Find out how smart grocers are using integrations instead.
Picture this: a handyman shows up with 15 tools… and only knows how to use one.
The rest? Just for show.
That’s exactly what’s happening with many of today’s digital marketing platforms.
In a race to offer everything, websites, ecommerce, loyalty, email, mobile apps, offsite ads, and more, some providers promise it all. But when you go wide instead of deep, you get features that look good in a sales deck but fall flat in the real world.
Hot take: “Check-the-box” platforms are a liability, not a strategy.
Now, it’s time to rethink the “one provider for everything” pitch and why the smartest retailers are embracing integration instead.
The Problem with “We Do It All” Providers
Most of these platforms started with a strong core product. Maybe ecommerce or loyalty. But as demand grew, they began stacking on new features. Digital circulars, personalization, mobile apps, digital coupons. One by one. Feature after feature.
What you get isn’t a well-oiled machine. You get one solid product surrounded by half-built tools, many of which were rushed to market with the promise of “more to come.” The result? Weak functionality, empty promises, and support teams stretched across too many priorities.
What’s worse: the flagship feature tends to dominate all others. So even if you’re promised an “all-in-one solution,” you’re often just getting one thing done well and a bunch of things done poorly.
The Smarter Alternative: Integrations
The better approach isn’t one vendor to rule them all.
It’s best-in-class tools, integrated.
This model gives you flexibility, specialization, and long-term scalability.
An integrated platform focuses on a core set of high-performing tools, then connects seamlessly with leading providers in ecommerce, loyalty, coupons, and personalization.
That means you get real innovation from specialists, not watered-down copies from generalists.
These integrations don’t require custom code or complex builds anymore. Many are pre-built and ready for configuration, making them faster and cheaper to implement than ever before.
Integration is Easier Than It Looks
One of the biggest objections to an integrated approach is “it’s too complex.” Vendors pushing all-in-one systems love to talk about multiple logins, broken experiences, and disconnected features. But that’s not the reality anymore.
With Single Sign-On (SSO) and platform-level integrations, the shopper journey can be completely seamless—one login, one experience, no frustration. And with clear ownership for each component, support is stronger, accountability is clearer, and upgrades are more frequent and impactful.
Let’s be real: even the largest retailers in the country use multiple providers. They’ve just mastered the integration. If you want to compete with them, your platform has to be just as flexible and just as focused.
The Advantages of Going Integrated
Choosing an integrated platform doesn’t mean more complexity. It means more control, more innovation, and more resilience. Retailers who embrace this model aren’t just assembling a random mix of tools. They’re building a coordinated, strategic ecosystem that plays to each partner’s strengths.
Here’s why this approach consistently outperforms the “do-it-all” model:
- Best-of-breed features: When each solution in your stack is purpose-built by a specialist, you get deeper functionality, more innovation, and faster upgrades. No more relying on “good enough” features that were bolted on just to check a box.
- Clear accountability: When something breaks, you know exactly who’s responsible. With do-it-all providers, every support ticket becomes a guessing game. Integrated models allow you to hold each vendor to a higher standard because their role is clearly defined.
- A diversified tech stack: Putting all your digital eggs in one vendor’s basket is risky. If one system falters, your entire shopper experience can unravel. Integration gives you resilience—with multiple partners supporting the ecosystem.
- Faster innovation: Specialized providers live and breathe their category. That means faster iteration, more frequent feature releases, and cutting-edge tools that evolve with shopper expectations.
- A better shopper experience: With proper integration (like SSO and unified interfaces), you’re not just connecting tools—you’re creating a frictionless, intuitive experience for your customers. One login, one journey, and everything just works.
- Future-proof flexibility: As digital trends shift, you won’t be locked into a rigid all-in-one solution. An integrated model gives you the freedom to swap in better tools, test new capabilities, and evolve your stack over time.
The takeaway?
Integration doesn’t slow you down. It unlocks growth by letting experts do what they do best while giving you full control over how those pieces come together.
It’s Not the ’90s Anymore
Back when digital meant “a basic website and maybe a weekly email,” a single-provider solution made sense. There just weren’t that many tools—or shopper expectations. If you were online, you were ahead of the game.
But that era is long gone. Digital has become the frontline of customer experience, not a nice-to-have. Retailers today manage everything from ecommerce and loyalty programs to mobile apps, digital circulars, real-time personalization, and integrated advertising, all while keeping shoppers engaged and coming back.
Trying to run all of that through one stretched-thin provider? It’s like asking your old landline phone to run a streaming service. It’s outdated, overburdened, and guaranteed to underdeliver. For innovative retailers and regional chains looking to compete at a national level, it’s no longer about what’s easiest—it’s about what’s most effective.
Build Smarter. Integrate Better. Grow Faster.
Retailers who want to win in today’s market aren’t settling for generic, “do-it-all” platforms that check boxes.
They’re building strategic digital ecosystems made of partners who are each world-class at what they do.
At Webstop, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. We believe in helping you build a platform that’s customized to your needs, flexible enough to grow, and powerful enough to compete with national retailers without sacrificing your brand identity or shopper experience.
Want to future-proof your digital presence with best-of-breed tools that work together seamlessly?
Let’s talk about how we can support your store’s digital strategy.
Reach out to us: sales@webstop.com or visit our integrations page for more information.