Tips on how to choose the right platform for a corporate website, portal, or e-shop

At PUXdesign, we have been building websites, customer portals, and e-shops for over 20 years. During this time, we have confirmed that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why we most often work with three platforms: Orchard Core, Smartstore, and Xperience by Kentico. Each of them excels in a slightly different discipline. Let’s take a look at when it makes sense to choose which one.

Why Choosing a CMS Based on a Feature List Is Not Enough

Many companies start their selection process with the question: "Which CMS is the best?"

However, the right question is different: "What type of digital solution do we actually need?"

A website for showcasing your portfolio has different requirements than a customer portal, and a B2B e-shop connected to an ERP system has entirely different needs. A platform that works perfectly for a corporate presentation may not be ideal for a catalog with tens of thousands of products.

Therefore, we recommend focusing on four main factors when selecting a platform:

• Technical: security, stability, and speed
• Development: quality of support, openness to development, and integration options
• User: quality of the interface and comfort for editors in content management
• Financial: long-term operational costs, licensing flexibility

These are the aspects where individual platforms differ the most.

Orchard Core: when you are looking for a modern open-source CMS for corporate websites

If we had to choose our most common choice for presentation websites, content portals, or intranets, it would be Orchard Core.

This is a modern open-source platform built on .NET technology. It is developed by an international community, including several of our developers, and is behind numerous extensive corporate solutions.

At PUXdesign, we have created a custom extension Olive, which allows us to significantly accelerate development and offer clients comfortable content management.

Where Orchard Core excels

• no licensing fees
• high flexibility for custom development
• support for multilingual websites
• headless architecture capability
• quality management of user roles and permissions
• easy integration with other systems

We use Orchard Core for:

• corporate presentations
• developer project websites
• product websites
• customer portals
• intranets
• solutions with hundreds to thousands of users

Good examples include projects for Leasing Česká spořitelna, Raiffeisen Leasing, Bootiq, Y Soft, and also Romodrom or the developer project Nové Bosonohy.

Who Orchard Core is ideal for

For companies that want an open platform without vendor lock-in (a situation where the customer is dependent on a single supplier and switching to another company is very expensive, complicated, or technically impossible) and expect their website to expand with new features over time.

Smartstore: when an e-shop outgrows a standard boxed solution

Many e-shops reach a point after several years where a standard platform is no longer sufficient. There are demands for integration with ERP systems, custom pricing, B2B processes, or complex catalogs.

This is where Smartstore comes into play.

It is an open-source e-commerce platform built on ASP.NET Core, designed for more extensive business solutions.

Strengths of Smartstore

• support for both B2B and B2C scenarios
• open API for integrations
• headless architecture
• high scalability
• easy connection with ERP, CRM, or PIM systems
• long-term extensibility without technological compromises

In practice, we primarily deploy Smartstore where the client needs:

• thousands to tens of thousands of products
• custom business logic
• different prices for various customer groups
• automation of business processes

Projects that showcase the capabilities of this platform include e-shops like Pneuboss, Comfor, Carollinum, and Konica Minolta E-shop.

Who is Smartstore suitable for

For companies that want a powerful custom e-shop and do not want to pay high licensing fees for commercial e-commerce platforms.

Xperience by Kentico: robust solution for demanding corporate projects

Some organizations require an even higher level of support, governance, and long-term development. Typically, these are corporations, financial institutions, or companies where the website is a key part of the digital infrastructure.

This is precisely the scenario for which we deploy Xperience by Kentico.

Kentico is one of the most well-known enterprise CMS/DXP platforms built on Microsoft technologies. It offers extensive options for personalization, marketing automation, and management of complex digital ecosystems.

Key Advantages of Kentico

• enterprise manufacturer support
• high security
• robust content management
• advanced workflows and automation
• extensive integration options
• suitability for large portals and multibrand environments

Kentico is often used for:

• client portals
• partner portals
• corporate websites
• solutions connected to SAP, Dynamics, or other enterprise systems

Notable references include the local JIC and global solutions for Konica Minolta.

Who Kentico is Best For

For organizations that prioritize long-term stability, enterprise support, and the operation of critical digital services.

Quick Comparison of Platforms

Common Mistakes When Choosing a CMS

During consultations, we repeatedly encounter several misconceptions:

• Choosing based on current price instead of long-term costs.
• Underestimating the future development of the project.
• Trying to use one platform for all types of projects.
• Insufficient consideration of the actual needs of future editors and administrators.
• Ignoring integrations with internal systems.

The result is often an expensive redesign several years later.

Which platform do we recommend?

With over 20 years of experience and the launch of 500+ websites, portals, and e-shops, we have encountered a wide range of platforms, allowing us to assist in selecting the right system for your project.

And it doesn't have to be just the platforms we use – Orchard Core, Smartstore, or Xperience by Kentico. During the initial analyses and consultations in the entry analytical and design phase of projects, we recommend all market options and compare specific parameters relevant to your intentions and goals.

For example, if you are just starting with online sales to end customers (B2C), it is likely more suitable for you to choose one of the so-called boxed platforms, which will be cheaper and deployed faster compared to developing a custom solution. Boxed platforms include Shoptet or Shopify.

Another example is preparing a simple, quick static web presentation or business card for a one-time purpose. Here, it is probably more appropriate to use so-called vibecoding, a static HTML presentation using AI, or one of the boxed platforms like WIX, Webnode, Webflow, and similar.

However, if it is appropriate for your project to implement a custom digital solution, then:

• for a modern corporate website, content portal, or intranet, we often recommend Orchard Core,
• for a large B2B or B2C e-shop connected to corporate systems, Smartstore makes the most sense,
• and if you are building a strategic enterprise solution with high demands on management and security, we will opt for Xperience by Kentico.

However, the most important factor is not the technology itself. It is crucial that the platform aligns with your business goals and does not hinder future development.

Are you planning a new website, portal, or e-shop and unsure which path is right? Contact us. We would be happy to discuss your requirements and select a solution that will work not only today but also in several years.