The world over, businesses prefer Magento as an e-commerce platform and here are several reasons why:
1. It is scalable.
Since it was launched back in 2008, Magento has become an e-commerce giant. One of the reason’s why businesses love it is because it offers different solutions for different business sizes. Magento comes in three forms: Magento Go, Magento Community, and Magento Enterprise. Magento Go is designed with the small-scale business owner in mind and is hosted by Magento itself.
Community and Enterprise are geared towards medium and large-scale businesses, each with their own features. Community is a free, open-source platform that has formed its own community of enthusiasts and experts, and Enterprise is the premier package deal and comes with every feature a large scale business might need to succeed in online retailing.
2. Think accountability.
One feature that business owners love is Magento can be set up to help with the books. Enterprise, for example, has tax calculators, PCI compliance, and more.
3. Think custom.
No two businesses are the same, so why should their platforms be? Both Magento Enterprise and Community allow business owners and designers to use the features and plug-ins that they want, tailoring the site to meet the business’ individual needs.
4. Mobility.
Online business has to be mobile-friendly, and Magento offers the capacity for users to create sites that can be viewed from any internet-connected device.
5. Global reach.
Imagine being able to reach customers all over the world, allowing them go onto the site and read the information their native tongue. Enterprise edition offers businesses the capability of doing business in multiple languages and regions. “Enterprise Edition is configurable for multiple currencies and tax rates, and you can use it to maintain a list of accepted countries, site registrations, shipping destinations, billing addresses and more.” (Magento Enterprise site)
6. Search engine optimized from the get-go.
SEO is one way that businesses can drive up their website traffic. Now imagine the potential of a platform that has SEO features built-in. Features like auto generated SEF URL’s, site maps, meta information for products and categories and auto generated popular search term pages – to name a few.
7. Integrated services.
There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that defines how a business thrives. Shipping is one of them. Imagine integrating in real-time with companies like DHL, UPS, and Fed Ex to provide prompt and efficient shipping to your customers. With Magento that can be easily set up so that it is handled automatically, allowing business operators to focus more on what they love.
Payment wise, it is integrated with most payment gateway providers, including Sage Pay, ePay, 2CO, PayPal, Google Checkout, Pay Point, Barclays ePDQ, and Money Bookers, allowing your customers the flexibility to pay how they choose to.
8. It has the customer in mind.
From customer loyalty programs to promotions tailored to specific customer segments, to personalized shopping experiences and customer accounts, Magento helps businesses retain their customer base and create an online shopping experience like no other. Customers can create wish lists or use a custom gift registry, and if products need to be returned, imagine those being converted into in-store credit.
9. It has the business in mind.
From email registries that can be used to set up promotions to an intuitive recommendation engine that can guide customers towards other products, Magento Enterprise becomes more than a storefront and enters the world of customer service. There are no limits on the amount of products that the site can list, and the advanced search options and filters allows businesses the ability to respond to customer needs more effectively, promoting conversion.
It also has a plugin architecture that those familiar with WordPress will recognize and be able to utilize effectively.
10. Evolution.
Doing business online means working in an ever-changing environment, so having a platform that can adapt as time goes on is crucial. With its large community that supports and helps develop Magento, this platform is always growing and evolving. Every day new features are designed and there is always something new on the horizon.
From small-scale to large-scale, Magento can help businesses of any size achieve success online. With three unique editions, a vast community of users and enthusiasts, and innovative features, there are many reasons why it continues to be the best performing platform in the world.
This article was written by David Solis, who happens to be a Magento developer, and loves the Magento ecommerce platform.
