Online retailers want flexibility, scalability, and of course to reduce overhead. Retailers with their online stores change e-commerce websites, applications, and technology to achieve these objectives.
Online stores switch often to eBay Inc.’s Magento e-commerce platform. Magento e-commerce software is open source, the retailer can customize their operations online and website. Magneto has over 7000 add ons.
To compete in the online commerce marketplace, smaller online retailers need to be able to offer website features that will bring their customers back again and again. To accomplish this, retailers are turning to feature rich e-commerce platforms at increasingly affordable prices.
Magento e-commerce websites and technology
The smaller online retailers need the functionality and features of the larger retailers, but they also need those commerce applications and websites to be cheaper. Even though some retailers depend on in-house staff for the development of online custom solutions, most use open source technology such as Magento or a hosted (leased) solution.
Most retailers prefer open source free solutions and look for tasks such as managing products, product descriptions, promotions, discounts, processing of orders, and managing payments. All these tasks can be managed with the open source Magento application. With Magento, retailers are able to provide live inventory updates, automate customer service emails, and drop shipping.
One of the main benefits of an open source platform for e-commerce such as Magento, is the control and ownership of it. Unlike a hosted or leased online commerce solution, which can be very restrictive to online retailers, Magento open source allows for full customization, individual hosting of the e-commerce website and technology.
Ownership in the sense that the website, database, and all operations are conducted on the same server that is owned and operated by the online retailer them-self. A key distinction between hosted solutions and open source. Why is this important?
Benefits of marketing open source e-commerce websites
When investing into online marketing campaigns, an e-commerce website developed with open source such as Magneto reaps the full benefits. Unlike a hosted solution which often does not allow an online retailer to gain enough access to the code, backend, and website to fully take advantage of online marketing opportunities.
Since, it is not open source (hosted solutions), the hosted solutions vendors do not allow online retailers to step outside of the parameters they set forth. This can be very limiting to an online retailer. Certain customizations are not allowed, certain offers, promotions, sales process, payment gateways, and often even website design.
With open source online stores and e-commerce websites, online retailers have full control. All benefits of marketing efforts can be harnessed and used for a greater return on marketing investment. Marketing services such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Video marketing, Social Media Marketing (SMM), and other methods can be used to market and sell products online with greater success rate and long-term benefits.
Online retailers, who have done already their due diligence are changing e-commerce websites and applications. Opening up online stores with open source e-commerce applications to have a better success rate, lower cost, and greater opportunity online.
