Magento Open Source is a great start! It enables you to easily develop a unique online store that best reflects your brand.
Firstly, this self-hosted commerce platform is free of charge.
Also, it offers a variety of features necessary for developing a pretty decent online store.
Moreover, many global brands have launched their online business on Magento Open Source.
In case you don’t own a web store, you can easily develop one on this version of Magento.
But, before we dive into details, you have to keep in mind that this open-source solution might not be so open after all.
Features
Of course, every platform offers a certain number of eCommerce features. So, let’s browse through the ones that are a part of Magento Open Source. Pay close attention and decide whether it is the right choice for your business.
Pros
There are many benefits to using Magento Open Source. In case you need some proof of that, you can check out some of these customer case studies.
Integrated Checkout, Payment, and Shipping – offer several payment sources for flexibility.
Mobile Optimized Shopping – enable an optimal viewing experience across a wide range of desktop and mobile devices.
Global Selling – transact in multiple countries, currencies, and use a worldwide shipping provider.
Catalog Management – create rich content across many types of products: simple, configurable, bundled, and customer-personalized.
Extended Functionality via App Marketplace – add capabilities and connectors for a nominal fee using the Magento Extensions Marketplace.
Instant Purchase – provide your returning customers with a faster checkout experience.
Site Search – Elasticsearch with high-quality search results that help boost conversion rates.
Magento Marketplace – easily find ready-to-use eCommerce extensions that will boost your web store.
Official Magento Partners – make your online store stand out from competitors with the help of true professionals.
Still not sure about this version of the platform? Check out the following chapter and then try to make up your mind.
Cons
Even though Magento Open Source has got some great features, at the same time, it lacks several crucial ones. The good news is, these are available in Magento Commerce.
Business Intelligence Dashboards – advanced reporting tools and over 100 ready-to-use reports to help you learn more about your customers.
B2B Functionality – advanced B2B capabilities like quoting, custom catalogs, and company accounts.
Advanced Marketing Tools – custom promotions and merchandising tactics for customer groups.
Content Staging and Preview – create, schedule and review site changes faster and more accurately with built-in staging and preview features.
Customer Loyalty Tools – enable reward points, gift registries, wish lists, and exclusive private sales events.
WYSIWYG Page Builder – enhanced content management system (CMS) with drag and drop interface.
Visual Merchandising – organize products on catalog pages faster and easier. Sort by most popular sales items and more with the click of a mouse.
Please, note that all of the mentioned are built-in features. More commerce features are available in Magento Cloud.
The Importance of eCommerce for Small Businesses
Omnichannel
Apart from having a successful brick-and-mortar store, these days it’s both convenient and necessary to develop an online store as well. Online presence offers numerous opportunities that aren’t available within a physical store. So, there is no need to think twice. It’s high time you developed an online store in case you haven’t already done it.
Low Costs
Of course, one of the main advantages of small web stores is low maintenance and labor costs. The best thing about Magento Open Source is that you won’t need much professional help since it is easy to use. So, do not hesitate to dive into the online adventure. It offers many benefits that will help you grow your profit. Moreover, you will put your business on the map and promote your brand all over the Internet.
Revenue
eCommerce stores are available 24/7/365, unlike brick-and-mortar stores. In other words, your customers can shop ’til they drop, at any time of day and night. Moreover, you have an amazing opportunity to reach customers all over the world. So, all you need is a reliable eCommerce platform, creativity, and, of course, a quality product or service.
Customer Acquisition
How can you reach new shoppers and turn them into loyal customers? You can start by providing them with a seamless and unique online shopping experience. In order to do so, you’ll need a little help from an advanced search platform, Athena Search.
With simple integration, you can gain access to fully-customizable functionalities, like autocomplete, merchandising, and reporting. Adjust them from a separate Dashboard and enable relevant, accurate, and AI-powered search results. Create a unique search experience that will thrill your customers and make them come back for more.
Marketing ROI
Make the most of the browsing and buying behavior. Track your customers’ searches and use them for marketing purposes. The better the marketing, the bigger the ROI. So, do not underestimate the power of good marketing. Invest big to gain big.
Wrap Up
If you need more detailed information about Magento Open Source, you can visit the Magento Resources Library.
Of course, for all types of eCommerce solutions, feel free to contact us. We can develop your dream online store from scratch.
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