IBM Sterling Supply Chain Business Network vs. TrueCommerce

IBM Sterling Supply Chain Business is very well suited for medium to large businesses that have a large commercial / B2B customer set, limited technical resources, and very simple standardized integrations with their B2B customers. It might be less appropriate or a fit for brands that have a much more complex tech stack, smaller commercial customer base, and more complete sales/products or options for their clients.

Incentivized

If you want to sell online and need a platform, you should select Nexternal. If it is within your budget and you want to have success, Nexternal is the way to go. Since switching to Nexternal from Kreck, our online sales have more than tripled!

Incentivized

• EDI and Sales Integrations.
• Reporting and Analytics.
• Speed of Onboarding/Integrations.
• Reliability/System Performance.

Incentivized

• Page layout.
• Processing purchases.
• Ease of creation.

Incentivized

• Poor Exceptions Support/Slow Response from Technical Support.
• Lack of Customization/Flexibility.
• Control Tower/Centralized Visibility Could Be Better.

Incentivized

• Nexternal is hosted solution which means much of the source code is protected and inaccessible. For clients looking to fully customize the user experience, there are some limitations, with any hosted solution, that must be considered.
• Nexternal doesn't have a built in wish list feature. They did partner with a 3rd party vendor, and now offer the base functionality; however, for clients whose needs center on the capabilities of a wish list, this feature must be closely considered.
• Nexternal's monthly fees are structured in such a way that they scale based on sales. This can be an affordable set up for a majority, but a deterrent for others. That said, the phrase 'you get what you pay for' rings true for ecommerce platforms as well. As I've mentioned perhaps too many times already, the level of reliable support combined with the user-friendly, secure platform are worth it.

Incentivized

I no longer work in a company that would utilize it.

The UI / UX is pretty straightforward. It does take some time to configure fully (everything is customized mapping tailored to your business's needs), but once everything is set up, their solution is incredibly reliable. Once it's fully onboarded, it's a very scalable solution for adding more clients and integrations to your business. Technical support could be better.

Incentivized

I love the control and attention to detail that this system has. Don't be intimidated by it. Keep playing with it, ask questions, and get to know the program. You will grow to absolutely love and understand it.

Incentivized

We've worked with ecommerce providers for over 12 years, and we have yet to find another solution that provides the same level of responsiveness and accessibility as Nexternal's account representatives.

Incentivized

I had help from start to finish. Doreen, my rep, was very patient, concise, clear, and she has always had the answers I need. Setting up your store is time consuming at first, but with the support system that Nexternal offers, it is painless.

Incentivized

IBM Sterling Supply Chain can be more expensive and complex, and has lower customer and technical service support than some of the other players. Onboarding might be a bit faster with different providers. Other providers might be better for businesses that are still in the earlier stages of their maturity, with regular growth or regular changing business and processes that are not fully established, might find IBM Sterling less of a fit for their operations and integrations.

Incentivized

When we started with Nexternal, there were not as many options as there are today. We felt the platform was one that we could work with and had a great customer support contact that helped us during the creation of our site.

Incentivized

• Simplified integrations across a large host of B2B clients.
• Competitive pricing / Positive ROI.

Incentivized

• Decreased efficiency in terms of how long it takes to enter order.
• Very quick with reporting which was great for meetings and customer service calls.
• Inefficient in terms of shipping abilities.