What is the Disadvantage of BigCommerce? Explained by Paul Seibert

Navigating eCommerce platforms can be akin to selecting the right tool from a well-stocked toolbox; each has its inherent strengths and specialized functions. As a seasoned craftsman in the digital commerce space, one is often confronted with BigCommerce’s limitations. Reflecting on the myriad eCommerce journeys I’ve embarked upon with clients, it becomes evident that while BigCommerce might present a seemingly robust solution, certain deficiencies emerge—particularly for enterprises scaling at a rapid pace.

Customization Constraints

Diving deeper into the fabric of BigCommerce’s architecture, one encounters boundaries in customization that may not be initially apparent. Flexibility is paramount in eCommerce, yet BigCommerce at times enforces a framework that resists deviation. When unique business requirements demand bespoke functionalities, the platform’s structured environment can stifle innovation, forcing businesses to trade custom-tailored solutions for a one-size-fits-all approach. This inflexibility can hinder differentiation and, ultimately, competitive edge—a critical consideration for businesses aiming to stand out in a crowded digital marketplace.

Limitations in Site Design Flexibility

BigCommerce’s framework, although user-friendly, imposes design constraints. Companies seeking a unique branding experience may find these restrictions stifling, as templates limit creative expression.

The platform’s storefront editor and theme marketplace offer convenience but can trail behind when advanced customizations are required. This could bottleneck a brand’s vision, keeping storefronts within a familiar resemblance.

Stepping into the bespoke territory with BigCommerce can be challenging; the platform’s architecture isn’t as malleable as some competitors’. When distinctiveness is key for brand identity (a common necessity within the digital commerce sphere), such rigidity in design can impede the desired consumer experience.

Challenges with Complex Custom Features

Integrating sophisticated custom features can be quite cumbersome on BigCommerce. Businesses with unique requirements might struggle with the platform’s limitations.

Since its inception, BigCommerce has favored out-of-the-box solutions over malleable frameworks, which simplifies the initial setup but can hinder complex feature development. Thus, brands aiming for a highly tailored eCommerce presence may find themselves at an impasse.

Indeed, as a former insider of NetSuite’s SuiteCommerce Advanced Group, I can attest to the challenges that arise when attempting to push beyond BigCommerce’s standard offerings. The platform is not inherently designed to accommodate bespoke functionality with ease.

Overcoming these barriers requires not only technical expertise but also a creative approach to problem-solving. Often, the solutions necessitate finding third-party applications or custom scripting, which may introduce additional maintenance overhead.

The need to integrate external systems can also lead to additional complications and costs. For businesses scaling rapidly, such constraints are far from ideal and can stifle innovation at a critical time.

Scalability Roadblocks

BigCommerce’s structured simplicity slowly morphs into rigidity as businesses expand. It’s a paradoxical twist where earlier benefits become growth constraints, especially when scaling demands bespoke solutions.

At the heart of BigCommerce’s limitations lies its fixed architecture. It’s not inherently flexible like open-source alternatives, which often means custom scale-up solutions are convoluted or simply unworkable, impacting strategic business growth.

Limited customization options become particularly apparent as companies scale and need unique features. This can force a platform migration, disrupting business continuity and customer experience.

Handling Traffic Spikes

In the nuanced realm of eCommerce, a platform must proficiently manage abrupt surges in traffic, ensuring stability, scalability, and the consistent delivery of an uninterrupted shopping experience. However, BigCommerce’s architecture, while robust, constrains when extreme traffic spikes occur, potentially throttling the user experience.

Such constraints challenge BigCommerce under heavy load. These are the moments when latency can betray customer expectations.

Indeed, the ability to scale server resources dynamically is not BigCommerce’s most potent offering, which can lead to performance degradation during peak times.

Moreover, their predetermined resource allocation per plan can provoke bottlenecks during promotional events, eclipsing the seamlessness of customer transactions with unwelcome delays.

While other platforms use autoscaling technologies to accommodate fluctuating demand, BigCommerce requires manual plan upgrades, invariably leading to a reactive, rather than proactive, approach to mitigating traffic-related disruptions.

Consequentially, your ability to seize momentary market opportunities could be stifled due to BigCommerce’s plan-based limitations. Rapid scalability during high traffic events becomes a poignant challenge requiring foresight and meticulous planning.

Upgrading and Expansion Limitations

BigCommerce’s rigidity can be a hindrance to growth and scalability. This stems from the strict tiers and preset functionality within the platform’s structure.

Upgrading your BigCommerce plan is a requisite for growth, but it often brings unanticipated complexity and delay to what should be a seamless process.

Each tier jump necessitates meticulous migration and adaptation tasks which, if not executed perfectly, can disrupt ongoing business and introduce costly downtime.

Enhancing a store on BigCommerce can also mean additional costs as native features become insufficient, forcing merchants to rely on third-party applications and services.

And when custom solutions are imperative for differentiation, BigCommerce’s framework may not accommodate the unique needs of a business, leading to possible competitive disadvantages.

Integration Complications

In the pursuit of comprehensive enterprise solutions, businesses may grapple with BigCommerce’s limited native integration capabilities, especially when integrating with complex backend systems such as ERPs or CRMs. The reliance on third-party connectors or custom-API development can invoke unforeseen challenges, particularly in maintaining real-time data synchronization or complete functionality congruence. This not only prolongs the integration timeline but also increases the potential for errors, risking the integrity of cross-departmental data flows—a crucial aspect for streamlined operations.

Third-Party App Dependencies

BigCommerce’s platform often necessitates the integration of third-party apps to extend functionality beyond its core offerings.

Layering external applications onto the core platform can significantly alter the eCommerce ecosystem, potentially complicating future scalability and integration efforts.

Native Feature Shortcomings

When utilizing BigCommerce, certain native functionalities fall short of comprehensive business needs.

These inherent limitations often necessitate the incorporation of third-party solutions. Addressing these gaps through add-ons can escalate costs and add complexity to system management.

Cost Considerations

When projecting the total cost of ownership for BigCommerce, it’s essential to scrutinize not just the subscription fees, but also the ancillary expenditures that surface over time. These include costs tied to necessary third-party integrations, themes, and applications, as well as transaction fees which can quickly accumulate and impact your financial forecast in the long term.

Understanding the financial implications of scalability with BigCommerce is also crucial. As businesses grow, the need for additional features can drive expenses upward. It’s pivotal to account for the potential increase in costs as you expand your digital footprint and seek to enhance your eCommerce capabilities within their ecosystem.

Hidden Fees and Upsells

Similarly, BigCommerce’s pricing structure might appear straightforward initially, but additional costs invariably surface as the enterprise scales. These hidden fees often emerge when specific functionalities necessitate premium service tiers or add-ons, leading to unplanned financial outlays.

Behold the complexity behind every click. Additional features on BigCommerce are seldom gratis, spawning unexpected expenses.

Moreover, elements such as increased API calls, which are quintessential for enhanced connectivity with third-party apps, accrue additional charges, raising operational costs imperceptibly.

Stealth costs loom large in the guise of payment processing fees. Each transaction on BigCommerce involves a cost, a trickle that can swell into a torrent with increased sales volume, eroding profit margins.

Providers often dangle the promise of free themes, yet the most effective, sophisticated designs are typically behind a paywall. This inevitably leads to additional expenditures for businesses striving to stand out in the crowded online marketplace.

Remember, the devil is in the details with platform’s fee structure. Candidly analyzing BigCommerce costs upfront can prevent budgetary surprises down the road, ensuring a clearer financial trajectory.

Total Cost of Ownership Concerns

When evaluating BigCommerce, discern the intricacy of its cost structure. Initial fees, seemingly modest, often burgeon over time with escalating feature demands and usage levels.

Cost predictivity must be a paramount consideration in platform selection. BigCommerce’s pricing can oscillate with growth.

Indeed, variable expenses can surge as business scales, magnified by platform limitations (storage, bandwidth, etc.) and necessitating upgrades.

Consider each incremental feature as a potential cost center. Customization and advanced functionalities typically entail ongoing investment, impacting the balance sheet over time.

While BigCommerce boasts an alluring upfront cost, the long-term financial commitment can be stealthier than anticipated, pivoting on add-ons and operational necessities that complicate the budget.

Hence, one must vigilantly forecast BigCommerce’s total cost of ownership. Thorough analysis may reveal hidden long-term costs that belie initial affordability.

What are the disadvantages of using BigCommerce?

While BigCommerce offers numerous advantages for eCommerce businesses, it is important to also consider its potential disadvantages. Here are a few drawbacks to be aware of when using BigCommerce:

While BigCommerce is a powerful eCommerce platform, it does have a few drawbacks to consider. Some of the drawbacks of using BigCommerce are:

Like any eCommerce platform, BigCommerce has some limitations and downsides that you should consider before making a decision. Here are a few: