All-In-One eCommerce Solution

[HenryJ]

I am looking for an all-in-one eCommerce solution. Presently have two sites - one Miva and one Yahoo, and use StoneEdge Order Manager and QuickBooks.

Looking for a solution that does not require programming (person who set up our sites has moved on).

So far have looked at:
NetSuites - little expensive
OS Commerce - do not want something that requires all sorts of add ons (contributions) - as is the case with Miva and its modules.

4D Business Kit - this is built on 4th Dimension software. I have used a product called BigBusiness for in-house accounting, inventory, and order management for years and it has been excellent, but they do not have a shopping cart feature.

The company that now manages 4D Business Kit is in Switzerland - www.4dbk.com. I found an UK company that supports it, (but not found one in US)

I am hoping the 4D Business Kit is as simple and easy to use, but want to hear from someone who has used it or is interested in working with it to set us up.

Definitely open to other suggestions, help, proposals, etc.

Need something that can handle 2- 5,000 items, several websites - each with own shopping cart - all pulling from one master inventory database, with website design, shopping cart, order management and accounting all integrated.

[edited by: lorax at 10:56 am (utc) on May 10, 2006]
[edit reason] No URLs please [/edit]

[lorax]

Greetings and welcome to WebmasterWorld!

>> Looking for a solution that does not require programming

Given the different carts you currently have in place I'll be suprized if you find a solution that doesnt' require either programming or using the same cart on all of your sites. Or is getting a single cart the goal?

[Barney Stone]

Shopping carts, order management systems and accounting systems are all very different animals. Companies that are good at one usually are not very good or don't even attempt to do the others. Imagine buying baked goods at Home Depot, or carpeting from a car dealer. The odds of finding one system that does all three well, with the features and functions you need, and at an affordable price, are very small. And even if you did find one, you would then be stuck with them for all three components. If you wanted to switch to a different accounting system or shopping cart, for example, you might not be able to do that without dropping the whole system. You are probably better off finding the best shopping cart, order manager and accounting systems for your needs, then finding an efficient way to make them work together.

[HenryJ]

>>>I'll be suprized if you find a solution that doesnt' require either programming or using the same cart on all of your sites. Or is getting a single cart the goal?

Some tweaking is ok. Not looking for same cart on all. I believe NetSuites and Volusion are all-in-one, but expensive. Looking for someone who has worked with 4D Business Kit, to let be know if this is a viable solution.

[HenryJ]

>>>You are probably better off finding the best shopping cart, order manager and accounting systems for your needs, then finding an efficient way to make them work together.

Barney, we do use your Stone Edge Order Manager, and it is great for order management. Yet, whenever we upgrade we have integration problems - usually with Dazzle. With the latest upgrade it affected Global Priority (an earlier one was completely incompatible and we could not use it at all). Also this time our invoice template is off - for example.

Then there is the issue of separating out the stores.

Again, although I am limited in my experience, Order Manager is great and I recommend it highly.

I am just looking for something that is great with integrating everything and has good individual components.

[Barney Stone]

>>>With the latest upgrade it affected Global Priority (an earlier one was completely incompatible and we could not use it at all). Also this time our invoice template is off - for example.

Then there is the issue of separating out the stores. <<<

With a program that complex, upgrades are going to cause problems sometimes. Obviously our support guys will try to help you with them.

As far as "separating out the stores" is concerned, the program will keep track of the source of each order, and you can use different company info in your emails and on invoices and packing slips depending on the source of each order. Is that what you mean?