, NextChapter is the more logical choice.