Choosing an e-commerce suite or building your own infrastructure? The key differences explained.

Suppose you're a brand or retailer with serious ambitions for online growth. In that case, you're bound to face an important decision at some point: do you build a custom e-commerce platform together with an agency based on an open-source framework (like Magento or Shopware), or do you opt for an e-commerce Suite like NextChapter, where both the software and implementation are handled by a single partner? Both options come with their pros and cons. In this article, we outline the key differences.

1. Freedom and complexity

The biggest advantage of a custom build is freedom. You decide how the technical architecture is set up, which features are developed, and at what pace. For organizations with a strong internal tech team or specific functional or technical requirements, this can be valuable. But that freedom also brings responsibility and risk. You’ll need to define, manage, and maintain the entire technical setup yourself, which requires knowledge, capacity, and long-term commitment.

What often starts as a manageable project can quickly grow beyond expectations. It’s like renovating a house: you plan to move one wall, but suddenly need to reroute the plumbing and redo the floors. The same happens with custom builds. As the scope increases, you lose grip on timelines and budgets. Custom development becomes harder to manage and more expensive, without the guarantee that the result will work exactly as envisioned.

A Suite like NextChapter is SaaS, meaning the technical foundation is already built and tested. You decide which components you need and in what order to implement them. Features are based on best practices and tailored to your situation. That might mean less freedom compared to a blank slate, but it also eliminates the biggest risks of custom building. Missing features can be discussed and used as input for future roadmap development. The Suite evolves continuously, shaped by real use cases.

2. Cost and predictability

At first glance, a custom build seems more cost-effective. You only develop what you need, and you avoid ongoing license fees. But the total cost structure is often hard to estimate. Initial investments are high, and nearly all custom projects exceed their timeline and budget. Even then, you still face recurring costs: updates, hosting, security, support, and integrations. And don't forget the hidden costs — bugs, shifting regulations, and development delays.

NextChapter follows a SaaS model with transparent pricing. Maintenance, support, and security are included. You know exactly where you stand, not only in terms of monthly costs, but also concerning project lead time and initial investment. This makes budgeting easier and helps you build a clear business case. Thanks to the SaaS scale advantage, costs remain manageable for all clients.

3. Software and implementation in one place

With custom build, you typically work with an agency that configures and extends an open-source platform. But that agency isn’t responsible for the software itself. You're depending on multiple parties for the software, implementation, hosting, and often support. This can create confusion, delays, or finger-pointing. You're also relying on both the agency’s quality and the long-term viability of the platform you’ve chosen (think version updates).

NextChapter is both the software provider and your implementation partner. Everything is handled in-house, from onboarding and configuration to support and ongoing optimization. You have one point of contact, short lines of communication, and full product knowledge. And just as important: you’re not locked into a closed system. The Suite is modular. You decide which parts to use and can integrate existing systems where needed. This flexibility allows you to optimize continuously without having to replace everything at once.

4. Infrastructure: build it or use it

A solid e-commerce platform is more than just a webshop. Think of a smart PIM, a powerful OMS, a user-friendly CMS, and a robust frontend. With a custom build, you have to select, develop, and integrate all of these components. That gives you flexibility, but also demands significant expertise, investment, and time. All systems must work together — and when they don’t, you’ll face bugs, delays, or data inconsistencies.

A Suite gives you a head start. Its components are pre-integrated, tested, and optimized. You benefit from proven processes without reinventing the wheel. Of course, some integrations are still required — like your ERP or accounting software — but the number of custom links remains limited. This keeps your infrastructure manageable and scalable.

5. Time to market

Speed is a major differentiator. Custom projects can take months — sometimes years — to complete, from design to testing to go-live. Each component must be built and aligned separately. And because projects rarely go as planned, it isn't easy to set a reliable launch date.

With a Suite like NextChapter, the foundation is ready. Configuration, implementation, and integration can be handled much more efficiently. Clients often go live within a few weeks to a few months, including integrations and custom components where needed. This shortens your time-to-market, reduces commercial risk, and lets you seize opportunities faster.

6. Maintenance, updates, and future-readiness

Technology evolves rapidly. From security and compliance updates to new integrations or AI features, you need a platform that can adapt. In a custom setup, that responsibility falls on you (or your agency). You’ll need to track developments, plan updates, and maintain your infrastructure — tasks that consume resources without always adding commercial value.

In a SaaS environment like NextChapter, this is all handled for you. Core features and updates are developed centrally and made available to all clients. You’re not surprised by changes, and you don’t need to plan or approve updates. This means you're always up-to-date, without extra effort. That saves money, lowers risk, and ensures you're ready for what’s next.

Conclusion

An e-commerce Suite like the multiˣ suite from NextChapter provides a stable foundation where technology becomes a growth enabler, not a blocker. The Suite is modular, secure, and scalable by default, and immediately applicable to your specific needs. Since NextChapter also handles the implementation, you’re working with one partner for software, onboarding, support, and optimization. This lets your team focus on commerce, not code.

A Custom build remains a viable option for specific business models or unique technical needs. But it demands budget, direction, and long-term dedication. For companies that want to scale faster — with predictable costs, clearer planning, and ongoing innovation — a Suite is often the more powerful and sustainable route.

NextChapter has spent over a decade building one unified platform, enriched by the input of hundreds of clients. This shared foundation gives you access to scale advantages, collective knowledge, and a constantly evolving product, all without the downside of rigid lock-in. That makes it easier to start, smarter to grow, and safer to adapt in a fast-moving market.

Curious what an e-commerce Suite could mean for your business? We’re happy to think along with you.