Websites are considered an alternative to physical stores by most companies. They also allow for many marketing strategies to be implemented through a single channel. There are many benefits to having an eCommerce website.

It is difficult to know where to begin.

Websites are a sign of a company’s credibility. An eCommerce website is mandatory from the beginning.

This guide will help you understand the differences between Demandware and Magento, two of the most popular eCommerce platforms. This guide will help you choose the right one for you.

Short introduction to Demandware and Magento

Magento is a leading eCommerce solution

In previous articles, we have talked a lot about Magento and compared it to other eCommerce solutions. Let’s take a look at some highlights of Magento.

• We have gained over 250.000 websites around the world with approximately 2.5 million downloads.

• Open-source written in PHP programming languages. It also uses elements from the Zend framework.

• Magento is an eCommerce solution that specializes in selling online.

• Recognized for their flexibility and scalability, which allow salespeople to build eCommerce sites that meet specific business needs.

• Magento is a scalable platform that offers powerful marketing tools, SEO and catalog-management tools.

Magento now offers two solutions for eCommerce customers:

• Magento Community or Magento Open Source _ Free Edition of Magento

• Magento Commerce offers 2 pricing plans, based on sales revenue: Magento Commerce Cloud vs. Magento Commerce Cloud (or Adobe Commerce Cloud ).

Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Demandware

Two important milestones in Demandware’s development were reached during this period:

• Established in 2004, Demandware is headquartered in Massachusetts. Demandware was originally a cloud-based, central eCommerce platform.

• Salesforce purchased the company in 2016 for $2.8 billion. Salesforce Commerce Cloud was then renamed.

Demandware, also known as Salesforce Commerce Cloud, is now available in the market as a SaaS-based eCommerce solution (also known as Software as a Service).

This power allows businesses to create and optimize their eStores with amazing scalability, accessibility and flexibility. Plus, power eCommerce merchants with prominent features for internationalization, omnichannel marketing, and product catalog management.

Magento vs. Demandware 

Each solution has its strengths and weaknesses. However, both offer more flexibility in the creation of highly customizable and scalable online shops.

They also have impressive capabilities in managing multi-store product sets, large product catalogs, and complex data sets, from shipping to invoice.

They also offer cloud solutions to their users.

• Salesforce Commerce Cloud or Demandware. The name clearly reflects its core as a cloud solution starting at the beginning

• Magento Commerce Cloud/ Adobe Commerce Cloud is a Cloud Edition of the open-source platform.

What is a Cloud-hosted eCommerce Platform?

A cloud eCommerce solution is basically a managed, automated platform that offers a range of advanced features. This means that you don’t need to worry about server maintenance or software updates.

You can use the platform to scale your online business, or down as needed due to seasonal and marketing fluctuations. You can increase your online store’s presence without worrying about not having enough capacity during peak traffic times.

Comparison of Demandware and Magento

Hosting

Demandware

Demandware, a cloud-hosted platform, is developed and managed entirely by the Salesforce team. The platform’s stability, security and guarantee on web performance offer many benefits to users.

Demandware’s Cloud-based solutions are also much faster than Magento. Because many infrastructures are abstracted from their SaaS environments, this is why it’s so fast to implement.

Magento

Magento has more options than Demandware for eCommerce merchants:

• Edition self-hosted (Community edition)
• On-premise (Commerce) edition
•  Magento Commerce Cloud edition

Magento Commerce Cloud is essentially a version of Demandware. All site infrastructure for those who choose the Cloud edition will be managed by the Magento team.

Magento users have 2 additional options (Community edition and Commerce edition) for hosting their eCommerce websites. They will have complete control of the infrastructure.

Final conclusion: There is no winner in terms of hosting

Hosting comes in two sides when it comes time to compare Magento.

• Cloud-based solutions have their drawbacks
• Each platform’s Cloud solution development and progress

Cloud edition users have a limited flexibility compared to self-hosted platforms or on-premise. This is due to access restrictions and the source codes.

Salesforce has complete control over the technology and therefore there are limitations on web customization. Salesforce will approve some of the changes.

For users who require a high degree of customization and personalization, demandware may not be the right choice.

Magento Commerce Cloud gives customers more options to choose between a self-hosted solution and a Paas (platform, as a service), hosted solution.

Magento’s open-source edition, on-premise solution and cloud version are still well-known. Magento Cloud Edition needs to be more competitive with Salesforce to become a cloud-based eCommerce service provider.

Customization

Demandware

Demandware, as mentioned above, is a cloud-based platform. Salesforce has complete control over all changes made to your site, thus Salesforce is cloud-based.

Salesforce’s experts will host your eCommerce website, even though it comes with a price. You don’t have to worry about the future of your site.

Magento

Magento’s selling point is its incredible customization. Magento Commerce and Magento Community are two of Magento’s most popular solutions. Both are self-hosted.

You can manage the infrastructure and set up your site.

In exchange,

• Maintenance and updates of technology are your responsibility. This is also one the most frustrating aspects of Magento.

• Magento sites are updated using a lot of code. You will need to have a team of developers in-house or an agency, which can lead to higher costs.

Conclusion: Demandware’s open Magento platform won the battle for store customization.

Magento is a better option than Demandware if you want your eCommerce solution to be flexible and easy to develop.

Magento gives you more control and freedom over your eCommerce website, while Demandware’s SaaS eCommerce solution allows you to scale up and manage your business day-to-day operations.

Features and functionality

Demandware

Demandware is more well-known in the B2C field. Here are some of the top features:

• Merchants can do business through multiple channels using one back-end.

• Streamlining sales and operations at scale

• Each store can manage product data with different payment and billing issues.

• Einstein can be used to collect customer data and insight for a more personal shopping experience

• SaaS solutions create a seamless workflow between business’s eCommerce website and offline stores. Shoppers can order shipping or pick-up from the store right on their website.

Magento

Magento 2 is, on the other side, a platform that offers rich B2B features. The top features of Magento Commerce Cloud and Commerce Cloud are:

• Magento, like Salesforce, offers great support for managing complex product types, visual marketing, multiple catalogs and layers of personalization.

• Impressive Page Builder features facilitate the creation of custom content and customizations on the storefront

• Merchants have many options to use the built-in features to create remarkable loyalty and reward programs that increase customer retention.

• The basic workflow for shipping and returning products

• Adobe Sensei allows you to collect customer data and create highly personalized product recommendations. This will enhance customer experience.

• B2B capabilities are excellent, including multiple buyers per account and quote request. Quick order, company account, requisition lists, and company account.

Let’s conclude: It all depends on the model of the business and what it needs from an eCommerce site.

Through third-party extensions available on the marketplace, users of both platforms have access to many more advanced features for their websites. Demandware, a cloud-based platform, has a limitation. (The reason is already stated above).

Below is a quick look at the capabilities of both solutions:

• B2B and B2C Features: Demandware is a well-respected brand and retailer that is highly valued by B2C businesses. Magento continues to perform exceptionally with its robust B2B features.

• Customer Analytics: Two of them use different methods to analyze and understand shoppres. It’s Adobe Sensei for Magento and Einstein to Supportware

• Omnichannel power: Demandware has a better performance in this area due to its longer development time for omnichannel capabilities than Magento

• Loyalty and Rewards: Magento licensees get many additional modules, such as Gift Registry or Store Credits, and advanced features to keep loyal customers. These features are not available on Demandware.

• Content management software: Magento has made this area more powerful with Page Builder, which is available in 2 licensed editions. Many Demandware users will continue to use Demandware’s DXP and CMS layers via Amplience or Bloomreach.

• Capabilities in Merchandising: Both have impressive results in this area

Demandware’s omnichannel capabilities and enhanced B2C power are two of their key selling points over other eCommerce platforms.

Magento is a powerful platform that supports merchants in creating loyalty programs and promotions for their customers.

Although Magento has outperformed Demandware in the B2B feature area, Demandware lacks many of the essential features that are required in this field. Demandware, however, is the market leader in B2C with amazing features.

Integrations

Demandware

Salesforce has developed the Salesforce appExchange to give its users more customization options.

This section contains all the integrated apps, solutions and product collections. It also includes many other components that can be used to customize your store. There are currently around 3,400 apps in the Salesforce AppExchange.

Magento

Magento’s many extensions and integrations are a major factor in its rapid development. Magento Marketplace has all the extensions that a scalable eCommerce website needs.

Magento marketplace now offers nearly 4.000 extensions of themes created by trusted service providers. Adobe has divided its solution partners into six tiers to maximize merchants’ investment.

• Gold Solution Partner
• Silver Solution Partner
• Bronze Solution Partner
• Innovate Exchange Partner
• Accelerate Exchange Partner
• Premier Exchange Partner

Magento has a wider range of models that are professionally designed and made available on the Magento marketplace.

Both Demandware and Magento are extensible. Still

• Magento’s community of developers and users is much larger

• Second, Magento’s marketplace for service providers is larger than Salesforce’s. Thus, Magento overcomes Demandware in diversity

AppExchange extensions and apps are generally more expensive than Magento’s.

Support

Demandware

Demandware, a SaaS platform, offers merchants 24/7 support. It provides lots of training and technical support for load balancing and other web features.

Salesforce offers a wide range of support options beyond the standard support system. These include support via email, phone, and ticket. The Trailblazer Community has some significant benefits:

• Documentation: Provide various documents and videos with helpful tips on scaling your business using Demandware’s suggested features

• Trailhead: A series of tutorials that teach intermediate and beginner developers how to code for Salesforce.

• Trailblazer community support: Developers and merchants of Demandware websites can share their knowledge and receive technical tips and advice from experts

Demandware also offers assistance to merchants and experts through the Salesforce Developer Forum, which has more than 200.000 topics.

Magento

There is some support for the store-building process, just like many open-source platforms. Magento Open Source merchants don’t have access to live chat or email.

Magento provides merchants with a contact list and email address. However, these numbers are only for sales questions and not technical support.

Magento includes the Help Center to provide the best platform support experience. It contains 2 main content areas.

• Knowledge base: A resource for Magento users. You will find answers to common questions that Magento users may encounter during store-building.

• Magento Ticketing System – Allows developers and merchants to resolve specific issues that users have while using Magento

Other support options are available for Magento users.

• Unrivaled ecosystem of developers and partners to support and develop Magento’s platform

• 2 documentation systems, one for programmers (DevDocs), and one for merchants (UserGuide).

• Magento Forums, over 45.000 members and around 163.160 posts

Let’s conclude: Listen to our customers.

Demandware’s SaaS-based nature and higher licensing fees make it a more exclusive support solution.

Magento’s documentation system and community are much more prominent as an open-source platform.

Data Security

Demandware

Salesforce Commerce Cloud developers have created amazing features that focus on security and safety because they understand the importance of security.

• Able to instantly report any suspicious vulnerability to the Salesforce team via email (security@salesforce.com)   

• Get updates, security-related information and the best security practices for the Salesforce Security.

• You can increase web security by allowing users to access your website through a Salesforce-supported browser that uses TLS technology. Your web will only be accessible by registered users

• Security Health Check: Find and resolve potential risks in your web privacy on one page

• Salesforce Shield _ Security tools that enhance the protection and retention of business’s most important data stored in Salesforce. You can also include Platform Encryption and Event Monitoring. Finally, you can add a Field Audit Trail.

Magento

Merchants don’t want their store data stolen or compromised by viruses, hackers, or malware. Magento is focused on strengthening its cyber-security against potential cyber-criminals, in addition to the innovative features it offers.

• Magento Security Center: Provide solid security services to Magento users in order to strengthen their protection against critical data

• All Magento-based websites comply with PCI compliance This protects your business’s data and prevents it from being stolen or passed around without permission.

• Security patches are regularly released to protect against potential security threats. Open-source users must still keep track of the patches and self-install them to protect their sites from potential security risks.

• Use a standard encryption method (AES or SHA) to protect your data from prying eyes

Kobe Digital and the Magento 2 security extension offer additional support for merchants.

Final conclusion: There is no winner in this region

Comparison of Magento vs. Demandware

Review of pricing for Magento

Magento offers 2 editions and 3 pricing options, including:

• Magento Community: A free download plan that allows you to customize your eCommerce site.

• Magento Commerce: A Magento on-premise solution with advanced features

• Magento Commerce Cloud: Cloud-based Magento Commerce version

Magento Community is a free service that allows businesses to create stores using Magento source code. There is no monthly fee. The total cost of ownership is $10.000 to $22.000, depending on additional expenses like hosting, extensions, themes and web developers.

These costs can change based on the annual gross revenue of your Magento Commerce and Commerce Cloud businesses.

The licensing editions for Magento 2 are highly recommended for large and medium-sized businesses due to the high cost associated with premium features.

There are three versions of Magento that can be used for any business type, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Demandware pricing review

Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Demandware and Magento come with 2 packages that focus on different areas.

• B2B
• B2C

Each plan offers three options

• Starter
• Growth
• Plus

The store’s order volume and required features will determine the total cost.

Salesforce increases their competitive advantage by dividing their services into different areas and tiers, which is a better approach than direct competitors like Shopify and Magento.

A percentage commission from your online sales will determine the license fee. This is usually between 0.75% and 1.25%. The total cost of Demandware’s full-service can reach as high as $700.000.

Conclusion: Demandware is generally more expensive than solutions on Magento.

Magento vs. Demandware: Who is the winner?

Short verdict

A general view of Demandware and Magento, based on various criteria

• Hosting service: Magento can be hosted on its own server, while Demandware uses a cloud-based solution. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. The requirements of the merchant will determine which option is best.

• Magento allows users to personalize their eCommerce sites more easily because it is an open-source solution.

• Features and functionality: Magento is stronger in the B2B market, while Demandware’s B2C features are more powerful.

• Integrations: Magento is again the clear winner in this area due to its large marketplace that offers over 4.000 extensions and themes to meet any merchant’s needs

• Support: Magento wins in community size, documentation system for web development, and maintenance. Demandware provides a more exclusive support service that is available 24/7

• Data Security: Demandware and Magento offer strong security for important web data

• Pricing: It is understandable that a Cloud solution will cost more than an on-premise solution or self-hosted solution.

Who is Demandware for?

• Salesforce Commerce Cloud or Demandware is one of the most popular solutions for B2C retailers and consumer brands. Its best-in-class B2C functionality makes it stand out.

• This is the best option for people who have established niche business models or audiences.

• For those who need deep eCommerce expertise and 24/7 customer support. It’s therefore not as cost-effective as open-source or on-premise solutions.

• Priorities are product expansion and growth with solid financial resources.

For whom is Magento best?

• People who require web development with high levels of customization

• You want a cost-effective eCommerce solution that allows you to build your website with maximum flexibility

• For web development and maintenance, the user must have the required programming knowledge. You can also outsource or hire a team of support staff (which will increase the overall cost to your business).

• B2B is more important than B2C.

• This is a recommended solution for medium-sized and large enterprises

It’s your turn

Both Demandware and Magento have a solid reputation for being top solution providers for medium-sized and large companies.

Businesses still need to decide between the two platforms. We recommend that you choose the one that best suits your business’s needs. There is no one-size fits all approach to eCommerce.