Catalog website and Online Store are very similar to each other, which is why people often confuse them, even though they have significant differences.
In this article we will try to examine them in more detail.
A Catalog website is an online showcase that lets users browse your goods, products, or services. It provides detailed descriptions of features and specifications and includes product images.
A Catalog website has similar functionality to a Corporate website, but its distinguishing features are:
- Showing prices is not required.
- Product pages.
- Product presentation.
- Ability to ask questions about a product.
- Catalog section without a shopping cart.
- Development cost is much lower.
A Catalog website suits you if you don't have 1C synchronization, card payments, or e-money. It is designed for people who don't have fixed prices due to currency fluctuations or when each product is developed individually. Using a feedback button or email, a specialist contacts a potential client and continues the sales process.
An Online Store is an online platform that hosts a large number of products and allows customers to pay for goods without leaving home.
Its distinguishing features are:
- User account.
- Shopping cart.
- 1C synchronization.
- Online payment.
- Built-in calculator.
For online shoppers, an Online Store is a convenient system for tracking products via a user account, where they can add items to the cart, calculate the total cost, choose a delivery method, and follow discounts. A full-featured Online Store with more than 1,500 products is convenient when 1C synchronization is available, which simplifies product management and support. It should also be noted that an online store does not necessarily require large marketplaces to sell products.
Conclusions:
If your product is "simple" without complex specifications or is customized for each client and you are not ready to invest large sums in development, then a Catalog website will suit you. If you are ready for a serious business, it's better to start developing an Online Store on the Okay system with 1C synchronization, even if you don't have many product listings now — it will pay off later and your product range will grow accordingly.
