"I Would Rather Gnaw My Arm Off Than Replatform" an Update

eCommerce
Written By Rick Watson

If anything this replatform prediction has aged better than almost anything I've ever written. Even if you are a platform company, selling the platform is turning out to be bad business. Many conversations produced these thoughts.

* Shopify Enterprise, B2B, and POS businesses will ultimately need more than Stripe can deliver. Surely that has to change at some point? Bueller?

"Who would like to buy some Shop Pay? It's easier than a replatform I promise!" -- said every Shopify sales engineer 3x this week.

We will find out soon if the staying power of Shopify employees outlasts an Enterprise length sales cycle.

* Salesforce loves selling agents, so it can sell data. Also, renewals are a thing. SFDC is still harder to dislodge than most would like to admit.

"Time is a flat circle." - said a Salesforce sales rep in a renewal conversation, or Mr. McConaughey in a Salesforce commercial.

* BigCommerce repositioning Feedonomics after finding it amongst the couch cushions in Austin, TX after a recent remodel.

"Who the hell knew we even had this damn thing!" - not actual Travis Hess quote.

System integrators are pivoting in response.

* Data, Order management, AI, Service, and Marketing are all more attractive businesses than site builds.

"Run Away! Run Away!" Monty Python, or system integrator CEOs.

Also system integrator CEOs: "Why the hell aren't I in a higher partner tier?"

As the great modern philosopher Rosie Perez said in "White Men Can't Jump" -- sometimes when you win, you really lose.

Reminds me of a system integrator winning a new platform build.

Rick Watson

Rick Watson founded RMW Commerce Consulting after spending 20+ years as a technology entrepreneur and operator exclusively in the eCommerce industry with companies like ChannelAdvisor, BarnesandNoble.com, Merchantry, and Pitney Bowes.

Watson’s work today is centered on supporting investors and management teams incubating and growing direct-to-consumer businesses. Most recently, in partnership with WHP Global, Rick was a critical resource in architecting the WHP+ platform, a new turnkey direct to consumer digital e-commerce platform that powers AnneKlein.com and JosephAbboud.com.

Watson also hosts a weekly podcast, Watson Weekly, where he shares an unbiased, unfiltered expert take on the retail sector’s biggest players.

In the past year alone, Rick has spoken at many in-person and virtual events as well as podcasts on topics ranging from retail/ecom to supply chain/logistics and even digital grocery including CommerceNext IRL, ASCM Connect, and Retail Innovation Conference.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/
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