You're shopping for business software, and the numbers are all over the place. An eCommerce platform costs $30-300 per month, but an ERP system may run you thousands monthly. Why such a big difference? And why would you pick the ERP solution?
First, it’s important to know that you're not comparing apples to apples with these prices. You're comparing a sports car engine to an entire automotive factory. Both solutions are essential to a growing eCommerce business, but they serve completely different purposes. They also require vastly different resources and expertise to implement and maintain.
Having helped scores of businesses implement ERP platforms along with eCommerce tools, I'll take you through why this cost difference exists. By the end of this overview, you'll know what each system actually can do, and how companies can use both together to create unstoppable growth.
- Cost of an eCommerce Website vs Cost of an ERP System
- Top eCommerce Platforms Excel in Online Sales
- Why ERP Systems Cost More than Standalone eCommerce Software
- Chief Capabilities of eCommerce Software vs ERP Systems
- Real-World Examples: When Integration Becomes Critical
- Differing Support Infrastructure for eCommerce Software vs ERP Systems
- Why Growing eCommerce Businesses Need Both Systems
- Understanding Cost Helps Your eCommerce Business Make Smart Software Decisions
Understanding the Cost of an eCommerce Website vs ERP System
Think about what you see in your favorite online store. Clean design, easy checkout, product photos. It's appealing and easy to use. That's because B2C eCommerce platforms are designed to do one thing really well: help customers buy products online.
Now picture instead what happens behind the scenes at a growing business. Orders come in from multiple channels. Inventory needs to be tracked across warehouses. Accounting wants real-time financial data. Customer service requires access to order history. Manufacturing schedules production based on sales forecasts and orders.
ERP solutions are designed to handle all of these interdependent, complex tasks. And that's why they cost more.
Top eCommerce Platforms Excel in Online Sales
Standalone eCommerce software tackles a specific challenge: creating a smooth online shopping experience. Most platforms handle:
- Product catalog management
- Shopping cart functionality
- Payment processing
- Basic order tracking
- Simple inventory updates
Because the scope is narrow, development costs stay manageable. The eCommerce software publisher can build one solid solution and sell it to thousands of businesses with similar needs.
Example: Inventory capabilities in eCommerce software versus ERP platforms
Let’s look at an example of how the complexity of the software differs. When an eCommerce platform includes "simple inventory updates," here’s what that means. if you have your inventory quantities entered into your eCommerce system, it will simply note every time it sells something and change the on-hand quantities in inventory. That's it.
Unlike an ERP solution, the eCommerce software is not doing purchase orders and fulfillment. It's not doing work orders to create new products if you're a manufacturer. All it's doing is tracking your numbers supplied by manual entry, then subtracting when something sells.
The eCommerce software isn't handling the whole reality of business operations. It doesn't track when things get broken or lost in the warehouse, or you get shrinkage. It doesn’t do cycle counting. When customers make returns, the eCommerce system can't determine and track what happens to those returns. By contrast, an ERP system tracks whether returned items should go back into inventory or into scrap, whether items get palletized and sold in bulk, or whether they need reconditioning before going back into stock.
Why ERP Systems Cost More than Standalone eCommerce Software
ERP systems are central hubs that connect every department and process. The complexity grows exponentially because these systems must:
- Handle unique business workflows across industries
- Integrate dozens of different functions seamlessly
- Scale from small companies to global enterprises
- Maintain data accuracy across all departments
- Support complex regulatory requirements like lot tracking and product recalls
ERP implementation often requires data migration, extensive testing, and specialized expertise. Then, after the implementation, ERP partners offer extensive ongoing support to growing businesses.
Chief Capabilities of eCommerce Software vs ERP Systems
Here's where business owners get confused. They see both systems handling business process automation and wonder why one costs so much more. But the capabilities couldn't be more different.
Focus Area of an eCommerce Platform
An eCommerce website focuses outward, toward your customers. It excels at:
Customer-facing functions: Product browsing, search, reviews, and checkout flows designed for conversion.
Basic sales operations: Order capture, payment processing, and simple inventory tracking.
Marketing tools: Email campaigns, discount codes, and basic analytics about customer behavior.
Channel management: Selling on your website, social media, and maybe a few marketplaces.
It’s a digital storefront. It's brilliant at helping people discover and buy your products, but it wasn't built to run your entire business. eCommerce systems are customer-facing revenue drivers, but they don't manage inventory, fulfill orders, or handle the backend processes that ensure customers keep returning.
Comprehensive Scope of an ERP Solution
ERP software looks inward, at your operations. It connects and optimizes:
Financial management: Real-time accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance tracking across multiple entities.
Supply chain optimization: Procurement, vendor management, demand planning, and warehouse operations.
Human resources: Benefits, time tracking, and performance management.
Manufacturing: Production scheduling, quality control, and resource planning.
Advanced analytics: Business intelligence that helps executives make strategic decisions.
Process automation: Workflows that eliminate manual tasks and reduce errors across departments.
The difference? Your eCommerce platform helps you sell. Your ERP system helps you operate efficiently and profitably. Without an ERP system behind them, eCommerce platforms are much less effective at driving the rest of the business processes that create sustainable growth.
Real-World Examples: When Integration Becomes Critical
Here’s why an apparel company needed to implement an ERP solution with integrated eCommerce software. In the apparel industry, there can be seven different seasons, which means seven lines of clothing coming out every year. The planning window is less than two months. If you miss that window, don't have your inventory on time, and don't get that inventory out on your website, your lost revenue amount will be so huge it could threaten your survival in the business.
This apparel company rolled out new eCommerce initiatives regularly, including special websites for national promotions and different eCommerce stores for different brands. During busy season, they were processing tens of thousands of orders per month. The only way to manage these order volumes and process everything correctly was through integration back to the ERP system. Without that integration, they would have been unable to function.
Even small companies need an ERP platform if they are dealing with rapid growth. One three-person operation with about $1 million in annual revenue implemented an ERP system. They made that decision because they couldn't keep up with growth using just their eCommerce website. They began with direct-to-consumer sales, then expanded into B2B channels along with social media sales and gift programs. The multi-channel complexity could not be successfully managed without ERP functionality.
Differing Support Infrastructure for eCommerce Software vs ERP Systems
The cost difference also reflects the different levels of support required for the two different systems.
eCommerce Platform Support
Most eCommerce platforms offer:
- Self-service setup wizards
- Template-based designs
- Standard integrations with popular payment processors
- Online documentation and community forums
- Basic technical support for common issues
Since the functionality is standardized, support can be standardized too.
ERP System Support
ERP implementations require:
- Detailed business process analysis
- Data migration from existing systems
- Extensive user training across departments
- Ongoing optimization as your business evolves
- Dedicated support teams familiar with your setup
An ERP solution typically isn't plug-and-play software. It's a business transformation that can require expertise every step of the way.
Why Growing eCommerce Businesses Need Both Systems
So, if the best ERP systems are so powerful, why not skip the eCommerce platform entirely?
At a certain point, you will need both, because the two solutions solve different problems at different stages of growth. If your business is still very small (under $300,000 annual revenue) and not yet growing, consider waiting until you have more growth to get started with an ERP.
The Smart Growth Strategy
Most successful businesses start with a solid eCommerce platform to validate their market and build sales momentum. Once revenue grows and operations become complex, they add ERP functionality to:
- Automate repetitive tasks across departments
- Gain real-time visibility into business performance
- Scale operations without proportionally increasing headcount
- Make data-driven decisions faster
- Prepare for additional sales channels and business expansion
B2C eCommerce Integration with ERP Solutions
For businesses selling directly to consumers, integration typically focuses on:
- Syncing inventory levels, items, and prices between your online store and warehouse management
- Automatically transferring order data to accounting and fulfillment systems
- Providing customer service teams with complete order histories
- Analyzing sales trends to improve demand planning
B2B eCommerce and ERP Integration Differences
B2B companies have slightly different needs, particularly for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). EDI is the automated exchange of business documents between companies' computer systems.
eCommerce systems simply won't work for major B2B relationships. A company like Walmart doesn't operate through eCommerce interfaces — Walmart sends electronic purchase orders and expects electronic confirmations, shipping notifications with all quantities, and labeling requirements. eCommerce systems don't handle this EDI functionality.
When B2B eCommerce platforms claim to handle business-to-business sales, they're usually designed for distributor networks, franchisees, or lower-volume ordering relationships — not high-volume big box retailers. The data needed for major B2B transactions sits in the ERP system: purchase order information, shipping details, pricing structures, and labeling requirements that live on the operational side of business rather than the sales side.
EDI transactions require precise data formatting, or companies face chargebacks that can cost $250 per incident.
Built-in eCommerce Modules as Part of ERP Systems (aka All-in-Ones)
When ERP publishers build integrated eCommerce functionality inside their ERP systems, the results are often disappointing because eCommerce isn't their core competency.
Many ERP systems instead provide connectors to established eCommerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and Amazon rather than competing directly.
In some cases, ERP publishers (Acumatica, Brightpearl) have their own native integrations for specific major eCommerce tools, which are even smoother and more capable than connectors.
The better approach: use best-of-breed eCommerce solutions, enhanced by a native integration provided by your ERP platform. Let your eCommerce platform excel at customer experience and conversion. Then your ERP system will optimize operations and provide the data foundation for business growth.
Understanding Cost Helps Your eCommerce Business Make Smart Software Decisions
Now that you know the scope of each solution type, you can see why an eCommerce platform costs hundreds while an ERP system costs thousands. It's not arbitrary pricing — it reflects the fundamental difference between customer-facing sales tools and a comprehensive business management system.
ERP solutions cost more because they are investments in operational efficiency and scalable growth. Unlike an ERP system, an eCommerce tool can’t handle complex back-office operations, but it plays a crucial role in converting visitors into customers.
Businesses that understand these differences invest in the right tools at the right time. They avoid the costly mistake of outgrowing their systems or over-investing too early. They build technology foundations that support sustainable growth.
When you're ready to explore how ERP functionality can transform your operations, you need a partner who understands both the technology and your business goals. Stellar One specializes in helping growing companies implement ERP solutions that integrate seamlessly with top eCommerce operations.
Read our member success story for Modloft, a furniture retailer whose operations went from turbulence to seamless efficiency thanks to a Stellar One ERP partnership.
To get a more detailed picture of pricing and our approach to ERP software, implementation, and ongoing support, try out our personalized pricing calculator.