Is Mercantiworld a SaaS platform like Shopify and WooCommerce?
No. Mercantiworld is a bespoke e-commerce platform built specifically around how each client's business operates. Unlike multi-tenant SaaS platforms,
Mercantiworld does not rely on rigid templates, plugin ecosystems, or shared constraints. Each implementation is tailored to the client's workflows, product models, and operational requirements.
Is the platform built from scratch or based on an existing framework?
Mercantiworld is built on a modern, proven web framework, chosen for long-term maintainability and flexibility. We use established technology foundations rather than reinventing low-level infrastructure, allowing us to focus on modelling real commerce operations accurately and efficiently.
Does each client have their own codebase?
Yes. Each client receives a client-specific codebase, maintained and owned by Mercantiworld as part of the platform offering. This allows deep customisation without forcing clients into the limitations of a shared, multi-tenant system.
How is the platform architected?
Mercantiworld uses a modular architecture designed to support growth and change. Core commerce components are shared conceptually, while business-specific logic, workflows, and integrations are implemented per client. Where appropriate, the platform can support headless or API-driven components.
What parts of the system are configurable vs custom-built?
Configurable:
Core commerce structures that are designed per client and adjusted without introducing brittle workarounds.
Custom-built:
Non-standard business logic, integrations, and workflows that cannot be represented cleanly through configuration alone.
We prioritise clarity and maintainability over brittle workarounds.
How are custom workflows implemented?
Custom workflows are implemented in code, not through plugins or fragile scripts. This allows the platform to accurately represent how your business actually operates, rather than forcing processes to conform to platform limitations.
What happens if we need functionality outside the current feature set?
We treat new requirements as either:
Client-specific extensions, or broader platform capabilities, where appropriate.
This decision is made collaboratively, based on long-term maintainability and relevance to the platform's direction.
What integrations does Mercantiworld support?
Mercantiworld integrates directly with external systems such as:
- ERP
- WMS
- CRM
- Accounting or finance tools
- Internal applications
Integrations are API-based and designed to be robust, maintainable, and independent of third-party plugin ecosystems.
Who owns the data?
Clients fully own their business data, including orders, customers, products, and historical records.
Data can be exported in structured formats, and systems are designed with future migration in mind.
Who owns the code and intellectual property?
Mercantiworld retains ownership of the core platform IP.
Clients receive a licence to use the platform and any bespoke functionality developed for their implementation, as defined in the agreement.
Client data always remains client-owned.
What happens if we leave Mercantiworld?
If a client chooses to leave:
All business data can be exported.
The terms of continued platform usage or transition are governed by the agreed licence and exit provisions
We aim to avoid lock-in and design systems with long-term flexibility in mind.
In practice, this means your data is portable, your implementation is documented, and exits are handled deliberately rather than defensively
Who hosts the platform?
Mercantiworld supports two hosting models:
- Mercantiworld-hosted: We manage infrastructure, hosting, deployments, and monitoring on your behalf.
- Client-hosted: The platform can be deployed into your own infrastructure (e.g. AWS or Heroku), with Mercantiworld providing build and platform support.
The hosting model is agreed upfront based on your operational preferences and internal capabilities.
Where is the platform hosted?
When Mercantiworld hosts the platform, it is deployed on established cloud infrastructure providers such as AWS or Heroku.
Regions can be selected based on client requirements.
What support is provided?
Support is provided directly by Mercantiworld and covers:
- Platform maintenance
- Operational issues
- Planned changes and improvements
- Enhanced or on-call support for peak trading periods can be agreed where required.
Is Mercantiworld suitable for enterprise-scale operations?
Mercantiworld is designed for growing brands that have outgrown template-based platforms but do not want the cost or complexity of enterprise commerce tools.
It is best suited for small to mid-sized businesses with complex operational needs rather than organisations that require large, vendor-heavy enterprise commerce suites.
What if my requirements don't fit the current feature set?
Mercantiworld is purpose-built to adapt to your requirements. While we ship with common e-commerce functionality, capabilities like multi-location inventory management, custom product models, or non-standard fulfillment logic can be built in as part of your implementation.
There are no hard limitations, only decisions about what gets built during your setup phase or added in future development sprints. We evaluate requirements collaboratively to determine the most maintainable and cost-effective approach.
How is pricing structured?
Pricing typically includes:
- An initial setup/build phase
- An ongoing platform fee
- Hosting (if Mercantiworld-hosted)
- Bespoke development, scoped separately where required
Pricing scales with operational complexity rather than simply order volume.