--- title: "Platform Selection & Evaluation" date: 2026-03-04T11:21:00+01:00 author: Santiago Melluso canonical_url: "https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/platform-selection-evaluation/" section: Services --- [Services](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/)[Back to listing](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/)Strategy & Consulting # Platform Selection & Evaluation A wrong platform is a very expensive lesson. Choosing an ecommerce platform is one of the highest-stakes decisions a company makes. Get it right and you’ve got a foundation that scales with you for years. Get it wrong and you’re back at square one in 18 months, with a lot of sunk costs and a frustrated team. We’ve worked with most of the major platforms long enough to know their strengths, their limitations, and the fine print that vendors don’t put in the brochure. We evaluate your requirements, your team’s capabilities, your integration needs, and your growth trajectory — and we give you a clear, honest recommendation backed by real-world experience. We don’t have a platform agenda. Our only interest is finding the best fit for your business. **This is for you if:** - You’re evaluating platforms and getting conflicting advice from vendors who all claim to be the best choice. - Your current platform has hit a ceiling — performance, B2B features, integration capabilities — and you need to know what’s next. - You’ve been on the same platform for years and suspect the landscape has changed enough to warrant a fresh look. **What you’ll get from this:** - An objective evaluation of shortlisted platforms against your actual requirements. - A clear recommendation with rationale — including the tradeoffs you’re accepting either way. - A total cost of ownership analysis that goes beyond licensing fees. - Confidence that the decision is based on your needs, not a vendor’s sales cycle. [Get in touch](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/contact/) ## Frequently Asked Questions Vendors all say they're the best fit. How do you cut through that?Three filters: your actual requirements (not the demo wishlist), your team’s capabilities (a platform that needs 3 senior devs you don’t have is not a fit), and your growth trajectory (what you’ll need in 18 months, not just today). The vendor’s sales pitch is the input, not the output. What platforms do you typically evaluate?We typically evaluate BigCommerce, Shopify (and Plus), Magento/​Adobe Commerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, commercetools, Spryker, and VTEX, with the shortlist depending on your shape. For B2B, the real gaps are usually account hierarchies, ERP integrations, and pricing models, which is exactly where vendor demos gloss over. We’ve published comparisons like [BigCommerce vs Shopify Plus](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/blog/best-ecommerce-platform-for-b2b-business-bigcommerce/), [BigCommerce vs Prestashop](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/blog/game-of-ecommerce-thrones-bigcommerce-vs-prestashop/), and [Best Shopify Alternatives](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/blog/ecommerce-platforms/). What about your favorite partner platforms?We’re seasoned BigCommerce and Shopify partners. But we’re happy to recommend Magento, or other platforms when they fit better. Partnership tiers don’t change the math on what works for your business. The conflict-of-interest concern is fair; we address it by showing you the rationale and the tradeoffs in writing. How long does a platform selection take?A platform selection takes 4 to 8 weeks from kickoff to written recommendation. The process covers requirements gathering, shortlist, vendor demos driven by our questions (not theirs), proof-of-concept on the harder requirements, and total cost of ownership analysis. It runs faster only when the requirements are simple, and slower when there’s internal disagreement to navigate. What's the deliverable?A written recommendation with rationale, the tradeoffs you’re accepting (every platform has them), TCO analysis covering 3 years (licensing, development, integration, maintenance, hidden migration costs), and an implementation roadmap if you want it. The decision document survives a CFO review. When should we do this vs. just picking a platform?When the wrong choice costs you 12+ months. For a small DTC starting up, ​“pick Shopify and ship” is often the right call. For a B2B brand with ERP integration, custom pricing, and growth ambitions, the [Replatforming](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/ecommerce-replatforming-migration/) cost of switching later is high enough that 4 – 8 weeks of selection is cheap. Read [The Hidden Costs of Inaction](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/blog/the-hidden-costs-of-inaction/) for related framing. ## You might also like #### Ecommerce Replatforming / Migration Platform migrations are risky. Tiny window for error, huge cost of getting it wrong. We've run enough of them to know how to take the pain away. [ Read More ](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/ecommerce-replatforming-migration/) #### B2B Ecommerce All ecommerce is B2Human. But in B2B the cycles are longer, and the stakes are higher. The feature set follows from that. [ Read More ](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/services/b2b-ecommerce/) ![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAEAAAAAjCAIAAACra5t9AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAHXElEQVRYhX2Y25LjuBFET4JU91zs2J/YL/Kb///J4bAdMbPb05JIpB+qCgB7xlZQDIgiwczKugH6++9/EzTYxS5eGi+N18brMojxi7g1bk03sYtNbKJJTQgkANfRTYc+B45B/JW3GQPOcd5pevdpDnN0H+bZeXTH+dF5dJ72s3OYDrsN9e55Nnb9oF6j+bP+iXvrec3Hl4/XK/OvZfLrhJefXoDVcYG2G9tIiMVCWuxn2XThvGILo57EaXZCt+JNHa8inDWw8zzRlAg9f/ry7wWxP1zvuMN+Fg7BCac5xUkRgI7P/Eub6eL0sLUMFkoZPWBd/Mf5snCeXjr4OvD1pTWD+y+v12A/DGIrSZrYzGG263GaUz6MEnkY2820MsEQegA9/YHGxLo62xgPuGlKxs8wYprywAccQeCBZU6l58g0aFf0zTQjI6R6m6HVAYQMqXUhPq/o+xV9hO8aZr2i+fQF60A/oOd1s9+NYIOujEcFDdPsZpqlMHyHNsFtsIGgpQAZrF6k/4UCV9C6EhjqBeLDIcUF9AFP+wlBbH/Hgs3s0GsyQYCWkZ0x2zKUOvS+5tDpByMNdHxWZjyHaRegDPQqA9Q0PTzWnPDETzicgyd+wBMe8MQn7G+lwI3ho2YhkCZtmVt7pzedsEHDSRWsJXydif/8icAFvdJSVUVmaurpMAt087Af5gF3/DAPc8L+3Rbs4tWZfLwkXoUow/ad3ji7t5ah0sTwoHKe6f3ncKSqViv6FkElNGtMcohHDhf0kuKB7+YO7/DAh9n/aTbxaj6LL85IAKcCzAwc6Ls5YOtsyuohzxf34QCLJ4QaI2mG6SUaSG5VhVYRwgQnPEMB8zB3fIc7/DDv+G6esH8r9/0r/CZ3p4VWAnEkuM4uQgG5tB/oodunKw86BelX8zdZpik01OCwTpXdBOk2D3iYu3k3P+w38wZ3s6dZxHfzXplhJKJBwN1uFZTQOk00zQ5iFK8RfznwR/M3aFKLmiOa3USbplgJ+DBPeJiHfTd388P+E76b/5g3s68p7Qn/gh02s4nNNCE7C2150Uig4/p0HsJ3BwGPAGCYHza7STHPlsXECg6aafcwzzoiat/hB/xh/mEOg9mnrgZ4hz/gRdzMTewldKYasIkUNNAznSdxj/x9Lv4z0Dcl7tHVNFIBaWbqdKGVA9zNm/Vv+6hyuE8bloTf4Kv5JJ7JQaeymiBsNjidbjay57k47gmHOa2I4IvzJHStdSA0bmUOl/sdVnjRYZ5WeNGbeRvUCQUu7scoctmTZIentiScxnxidFrhM8dCo5uOgkCL2SO6qtttxsiqKkHp6ZHENILh6HrYfzrb3pB1HwGQ04dJlr4ybNxNF31wCPMv2bMCVxf/qUnWSlcv0UgAxGKjioGrsfNIYtaZUuhtNtwqAoPDDDWFi1fbnPfEU5cW8mPbPM4alUsV8U2z/1OdI3ZnHXCes4lxLRIs273TA8HVhVg/G+zzNWrL7LrINRUYWMdiSbYWTxvevynTzgYNDTIjSVxsMyydsytSYiypwqI7JeV4/IvZtSa4i9lWa6Vc1fy1lUZmlKTdoMkb2piTDzKqKBT0pZUMiDKyZDezoc/22yS2ulD6pj/DLapBcFilr6xanpbmZi7PHSmml/lUlXFDI4Huuoiw+k9YIQg0q9ljvOHdfLHe+OBCTJNu5lXsIYLLSLPsTymoVjWTYjn0mSafy/doewJ9W8y/utCIsW6acS2hGmr2ZjbYzYv5DJ/Me02+KgD4L+L2kwutOmw/9S3VT3CWsR3Zs+QRxVwDOtsaAAXAy7QpeK2cdrPDDT6Z3+AJZxIYRRKAT1WAo4/YrqmjZXMRHELqSUCjJOsXCsSqI62wpiMv5vBkEqvtXN/CDjfzAgd8BeAb/JguBMAL3CjQXjxnENB862UbYrSA0DwDYCig4Ujz8Ajfmf+XRjiU7/YWvRkOBV6VpX0TX30l8Il0/ewQqwW6vNvZyo9P5LS4s0FXdU3jjuKwhlAdVv6fn1ZcjGfyxTuc4mb3qnib/arhQsAwPwv09ZyG9Jo36mUaW2OBaZTwovDxKOdKGjP3L/cUAUdrvOMeuycYaOJcFQgfVUctW+iErqlD1dTcD10IeCSzvsjiTC3Zu2UPUUBnazX7usxpLWt8OsIGu3J3tWdvRTOnPBWomrKUQJaBcuoQ4VL8dbl9sBrN2QRXt4zKWUu6Sw76oEBTbp9tcqSjqDXKpqEe24xaGLhWKA3GVtwHEQaBXITQyR5TpuHORaJ1UIkrEoEXMVSGmuExOGy1GdXlWGBInB4KeCn9V/N7zZThowsNqo9sGQBFI273xO9COVJlpa+FafZRSwkHVTQnjdo8DszXFVlOnBNctoMHBy4/A/1aCpaslkWNCfDiQrXttObbD140RVjG3ipw5DULqSZbDD+t9xOHUY/zstYXr92ll2/6XM037EhJcvksr0j00eTWdk7sBqwQh6lW2w9OH276/x/9r/vt64xptuVGLWeKZ7rr2IzKOsh/AXB34Qy98FSwAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC)![Dark red dramatic scene with a running figure in an urban environment](https://takefortytwo-new.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/media/blog/hidden-costs-of-inaction.webp?w=1648&h=898&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1774785497&s=3a3ae512b73e9559b0d49ab1c2c75b2f) #### The Hidden Costs of Inaction Discover the hidden costs of inaction to drive ecommerce growth and learn how to discern when the pain of same overweighs the pain of change. [ Read More ](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/blog/the-hidden-costs-of-inaction/) ![](data:image/png;base64,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)![Shimoda case study cover image showing a person in an outdoor desert landscape with Maximum Expectations tagline](https://takefortytwo-new.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/media/Brands/SHIMODA/Shimoda_Case_Study.jpg?w=1898&h=907&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1774791366&s=8ec2eadff52f6fbb132de91ca4d600ad) #### Shimoda How we built a custom ecommerce experience to match Shimoda’s flawlessly designed products. [ Read More ](https://www.takefortytwo.com/en/case-studies/shimoda/)