A content management system is a ready-made engine that allows the site to work autonomously and efficiently. Modern options offer more and more options that were originally built into the functionality, so choosing the best CMS for an online store is a search for a platform that is comfortable to use. The scale of the resource and the type of content presented also play a role.

Criteria

Automation assumes that all operations are carried out within the system. The speed of task completion by employees will directly affect the quality of work and profitability, so you should look for a convenient and fast CMS for an online store.

Often, the personal account and the interface are so overloaded that it is not possible to get used to them even with time. When choosing a platform on your own, it is better to avoid such options. If it is customized to order, work out the moment of transfer and training of operators. However, this does not insure against problems in the future, when it becomes necessary to expand the functionality or tasks, and customer support is no longer carried out.

Functional

The conclusion is to take care of the needs in advance. If the underlying model does not involve changes and revisions in the future, any option from the top CMS for an online store with basic features will do.

In a situation where a company is just starting out and plans to adapt and expand content management, it is better to look at paid options. 1C-Bitrix became famous thanks to a platform that is difficult to understand, but has the necessary functionality, customizable to the needs of the owner.

Compatibility

The need to work simultaneously with the CMS and your own bespoke software development liverpool is often encountered – the possibility of their integration should be provided. This will have to be dealt with either by programmers within the company, or by the designers of the ordered platform. If you miss this moment, employees will have to work on several systems at the same time – slower and less efficient. At a minimum, you should take care of connecting an online store of third-party programs to the CMS.

Other factors

If the previous points are not in doubt, it is worth paying attention to a few less critical, but still important points. Good CMS:

1. It has been on the market for at least two years. Less time means more risk for the end user; The best modern platforms have come a long way with improvements and bug fixes. Young competitors have no such experience.
2. Offers technical support. Accompaniment at any stage is always pleasant, especially when the CMS is unfamiliar to the employees of the online store. Conditions vary greatly, as a rule, web studios that design CMS to order provide ongoing support.
3. Protected from hacking. It is desirable that as many elements as possible be present – two-factor authorization, the possibility of distributing access levels and user rights, encryption.

With a ready-made image of a system suitable for business, they proceed to its selection. Using the most famous CMS as an example, it is easier to understand what their differences are.

Options

CMS reviews for an online store regularly name several time-tested and user-tested platforms.

fast site

Russian online store management system. Fastsite is open source and free to use. The system has the ability to create an individual design or add the necessary modules, while it has the following features:

• Written in PHP and MySQL.
• Shop templates – on Twig and Foundation.
• Installed on most hosting without additional configuration.
• Works fast.
• SEO-ready.
• Ready-made integrations with 1C, Yandex.Checkout and popular transport companies.
• Ecosystem for creating your own industry solutions, themes and modules.
• All documentation .
• Enterprise modules (PIM, Marketplace…) and paid developer support for large deployments.

opencart

The engine is distributed free of charge. Thanks to the open source, it is widely known and understood even by those who are poorly versed in programming. The system, available for development, gained popularity as a CMS for small online stores, as it was originally focused on the commercial sector. There are all the basic features, plus:

• additional blocks – viewed products, comparison, reviews;
• the ability to add positions to bookmarks;
• automatic calculation of the cost of delivery, with the previously specified options.

In addition to the convenience for visitors, OpenCart allows CMS owners to easily monitor all sections of the store. Visual analytics by section, statistics and error reports that allow you to correct shortcomings in time. There is integration with payment systems and feedback blocks.

If there are few opportunities, the necessary modules are purchased separately – for example, a callback, cash on delivery, and so on. The option is perfect if the scope and nature of the work has not yet been fully established – it will be possible to adapt the store to the requirements of customers and the owner at any time.

Bitrix

The Bitrix system has earned a reputation for being difficult to understand, but an advanced platform that is customizable to the requirements of the customer. The disadvantage is the difficulty in mastering and maintaining; more often it is chosen by companies that have their own server and an administrator in the state.

Synchronized with 1C, but requires initial setup. Copes with large volumes of calls to the online store and orders, thanks to automated modules. Added support for social networks for the parallel development of several sales channels.

Application management and analytics are available. The reverse side is the corresponding cost and technical requirements. Suitable for companies with sufficient resources to maintain work and pay for maintenance, worse – for a novice online store.

ShopScript

Another option for business owners with a small budget. There are two versions – cloud and server. The first type is the least demanding for the user, for the second one it is worth having some administration skills and working with similar platforms. The advantage is that the store is quickly and at any time transferred from the machine to the cloud, and vice versa. In this case, the catalog is saved completely, without the risk of losing the entered data.

The CMS market for online stores offers many other options – different cost, set of features and ease of use. The more accurately you can determine your requirements for the platform, the easier it will be to choose a truly effective and comfortable system for the store.

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