About NextChapter

NextChapter is an e-commerce Suite, complete with a webshop platform, PIM system, Order Management System (OMS), Customer Engagement Solution (personalization technology), and a native iOS/Android app solution.
Shopify, on the other hand, is merely a webshop platform. To turn it into a complete e-commerce platform, you need to expand Shopify with additional systems, apps, and plugins. Core modules such as PIM, OMS, and B2B functionalities are not included by default and must be added and integrated separately. With NextChapter, all of this is already included in the Suite. It is one of the few e-commerce solutions that comes this complete out of the box. This provides clear benefits in terms of cost, speed, convenience, and quality.

The multiˣ suite from NextChapter can be connected to your ERP, POS, WMS, or even to an existing PIM system if you already have one. This gives you the freedom to grow quickly but in a controlled manner. NextChapter is ideal for MKB+ (mid-sized) businesses that want to scale smoothly without being dependent on a range of separate tools and providers.

NextChapter and Magento are two fundamentally different e-commerce solutions.

First, the scope:
NextChapter is a complete e-commerce Suite that includes a webshop platform, PIM system, Order Management System (OMS), Customer Engagement Solution (personalization technology), and a native iOS/Android app solution.
Magento, by contrast, is focused solely on the webshop platform and follows a “build-it-yourself” principle. Magento provides a general technical and functional starting point, which you then develop further with a technical agency to create your own e-commerce setup. After that, you still need to choose and integrate additional systems such as PIM and OMS from separate providers. The result is essentially a custom-built platform that you host and maintain yourself.

Then, the technology:
NextChapter is a cloud-native SaaS platform, whereas Magento is a self-hosted solution.
NextChapter operates without versions, meaning you never need to migrate or upgrade. Innovations are automatically released every 2–3 weeks, so you're always using the latest version without even noticing.
Magento, on the other hand, is version-based. Upgrading to a new version typically requires a technical migration project, where you may need to rebuild parts of your platform. With Magento, development, maintenance, bug fixing, and innovation are all your responsibility. You’ll often need a technical agency and various plugins, which makes the setup and maintenance complex and expensive.

Magento was very popular during the early evolution of e-commerce platforms (around 2015), largely because there were few viable alternatives at the time. Over the years, however, SaaS-based e-commerce suites like NextChapter have ushered in a new era.

The roots of NextChapter go back to 2011. That year, the founders of NextChapter ran a digital agency that built custom e-commerce projects. Within the agency, the idea emerged to create a mobile webshop solution in a SaaS model. Tablets and smartphones were on the rise in 2011, and the timing proved to be perfect: large retail companies quickly adopted the mobile webshop solution. In the years that followed, the product expanded with a desktop webshop, and CMS and OMS functionalities were added. In 2016, the PIM system was introduced, and that same year, NextChapter became an independent company. Since then, NextChapter has gained major clients and evolved into what it is today: an omnichannel e-commerce Suite for retailers and brands/manufacturers.

Between 2011 and 2021, NextChapter focused primarily on developing the multiˣ suite, largely outside of the spotlight. Working closely with retailers, brands, manufacturers, and wholesalers, we built out the products in the multiˣ suite. In recent years, NextChapter has gained recognition, and more businesses are discovering the power of the multiˣ suite as a next-generation e-commerce solution.

NextChapter develops the multiˣ suite in close collaboration with its clients. By listening carefully, prioritizing intelligently, and focusing on real needs, we build targeted functionality that delivers direct value. This approach results in a powerful and comprehensive Suite that remains relevant and continuously improves.

NextChapter is more affordable in both purchase and ongoing use, especially when comparing it to platforms like Shopify (Plus), Magento, Shopware, or custom-built solutions.

Why is NextChapter more cost-efficient? Because it offers the advantages of a Suite: a fully integrated, all-in-one e-commerce solution with all core modules ready to use and working seamlessly together. With other platforms, much more work is required, such as building, integrating, and fixing bugs, which adds to the cost and complexity.