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CyberOffice eCommerce Software Pros & Cons
- To those who need a side-by-side comparison between
CyberOffice and other programs.
- Always visit our news bulletin or Sign Up for updated
information on the software.
Why pick CyberOffice eCommerce over
other seamlessly same products with similar functionality?
| We would like to stress that the Triple-DES encryption
built-in to CyberOffice eCommerce platform, which will run on your own
server, is not merely a good practice but also an encryption strength
required by banks and laws, a point to be highlighted below. You
may be an experienced eCommerce developer or have searched extensively for an
off-the-shelf solution, the following comparison on CyberOffice
vs. the Average Products out there should help you
make the decision that you will not regret years down the track.
The information presented below reflects our generous views
on the present status of typical eCommerce software for the SME market. Much is based on
the feedback from the our clients and support partners. |
Click on the right column to browse the individual programs. |
| You might have come across or are familiar with osCommerce, the most popular open-source eCommerce software. We
ourselves took a thorough study of the system and came up with a combined package, OSCyberShop Site Builder Add-On, where you can find a detailed,
business oriented comparision of the two systems. Here is a site using the package,
http://www.toysclubhouse.com. |
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| No. |
Topic |
CyberOffice eCommerce |
Average Similar Products |
| 1 |
COM Object vs. Source Codes |
Each program contains a COM object (i.e DLL) that
centralizes core functions common to all business requirements (e.g. email). Offer unlimited free upgrade without even a touch on your pages. |
Many offer source codes that you cannot test
without paying first. Worse, it is hard to upgrade or fix bugs in the codes. Will have to pay service fees for every request. |
| 2 |
Programming Requirement |
Ready-to-go ASP pages
to accommodate your full eCommerce needs. Either adopt these pages as they are, or
customize their appearance to fit your theme. No ASP/COM object programming is required. Simple HTML experience is more than enough. |
Vendors using COM object approach often just
document the methods and properties, with some over-simplified samples. You would have to
build your own application from scratch. Extensive
programming knowledge is a prerequisite. |
| 3 |
Database Support |
Support high-end MS SQL, less expensive Sybase Adaptive SQL (only 1/4 cost of MS SQL), and open-source MySQL (free), in addition to all versions of MS Access. ODBC and
OLE-DB compliant. |
Limited to MS Access or MySQL. Often require extra fees to upgrade to high-end MS
SQL Server. Few support alternative databases. Many programs merely generate static HTML
pages on local PCs and upload them to live site. This kind of offline solutions have no
real-time database support. |
| 4 |
Payment Gateway |
Have an open interface
for any payment gateway. Shipped with tens of pre-built integration. Your choice of the
most economic/convenient one to use. |
Limited range of choices, often tied to a specific gateway or even
specific server to rip you off. Few have choices of your own. Many require hosting under
the vendors' server. This applies in particular to all those offline shopping cart
programs. |
| 5 |
International Language Market |
Universal language capability, 100% customizable
to your own language. Time-zone, date format and currency
format adjustment. built-in Dual
currency. |
Most are English only, often limited to the US market. Extra cost for non-English versions. |
| 6 |
Scalability &
Extensibility |
Proven track record to handle over 2.3 millions
of products, 20,000 orders without loss of speed. Centralized
database, Multiple vendors, franchise
storefronts with own pricing. No fixed templates. Fully extensible. Pure HTML pages
for storefronts. |
Most are non-scalable. Would not work well for a
large number of products (say over 10,000). No migration path.
Single storefront oriented. Fixed templates or templates embedded with scripting codes (of
ASP, PHP, CFM types) that are hard to modify. |
| 7 |
Data Encryption |
Industrial strength Triple-DES
encryption for a robust second layer protection against hacker gaining access to your
server. A must feature under a shared
server environment. |
Few provide encryption protection (or encryption
key exposed explicitly) especially for those source code versions of eCommerce software.
Ability limited by design. |
| 8 |
Advanced eCommerce Functions |
Coupon, e-product (e.g. e-Books, phone card
PIN), loyalty rewards, affiliate tracking, status-variant emails, accounting software
linkage. corporate account, order history lookup, real-time Inventory, real-time shipping
fee, member subscription, member discount, paid view, auction
builder, message log, and much more. |
These advanced functions are rarely covered by most out-of-the-box eCommerce software. Or they
often require extra fees. e.g. WebGenie. |
| 9 |
Backend Management |
Full, encrypted backend Web-based
management, plus programmable interface to other
applications, such as your in-house business system. Batch Import/export facility. |
Some CGI or Perl based eCommerce systems do not
have proper Web-based management. Lack of interface to other
systems is a common problem. |
| 10 |
Customer Service |
Live voice-over-IP customer
support. Unlimited, fast-response product support. |
Fees are generally required for phone support. Slow email
support response. |
Here is a partial list of eCommerce software solutions offered by our
competitors. These programs are used in the above comparison. We provide links to their
sites for you convenience of research.
- ShopFactory (frame-based
offline shopping cart program, very popular though).
- eziMerchant, EasyCart (offline shopping cart program, needs to use the vendor's
payment system).
- X-Cart VP-ASP (ASP source codes, needs purchase to see the full version and
will be hard to upgrade).
- MonsterCommerce, MonsterCart
(Hosted solution on their own servers).
- Nexternal (Hosted solutions and take sales
commissions from you).
- WebGenie, ShopSite, Dansie (Limited by the earlier CGI-based
programming approach).
- CartIt, Storefront 2000 (Microsoft FrontPage
companion shopping cart).
- Inetstore (Similar to CyberBuild,
but found to be not as scalable. Have trouble to handle large product database).
- IISCart (Pure COM+ objects.
Need extensive programming knowledge).
- osCommerce, Comersus (Free, open source software,
but you are on your own. No support or support expensive to purchase).
- CCSoft (Phone card software,
similar to CyberOffice http://www.phonecardsoftware.com
offering. But much higher in price).
- ICode (Wants to do everything for
you, from marketing to accounting. Not sure it they are really good in those areas).
- Miva Merchant (More interested in
selling you merchant accounts than solutions).
- PDG , Atinic, Erol (Not clear how the software is
programmed from the information given on the site).
- SalesCart, Bizar Software, Code9 Software , Cart32 , Fortune3, NetStores, MidiCart , Q-Shop, CoolCart (programs that we have
compared to CyberOffice products).
For a complete review of shopping carts on the markets, see The Shopping Cart Reports
by Dr. Wilson.
In general CyberOffice eCommerce
Platform has been much appreciated in the market. There appears to be only one
major hurdle:
The programs require Windows NT (or 2000 or 2003) Sever
hosting and the use of third-party DLLs (i.e. ours) must be permitted by the system admin
of the server. However, this requirement is tied to the Point No. 7
highlighted above, and is required by laws now.
Contact your hosting provider or click for more information.
Full-version Download! | Pricing & Purchase | Main Products
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| All-in-one
online/offline ordering system + real-time payment & after-sales management |
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| Online catalog
builder offering one database, many storefronts with own look and prices |
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| Multi-vendor,
multi-storefront B2B & B2C integrated eCommerce suite |
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| Feature-rich
Membership module for value-added services on your site |
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| PC
Web-networking, extranet, and live voice-over-IP call center technology |
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| Varieties of
third-party integration and pre-built applications |
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| Free membership
to stay informed of product upgrades |
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