Headless Commerce using Magento

05 August, 2023

Execon Tech Radar Initiative

The following blog entry is a partial report of the Execon Tech Radar Initiative on the Headless Commerce.

Key findings

Developed by Adobe, Magento is used by over 250,000 stores globally and is favored for its extensive extensions, themes, and adaptability to various business models. The platform provides ready-made solutions, a user-friendly admin panel, and responsiveness across devices. Key benefits of Magento, as highlighted in the article, include its widespread popularity and trust, customization options, user-friendly admin panel, responsiveness, successful customer stories, market leadership, strong community support, scalability, powerful integrations, and commitment to security and stability, making it an excellent choice for businesses seeking a robust and adaptable e-commerce solution in the Headless Commerce fashion.

Detailed Tech Radar Report

Tech Radar Technology Scan Check List: Magento

Date: 14.02.2023

A. Why it’s Worth It

Magento comes in two versions: Magento Open Source and Magento Commerce, and it is currently being developed by the software industry giant, the American company Adobe. It is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms globally, with over 250,000 stores using it worldwide. Magento offers a vast array of extensions and themes, making it easy to customize the platform to suit each client’s specific needs. It is suitable for both B2C and B2B companies and is backed by clear documentation and an active community.

B. Business User Value

Magento provides ready-made solutions that require only minimal customization for the specific needs of clients. One such solution is the admin panel, presented in a user-friendly GUI, which allows seamless management of store content and operations. The platform is also responsive and optimized for various devices, including smartphones and tablets.

C. Top Platform Users in Poland and Globally/Popularity

Some of the largest Magento users in Poland include Castorama, 4F, Super-Pharm, SOLAR, Tołpa, and Eobuwie.pl. Globally, notable users include Jaguar Land Rover, Nike, Olympus, Tommy Hilfiger, Coca Cola, Nestle Nespresso, and AsusTek Computer.

D. Customer Stories

– Castorama experienced over 400% growth in mobile traffic after migrating to Magento.
– Super-Pharm operates on Magento Commerce, taking advantage of the benefits of the Open Source nature, integrating the store with the internal ERP system Farmax and the loyalty program Lifestyle.
– SOLAR, a Polish fashion brand, saw a 30% increase in overall online sales after migrating to Magento 2.
– Nike integrated various Magento tools, such as a product customization feature allowing customers to design their own products like shoes and shirts.

In Poland Execon has helped leading companies such as DPD Polska (https://sklep.dpd.com.pl/), Duka (https://duka.com/pl/) to handle it’s e-commerce channel using Magento platform. Please visit out headless commerce solutions section to check how we can help.

E. Pricing

Magento Open Source version is available under the free OSL v3 license. For Magento Commerce, the pricing is as follows (based on average gross sales):

– <$1,000,000: $22,000 per year
– $1,000,000 – $5,000,000: $32,000 per year
– $5,000,000 – $10,000,000: $49,000 per year
– $10,000,000 – $25,000,000: $75,000 per year
– >$25,000,000: $125,000 per year

F. Support/Partners

In Poland, services are provided by software houses like Fast White Cat, Accenture, and SmartBees. Technological partners include companies like Blue Media, Ceneo.pl, and Przelewy24. Becoming a partner requires registration and may have additional criteria based on the level of partnership.

G. Technology & Architecture

Magento is written in PHP and utilizes frameworks such as Laminas (formerly Zend) and Symfony. Its versatility shines when handling medium to large-scale online stores or dynamic growth-oriented businesses. The platform offers advanced customization options, making it flexible and capable of creating virtually any type of online store. Magento Commerce’s strength lies in its Adobe Commerce Cloud service, an automated platform supporting PHP, MySQL, Redis, RabbitMQ, and Elasticsearch. It deeply integrates with Adobe Analytics Cloud, Adobe Marketing Cloud, and Adobe Advertising Cloud, making it adaptable to various business models (B2B, B2C, and B2E).

H. Plugins/Modules/Extensions/Ready-made Integrations

Magento Marketplace (https://marketplace.magento.com/) offers over 4000 extensions that support nearly any desired functionality. While most modules are paid (but affordable), some free solutions are also available.

I. License & Technology Maturity/Version

The Magento Open Source repository can be found at https://github.com/magento/magento2. The current version of Magento Commerce is 2.4.6, with version 2.0.0 released in October 2015. The Open Source version is currently at version 2.4-develop. Both versions are considered reliable and stable.

J. Forrester Wave & Gartner

Adobe Magento has been recognized as a leader in Forrester’s Magic Quadrant 2022 for e-commerce for the sixth time. The platform received high ratings in both “ability to execute” and “completeness of vision.” Gartner mentioned areas for improvement, including the update process and the need for further enhancements in the B2B sector.

K. Community

Magento’s active community can be found on forums such as https://community.magento.com/ and https://magento.stackexchange.com/. The entire Open Source version is created and supported by the community.

L. Training & Certifications

Adobe offers various certifications for Magento, including Magento Commerce Business Practitioner, Magento Commerce Developer, Magento Commerce Front-End Developer, and more. These certifications can be obtained through Adobe’s training courses, with prices ranging from $195 to $295.

M. Bonus

For a quick look at Magento in action, a demo site with an administrator panel is available at https://demo-magento-2.auroracreation.com/men.html.

Wrap-up

In conclusion, Magento’s widespread adoption, flexible architecture, and robust community support make it a top choice for e-commerce businesses worldwide. Whether you are a small startup or an established enterprise, Magento’s feature-rich solutions and continuous development make it a reliable platform for your online store.