Magento Archives - Probytes Web Development Company

What is a Web Framework?

Posted on November 15, 2019 by probytesnextjs

A web framework ties up the user interface, database, server, browser and middleware system and streamlines the process flow. In other words, this software framework is essential for the development of web applications, web services and dynamic as well as static websites.

A web framework consists of template frameworks, libraries with accessible data and session management.

How does a Web Framework work?

Type a website’s name into a browser say, for example www.probytes.com, and the page opens. However, in the backend of the browser, numerous processes happen in just a few seconds.

Step 1

The web server sends the HTML of the website to the web browser. (Note that the machine where this application is placed is also called web server). Even if the application is built using CSS or JSON, they are converted to HTML and the message is sent.

Step 2

In the next step, the web browser that received the HTML message “downloads” the website from web servers also known as application servers.

This process happens through the universal HTTP protocol, which is based on request-response model. The browser “requests” the data from the web application and the web application “responds” by sending the data.

The request – response action is only unidirectional. Only the web browser can request for data and the web application cannot do it. The different ways in which this request message is sent are HTTP GET, HTTP POST, and HTTP Response Codes. On the web application side, it responds with the HTTP 200 response.

Components of Web Framework Architecture

Web framework architecture includes the following elements – administration tool, Client Layer, Recommender Server and Generator Server. The administrator layer or tool contains Management, API Documentation, and Administration.

The Recommender Server contains API Layer, Application layer (containing online, action, offline recommender services), and Database layer that has database actions and association rules. The Generator Server has a Data mining layer, which contains both action-based and content-based generators.

Types of Framework Architectures

1. Model-View-Controller

This push-based architecture is based on the logic of separating functions and responsibilities. The tables in the database are represented as models and the business logic is contained in controllers.

The benefits of this architecture are that it allows for code reuse and also modularizes code. This architecture enables web applications to show web pages for human users and web interface for remote applications.

Action-based web frameworks are Ruby on Rails, Symfony, Spring MVC, Stripes, Django, and Diamond.

2. Component-based Framework

This kind of framework “pulls” data from controllers or view layers. This architecture allows the web application to pull multiple controllers for a single view. Frameworks that use this architecture are Wicket, Lift, Tapestry, JavaServer Faces, and JBoss Seam.

Note: Certain frameworks are both push based and pull based. A few of them are RIFE, Struts, Play and ZK.

3. Three-tier Organization

As the name says, this architecture has three physical tiers – application, database and client. The application uses business logic to run on the server and communicate with the client, which is a web browser. The web browser operates on HTML that is generated by the web application.

4. Server-side Application

When web frameworks were first developed, they were server based. This type of framework is essential as it has the necessary app logic to ensure proper user experience and interaction on the user interface.

These frameworks control and manage the database, handle HTTP requests, and also map URLs. The popular server-side frameworks are Django, Symfony, Ruby on Rails, ASP.NET, and Express Node.

5. Client-side Application

This framework deals with the interface that the users see and navigate. Rendering, playing sound, playing video, routing input, and more functions are handled by the front-end application framework.

This dynamic framework is also known as Single Page Application. It updates the data on the same page that the user is viewing without loading new pages.

This process enhances the performance and also reduces content reloading time. The client-side frameworks are Angular.js, JavaScript, Bootstrap, React js, Semantic UI and Backbone.

6. Mobile Application Architecture

The mobile application architecture has three layers, namely presentation, data and business. The presentation or user interface is the layer that users face. All interactions and operations happen in this layer.

The business layer takes care of the workflow and manages end user behavior. The data layer manages the data functionality, configurations, communications and settings.

The mobile operating system, storage space, device screen resolution, screen size and processor capability need to be considered while developing a mobile framework application.

Types of Frameworks

Web frameworks are classified into different types based on the programming language that is used in building them.

1. Java Web Framework

Java Framework architecture includes three components – User Machine, Enterprise Server and Database. The user machine has web browser (JavaScript/HTML/CSS).

The Enterprise Server contains Web Container (Apache Tomcat and Java Server Pages) and EJB Container that contains Business Methods, Data Access Objects, and JBOSS/ Web Logic. The database is written in SQL and RDBMS.

Java framework with is layered architecture can be used in a range of versatile applications. This framework has numerous tool kits that can be used to simple applications to full-fledged systems.

2. Node.js Framework

Node.js Framework features four components – Client, Server, Business Layer, and Data Layer. The client includes a mobile browser, web browser, and application.

The Business Layer contains the Application Server and File System while the Data Layer includes Database and External System.

Node.js Framework works with both front end and backend applications. The architecture shares and reuses codes and exchanges codes for consistent performance. It is the best option to build cloud-based platforms.

3. Ruby on Rails Framework

The architecture contains a browser, web server, user interface, database and Rails Framework. Information travels both ways in the browser, web server and user interface.

From the user interface, the command is routed to the Controller and then travels to the View and Model. From View, the response goes back to the web server. This framework works on an open-source model and delivers good speed and configuration to complete tasks.

4. ASP.NET framework

This robust framework developed by Microsoft is built using C language. It is a lightweight framework that is used to build applications for both mobile and computer systems. This full stack framework has multiple libraries.

The web framework determines the performance of websites and web applications and so all the pros and cons of each framework need to be considered while building and integrating a web framework.

Our expert team of website developers has in-depth knowledge of the different kinds of web frameworks and architecture. Get in touch with us to know more about the best web framework for your application.

15 Best Content Management Systems

Posted on November 12, 2019 by probytesnextjs

A Content Management System (CMS) is one of the vital parts of a website. This software application helps create, modify and manage all the digital content of the website. There are two types of Content Management Systems – Web Content Management System (WCM) and Enterprise Content Management System (ECM).

WCM includes graphics, photos, videos, text, maps, interactive features and program code to display the content. An ECM, on the other hand, supports multiple users and includes document management, record retention, digital asset management and WCM.

The best content management systems have a front-end user interface and a content delivery application along with numerous core features.

The essential features in the best content management systems include:

Intuitive indexing
Format management
Revision control
Publishing functionality
Discussion board and online help
SEO-friendly URLs
Admin panel
Customizable templates
Multiple language support
File manager and audit log

This blog will elaborate on the structure and features of the 15 best content management systems so that you can decide on the right one for your website.

Best Content Management Systems

1. WordPress
2. Drupal
3. Joomla
4. Magento
5. Typeo3
6. Concrete5
7. Kentico
8. Magnolia
9. ImpressCMS
10. DjangoCMS
11. IBM Enterprise Content Management
12. Serendipity
13. Dotclear
14. Adobe Experience Manager
15. SharePoint

1. WordPress

Initial Release: 2003

Website: www.wordpress.com

Platform: PHP

Supported Database: MySQL, MariaDB

Operating System: Windows, Linux, Unix-like

Popular Themes: Twenty Nineteen, Twenty Seventeen, Hello Elementor, Astra, OceanWP, Storefront, Lyrical, Velux, Neve, One Press, Spacious, Scribbles

Plug-ins: Contact Form Email, Algori 360 Video, Yoast SEO, MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress, Smush Image Compression and Optimization, WP Forms, The Events Calendar, Contact Widgets, Smart Slider 3, WooCommerce Blocks,

Pricing:

Personal: INR 200/month
Premium: INR 350/month
Business: INR 800/month
Ecommerce: INR 1440/month

WordPress is one of the most popular CMS’s as its versatile and flexible structure makes it suitable for all kinds of websites. Currently, more than 60 million websites have been built using the WordPress CMS. One of the reasons for the popularity of this CMS is its user-friendly interface, intuitive publishing and powerful editor.

Plus, this platform can be easily customized by installing plug-ins. Though there are numerous CMS, WordPress tops the list of the best content management systems for its customizable options and large helpful community.

2. Drupal

Initial Release: 2000

Website: www.drupal.com

Platform: PHP

Supported Database: Oracle, Maria DB, SQLite, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Percona Server, PostgreSQL

Operating System: Windows, Unix-like

Popular Themes: Bootstrap, Zen, Omega, Adminimal, Tao, Adaptive, Rubik, Corporate Clean, Nexus, Mayo, Danland, Business, Fusion

Modules: Access statistics and logging, multi-site support, Descriptive URLs, Advanced Search, Multi-user content creation and editing, User Profiles, Workflow tools

Pricing: Free

This open-source content management system is used in the back-end framework for a host of websites, from personal blogging sites to government websites.

The CMS framework has more than 2750 themes and 42,650 modules. The Basic features of this CMS include menu management, RSS feeds, user account registration, maintenance, taxonomy, and system administration.

3. Joomla

Initial Release: 2005

Website: www.joomla.org

Platform: PHP

Supported Database: MySQL, MSSQL, SQLite, PostgreSQL

Operating System: Cross Platform

Popular Extensions: Akeeba Backup, Breezing Forms Pro, RSForm! Pro, Acy Mailing Starter, Event Booking, Contact Enhancement Component, JSitemap, EasyBlog, Eshop, Smart Slider, OS Property Real Estate

Pricing: Free

Coded in PHP, this free open-source content management system is built on a model–view–controller web application framework. The object-oriented programming techniques used in coding this platform enhances its function.

It has more than 8000 extensions and offers support for 75 languages. This CMS platform is search engine optimized and flexible. It also features multi-user permission levels.

4. Magento

Initial Release: 2008

Website: www.magento.com

Platform: PHP

Supported Database: MySQL

Popular Themes: Rope Responsive, Couture Fashion, Sure ICT Minimalistic Theme, Sure ICT Instagram Theme, Zemez Vini Fashion Theme

Extensions: Yotpo Reviews, Nosto personalization, AJAX catalog, Aheadworks Follow up emails, Aheadworks Featured Products, Amasty Mass Order Actions, Aheadworks RMA, BSS Commerce Delete Order

Pricing: Need to pay separately for extensions and themes, has monthly subscriptions for different categories such as Small Business Solutions, Mid Market Solutions, and Enterprise Solutions

Magento is one of the best content management systems for E-commerce websites. It offers customized solutions based on business type (small, mid), Business Need (B2B, omnichannel, mobile, global) and industry.

It also lets you find partners to set up the payment gateway. This CMS has resources to incorporate all the essential features of an

E-commerce website including customer support, order management, business intelligence, Amazon Sales, Adobe Commerce Cloud, and Google Shopping Ads.

5. Typeo3

Initial Release: 1998

Website: www.typo3.org

Platform: JavaScript, SQL, PHP

Supported Database: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle

Operating System: Cross Platform

Extensions: Color Extractor, CKE Editor Microdata, Seminar Manager, MK Forms, Product Manager, Payment Transactor API, Address Listing, Cache Optimizer, Cookie Consent

Pricing: Free

This open source content management system is digital marketing enabled, which allows you to integrate the entire digital marketing suite directly into the CMS. It lets you efficiently and effectively tracks analytics and ads or automates outbound marketing solutions.

It is listed as one of the best content management systems as it offers the ultimate flexibility in building websites. The content and code can be operated separately and extensions can be added without affecting the existing code or writing new codes. It is available in 51 languages.

6. Concrete5

Concrete5-Best-Content-Management-Systems

Initial Release: 2008

Website: www.concrete5.org

Platform: PHP

Supported Database: MySQL, MariaDB

Popular Themes: Fruitful, Pixel, Fundamental, Modena, Salix, Genesis, Elemental, Neat

Pricing: Free

Concrete5 is an open-source content management system that you can use to build and manage a website. Its top features are intuitive editing, media manager, dynamic forms, easy to install themes, drag and drop content, Addon support, one-click version update and responsive layouts.

You can use this CMS to build E-commerce sites, community portals, small business websites, and lots more.

7. Kentico

Initial Release: 2006

Website: www.kentico.com

Platform: ASP.NET

Supported Database: SQL Server

Pricing:

Kentico CMS Base – from $4,499

Kentico CMS Ultimate – from $9,999

Kentico EMS – from $19,999

Kentico EMS Corporate – from $399,000

The Kentico CMS is designed to be used in online stores, E-commerce platforms and intranets.

The features available in this content management system are email marketing, contact management; lead scoring, content personalization, marketing automation, A/B testing, multilingual content, responsive design, blogs and forums, payment gateway integration and customizable checkout process.

8. Magnolia

Magnolia-Best-Content-Management-Systems

Initial Release: 2003

Website: www.magnolia.com

Platform: Java

Supported Database: H2, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MSSQL, Derby, Oracle

Pricing: Contact Magnolia for the last pricing details

One of the best content management systems, the Magnolia offers a whole suite of features. It offers customized content management solutions for different industries such as retail, finance, travel, media, and commerce.

This enterprise CMS helps organizations optimize their services by providing actionable insights. It also uses AI tagging and content curate pools for use in marketing campaigns across various channels.

9. ImpressCMS

Impress-CMS-Best-Content-Management-Systems

Initial Release: 2008

Website: www.impresscms.org

Platform: PHP

Supported Database: MySQL

Operating System: Cross-platform

Popular Themes: Bootstrap, Notebook, i-Style, Evolve

Modules: Catalogue 1.14, Content 1.2.1, CMS 3.1, imGlossary 1.03, Events 1.01, Library 1.03, myTube 1.06, Quotes 1.01, News 1.16, Sprockets 2.0, Partners 1.14

Pricing: Free

This community-developed CMS is secure and offers multi language support. The features of this CMS include site-wide search function, PDF generation, integrated comment system, granular permissions for users and groups, customizable themes and plug-ins.

10. DjangoCMS

Django-CMS-Best-Content-Management-Systems

Initial Release: 2007

Website: www.django-cms.org

Platform: Python, Django

Supported Database: PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL, SQLite 3

Operating System: Cross-platform

Add-ons: Aldryn Background Image, Aldryn Celery, Aldryn Django Debug Toolbar, Aldryn Django REST framework, Aldryn forms, Aldryn Google Analytics,

Pricing: Contact Django for the latest pricing details

This open-source content management system is available in more than 16 languages. Its plug-in architecture lets developers add plug-ins on the front end and even reuse them in apps.

It offers permission management, application addition, versioning, editorial workflow and search engine optimization.

11. IBM Enterprise Content Management

Initial Release: early 1990s

Website: www.ibm.com

Platform: Java

Supported Database: Oracle, DB2

Operating System: Windows 8, Mac, Web Browser (OS Agnostic)

IBM CMS Products: Content Foundation, Content Manager on Demand, Content Integrator, Content Foundation on Cloud, Content Manager, Content Navigator, FileNet Content Manager and Enterprise Content Management System Monitor

Pricing: The pricing depends on the IBM product and you need to contact IBM for pricing details

The Enterprise Content Management solution from IBM uses AI technology and analytics to deliver top-notch performance. It is suitable for organizations that have more than 100 employees.

This software suite is available in both on-premise and cloud models. It captures, analyses, and engages both structured and unstructured content.

12. Serendipity

Initial Release: 2002

Website: www.docs.s9y.org

Platform: PHP, Smarty

Supported Database: MySQL, MySQLi, PostgreSQL, SQLite

Operating System: Windows, Unix-like

Popular Themes: Andreas00, 1024px v1.1, Andreas06 v1.1.1, Andreas06 v1.1.1, Bar Sinister, Bartleby, Bazooka

Plug-ins: Editor, Themes, User Management, Views, User Self Registration, Quick Search, Show Tagged Entries, Amazon Recommendations, Flickr Badge, Google Quick Search, Wikipedia Finder, Flikr Photostream

Pricing: Free

Serendipity is a blog and web-based content management system designed with a plug-in architecture. It offers one-click installation. This CMS has a Smarty template engine and more than 120 plug-ins that users can apply to customize the website theme and layout.

It also allows for native import from other blog applications such as WordPress and Text pattern. Organize the plug-ins in the side bar with just drag and drop action. The CMS supports multiple languages.

13. Dotclear

Dotclear-Best-Content-Management-Systems

Initial Release: 2002

Website: www.dotclear.org

Platform: PHP

Supported Database: MySQL, SQLite, PostgreSQL

Operating System: Cross Platform

Popular Themes: Grayscale, Fjalla, Noviny2, Bootstrap, MyBlog, Mellow, Tablet, Googlebot

Plug-ins: Tidy administration, socialShare 1.1, Scheduled Dashboard, Pending Dashboard, Hosting Monitor Dashboard, Last Spams Dashboard, Blogroll Page 2, Event Handler

Pricing: Free

This blog publication application has a multilingual interface. It is very popular in countries that speak French. The CMS has numerous features such as fully customizable themes, flexible template system, and multi-user administration with permission, automated installation, accessible and extensible.

14. Adobe Experience Manager

Adobe-Experience-Manager-Best-Content-Management-Systems

Initial Release: 2012

Website: www.adobe.com

Platform: Java

Supported Database: MongoDB, JCR (Apache Jackrabbit Oak)

Operating System: Windows, OS X, Linux

Pricing: The pricing depends on the size of the organization and the configuration, which includes a number of users, storage, service level agreement and other add-ons.

This platform offers digital assets as well as content management services. It is a part of the Adobe Marketing Cloud. The Adobe Experience Manager is AI powered and offers a host of solutions including web content management, cross-channel management, and personalized experiences.

15. SharePoint

SharePoint-Best-Content-Management-Systems

Initial Release: 2001

Website: www.office.com

Platform: ASP.NET or x64?

Supported Database: SQL Server, SQL Express

Operating System: Windows Server 2016 & 2019

Pricing:

SharePoint Online Plan 1 – INR 330 user/month

SharePoint Online Plan 2 – INR 660 user/month

Office 365 Enterprise E3 – INR 1320 user/month

This document management system from Microsoft is integrated with Microsoft Office applications. It is a web-based intranet system that can be used in an organization to share documents and streamline the process. The two types of SharePoint CMS are Standard and Enterprise.

The content management system that you choose for your website depends on the website’s purpose and function. Each content management system has features and functions to deliver optimum performance in certain websites and for particular applications.

We have an expert team of experienced developers who can assist you in finding the best content management system for your website and integrate it in the website. Contact us for details.

10 Best Ecommerce Platforms In 2020

Posted on January 29, 2018 by probytesnextjs

With Amazon grabbing 55.4% of US e-commerce sales and Holiday e-commerce sales growing up nearly 37.7% in 2019. There is no wonder why every business would love to set up their store online. According to reports, this dominant e-commerce industry is expected to make sales worth $4.479 trillion by 2021.

With the number of e-commerce solutions available in the market, it becomes difficult to pick a right one that suits our business needs.

We have listed few of the best eCommerce platforms for businesses planning to launch their official website/ online store.

1. PrestaShop

PrestaShop is one of the industry leaders among the e-commerce platforms. It is widely known for its rich feature-set and functionalities. Prestashop is available for free in two different choices namely cloud-based Prestashop and a downloadable form.

Advantages of PrestaShop

Use of Smarty, web template system written in PHP makes PrestaShop the first choice among designers and programmers.
PrestaShop inbuilt functionalities make it easy for beginners and non-technical people to quickly set up their online store.
Compared with other platforms, PrestaShop offers an intuitive admin panel, which is easy to explore.

2. Magento

Magento is a powerful, open-source e-commerce platform owned by the eBay group. It is one of the growing platforms offering cutting-edge solutions for businesses who are aiming to make a significant impact on their online eCommerce store.

Widely known for its scalability and reliability, Magento host nearly one-fourth of the e-commerce websites in the market. It is indeed a market leader when it comes to enterprise-level e-commerce platforms.

Advantages of Magneto

It offers an easy-to-use user interface
It facilitates extensive customization due to open source platform
Supports over 9000 plugins/extensions to extend its functionality
Extensive online community and resource library

3. Shopify

Shopify is one of the popular e-commerce platforms and is known for its smooth setup, loading speed, customizable templates, and secure payment gateways. Shopify hosts more than 3 lakh online stores and is more focused on social and mobile shopping.

For SEO enthusiasts, Shopify offers provision to include Meta tags, auto-generated XML sitemap along with 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone, to help the business run their online stores smoothly.

Advantages of Shopify

Shopify offers more than 100 templates and themes
Contains 1000+ plugins/extensions for extended functionality
Enables you to connect the online store with social media pages and sell directly from them
Packed with mobile-friendly shopping cart and mobile app for all sellers
It provides 24/7 live support along with comprehensive resource library and online community

4. BigCommerce

Launched in 2009, BigCommerce host more than 50,000 online stores including Toyota, Martha Stewart, etc. Offering pretty much similar features as of Shopify, also BigCommerce provides more built-in features along with unlimited storage & bandwidth.

Advantages of BigCommerce

It offers powerful built-in marketing features such as newsletters, coupons, analytics and more
All themes both paid and free are responsive and provide a seamless mobile experience
It enables online store integration with social media such as Facebook, eBay, Google shopping and product comparison sites
Offers tutorial videos, guides, and live support

5. Zen Cart

Developed by experts, Zen Cart offers the most flexible and secure platforms among its competitors. The multi-language support and secure payment gateways make Zen Cart one of the most trusted platforms for various businesses.

Advantages of Zen Cart

Offers highly reliable platform and secure payment gateways.
It needs only basic programming skills for setting up and fulfill the demands of the end users
Zen Cart is highly customizable and provides wide range of features

6. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress developed by WooThemes. With the easy to install interface, WooCommerce offers you all benefit associated with building a WordPress website.

Since its launch in the year 2011, WooCommerce has supported nearly 1.5 million online e-commerce stores across the globe. The highly customizable, and user-friendly experience, makes it the ultimate choice for startups to start their online venture.

Advantages of WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a free and open source e-commerce platform with an extensive range of features.
It provides high flexibility, easy customization options, in-depth analytics and a vast number of extensions.

7. OpenCart

Among all the available shopping carts OpenCart is known as one of the top-end solutions for its flexibility, simplicity, and functionality. Although new, it has managed to gather extreme popularity among both well-established brands and start-ups.

Advantages of OpenCart

It is a lightweight e-commerce solution offering high performance and usability features.
It offers multi-store functionality which helps merchants to manage their multiple stores from one admin panel

8. Drupal Commerce

Drupal-Commerce-Best-E-Commerce-Platforms

Drupal Commerce, one of the leading open-source eCommerce solutions tightly integrated with Drupal and enables to build robust online stores. It is the most preferred platforms for merchants who tend to give majority priority to Search Engine Optimization(SEO).

Advantages of Drupal Commerce

Tight integration enables Drupal Commerce takes full advantage of all the functionalities of Drupal
It acts as a reliable content management system and highly flexible e-commerce platform
Offer more accessible options to manage SEO, CRO and web analytics

9. osCommerce

Also referred as open source commerce, osCommerce offers a wide range of features and flexible shopping cart solution. osCommerce offers 7000+ free add-ons and modules and backs robust community support.

Advantages of osCommerce

Os Commerce uses PHP and MySQL and provides a versatile open source shopping cart
Use of indexed database enables it to handle a large number of products
Supports wide range of popular payment methods

10. Big Cartel

As its tagline says – “We Believe in The Artist”, it proves to be a perfect e-commerce platform for artists, designers, and companies in the creative business. Right from its launch in 2005, Big Cartel has helped many artists and designers sell their creation online.

Advantages of Big Cartel

It is straightforward and easy to setup and manages an online store through Big Cartel.
It offers eye-catching themes for the online stores.
Provides tutorials, FAQs, guides, support via email, and Big Cartel’s social media accounts.

Prestashop VS Magento [Infographics]

Posted on November 25, 2017 by probytesnextjs

Global e-commerce Market is expected to reach USD 7,724.8 billion by 2025. People are showing keen interest in buying goods online. Online stores offer products at a cheaper rate and better quality. Above all, they can avoid the hustle and bustle of buying goods from a normal store.

This shift in interest of buyers is the main reason why merchants are now interested in starting their own online shops. However, the biggest hurdle in front of them is to choose the platform to construct their online platform.

Prestashop and Magento both the e-commerce platform has managed to be the choice of lot merchants owing to their stable solutions.

However, both the e-commerce platforms are entirely different in terms of framework, construction as well as target audience.

Let’s have a sneak peek through an infographic to know better about them.

Prestashop VS Magento: Which One is the Best?

Posted on November 21, 2017 by probytesnextjs

It is expected that global e-commerce business which is expected to reach $4.479 trillion by the end of 2017 will be around 16% of the total retail sales globally.

E-commerce giant like Amazon, e-bay, and Alibaba already have their foothold in the sector.

However, what about small-scale merchants or bigger business groups who wish to start their own online store?

They can rely on e-commerce platforms which offer a wide variety of option for starting their own store.

Prestashop and Magento is one of such open-source platforms and are the most famous at the moment.

Even though the target market is different for both of them let’s see what’s the result when a head on comparison happens between Prestashop VS Magento.

Installation

1) Prestashop:

Prestashop is insanely easy to install. An installation assistant will guide the user through the entire process and everything will be over within no time.

However, the ease of installation will cost the user command over the website in certain aspects.

2) Magento:

In Magento, it’s a bit different. The installation should be directly done on the server of the host. Since the process is a bit tricky and needs expertise, there are hosting companies which offer this service for a certain cost.

Perks of Prestashop

The basic setup is free of cost and as easy as it can get. However, additional features and themes will cost you.

In short, to make use of the full potential of Prestashop as an e-commerce website you need to add extra features, modules, payment methods, themes, and templates etc.

All these are downloadable from the Prestashop website.

Prestashop supports 65 languages.

However, to avail technical assistance you have to either rely on a well experience Prestashop web development team or have to find the solution in their online forum.

Perks of Magento

Magento is basically suited for bigger online store, the sole reason why they are a bit complicated to install and vivid features they offer.

Magento offers better control over the content inside and supports more than 81 languages.

Its scalable architecture and flexible integration makes it the close competitor of Prestashop.

Price

1) Prestashop:

Both Prestashop and Magento are open source. However, in pricing, they are entirely different.

As mentioned above Prestashop is free of cost for the initial setup. Further addition of themes and modules will cost the user.

What makes Prestashop stand out in the pricing section is its cost-effectiveness. But, Prestashop free edition is basically designed for small-scale merchants.

But for those who are planning to launch a big website they have the enterprise version with much more advanced features.

Click this link for more price related details of Prestashop

2) Magento:

Building a website in Magento requires expertise of skilled developers.

What makes Magento expensive than Prestashop is that it’s heavy and requires a dedicated server to run.

However, Magento provides free add-ons than that of Prestashop but comparing it to the installation and maintenance cost it won’t make much of a difference.

Click this link for Magento’s price related details

Community:

A healthy and helping community is essential for any open source platform.

The community ensures that stability of the software is maintained so that users can enjoy its function seamlessly.

1) Prestashop:

Prestashop has around 1 million community members and solution for almost all the issues will be available in their forums.

2) Magento:

Magento community offers extended support than that of Magento. It is expected that Magento has more than 700,000 community members for assistance.

Modules/Features

Integration

1) Prestashop:

Prestashop integrates well with Google Analytics and eBay and it also integrates with payment solutions like Paypal, Simplify, and Authorize.net etc.

Other commonly used integration of Prestashop includes, Word Press, SEO expert, Amazon Marketplace, Advanced Search 4, Google Merchant Center, Facebook, Twitter, Google Shopping, Newsletter Pro, Facebook, Pixmania, Bitcoin, Mailchimp, Icecat etc.

2) Magento:

Integration of Magento includes, CashOnDelivery, ShipWorks, MageMonkey, MailChimp, Mandrill, osCommerce, Correios, Fontis Australia, BeeTailer, DebitPayment, MigraShop, SOFORT, AddThis, WorldPay, Facebook, Twitter, ePay, Searchanise, GoMage. Open ERP, DHL, Bcash etc.

Special Features

There are certain features of Prestashop which Magento does not have and vice versa.

They are,

Prestashop

Cron Job set up for exchange rate automatic update
Importing CSV files to the products
If a product is disabled it can be re-directed to another one
robots.txt and .htaccess files can be created automatically
Security of the website can be enhanced with auto password expiration, password encryption, alterable security permissions etc.
CSS files can be further reduced to improve the performance of the website

Magento

Layered navigation which helps in product filtering in the search option itself.
Captcha option to enhance security
Separate design for categories and products
Credit card details can be securely pre-saved for offline payments.

Customizability

1) Prestashop:

When it comes to Prestashop vs Magento, Prestashop has upper hand in this section.

There are around 3,500 plus modules available in Prestashop for website enhancement. Prestashop also has a live configurator to change fonts and colour of the website to attract customers.

2) Magento:

Magento has fewer modules compared to that of Prestashop.

However, that doesn’t implicate that Magento is tough for configuration.

But the only issue here is that Magento is a bit technical and users who are not exposed to such technicalities may find it hard to handle.

Prestashop vs Magento : Who is the Best?

Without no doubt, anyone can say that Prestashop is simple and so easy to handle and is perfect for small e-commerce websites. Considering Magento in this option can be confusing and tedious job.

Magento is designed for huge and complicated websites and is extremely flexible and scalable in that aspect.

In short, there is no winner here to choose from these two is entirely up to you and how big you wish your website to be.

16 Reasons Prestashop Is Better Than Magento

Posted on October 10, 2017 by probytesnextjs

The growth of an eCommerce business is directly proportional to a number of factors, timely assessments and decisions. The trickiest part of setting up an online business is finding an ideal eCommerce website that goes well with your business. There are a lot of business models available at present such as Prestashop, Magento, Shopify, Opencart and a lot more. Choosing the best platform from these market giants is not a small deal as each one comes with their own merits and demerits.

And many of the business professionals keeps on short listing from the vast ecommerce solution options taking into account its general features. However, it is quite common for them to get confused between the last two options. Are you in a dilemma of whether to go for Prestashop or Magento? Do you want strong points to choose Prestashop over Magento?

Prestashop is one of the most reliable software published under Open Software License(OSL) with all-round support, free domain name, free shared SSL, affiliate programs, cross selling, and special promotional deals. Quality Prestashop website development services with an eye towards your business goal can help you to compete well in your market.

It is one of the market’s leading shopping carts and is referred to as a freemium business model with custom features and options. It comes with all the basics that most merchants need to start online business with almost 500+ features already built-in. It accounts for more than 250,000 stores worldwide and is designed to build stores through self-hosting or else via cloud.

Here we can have a look at the reasons Why Prestashop is better than Magento.

Easy installation
When compared to its counterpart, Prestashop comes with easy to installation facility. In fact, setting up a PrestaShop online store from scrape is a lot easier than you think. As with other platforms, no expert knowledge of the platform is a necessity to complete its installation on your device.
User-friendly interface
The primary advantage of this ecommerce platform is its user friendly interface with a wide range of options and a quicker processing technique. A good number of add-on modules of this intuitive and straightforward interface improve its internal functions too. On the other hand Magento’s design integration is comparatively complex and sometimes requires expert assistance to overcome UI issues.
Faster search options
The search modules are outstanding with a well built design. They are relatively much faster than Magento. It is built with a well configured and up to date dashboard. This allows rapid access to the necessary store data with ease. The swift speed of PrestaShop also counters that of Magento unless hosted on a well configured server. As it is not a heavy-duty CMS like Magento, it won’t slow down your website.
Easy to download
It is available for free on the internet and a user can easily download it on his/her device once they decide to go for it. A user can establish an up-to-date store in just a few minutes. One can do it with no need for license fees or revenue percentages unlike similar platforms. It can be downloaded from its official website and different modules can also be accessed online free of cost.
Easy customization
Not all users have the same requirement when choosing an ecommerce platform and that is why customization is important. A Prestashop user can be glad to customize the platform to suit the exact requirements without much trouble. The process is pretty easy when compared to Magento. Its efficient features make site management easy and users can benefit from timely users analytics and reporting.
Available devices
Magento works well with Windows, Mac, Android and can work web-based too. In addition to these options, Prestashop works well with iPhone/iPad devices too. The software runs on Smarty Template engine that is based on PHP.
Demographic support
This ecommerce website is used well successfully across USA, UK, Canada, China, Germany, India and Japan. Timefy, Eleven Paris and Gretel Home are among their popular customers. It supports multiple languages and currencies. This open-source eCommerce solution is available in 40 languages, but offers comprehensive supports for only English and French.
Lower system requirements
Not much system requirements are needed to use this solution for Web 2.0. To set up the basic operation, you need only PHP 5.2, MySQL 5 and a Linux, UNIX or Windows operation system.
Support types
Magento has limited support types that include only training and through phone but Prestashop has multiple types of support including training, phone, ‘Live’ support and through tickets.
Better community support
There is no official support team but several developers and users are ready to offer a hand of help through forums. The community comprises more than 700,000 members with active participation on different help forums. As it is highly-documented, users need not go further to handle any functionality issues. With regular enhancements and updates, they enable fast troubleshooting.
Business size
Magento is an ideal choice for large enterprises. The Prestashop is a great option for not only large enterprises but can be customized well with error free Prestashop website development services for small business, medium business as well as freelancers. Even though the social media backs Magento more, Prestashop would be good for your small business as its monthly maintenance fee is just about half comparing to that of Magento.
Budget friendly
Businesses with budget constraints can opt for Prestashop platform as it allows working with a shared hosting web service. This cheaper alternative with this free platform works well as long as the online store is not too large or complex. In fact, this platform with multi-vendor support is globally cheaper than Magento.
Payment processors
The payment through the website is a lot easier with efficient payment processors. They also come with built-in credit card processors. It features over 50 world-class payment solutions and gateways. It integrates with industry’s several top tools such as Google Analytics. Its efficient collaboration with payment modes such as PayPal has taken shopping transactions to another level. Its eBay integration allows exporting product listings straight to Google Shopping and several well-liked marketplaces such as Amazon.
No need for advanced technical skills
The complex architecture of Magento demands advanced technical skills and an adaptation period to master the tool rightly. A relatively easier design and interface of Prestashop makes it easy for even a beginner to handle it with ease.
SEO
The SEO features are not good enough to excel Magento but are far good for a small business. The website pages can be edited or you can include Meta tags with top ranks. The URLs with emphasis to SEO can be generated so that the search engines can easily identify your business products.
Additional features:
PrestaShop’s statistical facilities are really impressive with Intelligent Merchant KPI and Forecasting features. With the goal of increasing the customer conversions and growth of audience, the platform features eCommerce Analytics that efficiently evaluates the traffic and build insightful decisions. To give additional assistance for a better usage of the website, there are support email and help desk options. With the goal of promoting your business, Prestashop affiliate marketing program for your store.

So have a close look at the features and evaluate its importance in your business. If you conclude that this budget friendly and efficient open source website can help your business grow, then there is no point to think further. A comprehensive Prestashop website development services from a team of experts can help your business to reach a remarkable height in a short time.

7 Things to Consider while Hiring a Magento Developer

Posted on May 30, 2016 by probytesnextjs

Magento is an open source content management system (CMS) and it is considered to be one of the complex eCommerce environment today. It is more capable in services like search engine optimization, modifications and customization, user capabilities, automation of orders and shipments, product types, gift codes, coupons, catalog browsing and management etc when compared to Woo commerce and Shopify.

Complexity of Magento makes it suitable for developers, difficult to layout and operate separately. It is not an easy task to find a good Magento developer.

Read Also:

How to Find an Expert Magento Developer

When hiring a Magento developer, the following seven things should be considered:

Know What You Need

It is necessary to create a clear cut plan with all your needs and desires written on paper before contacting the developers. There is no need to become a Magento expert, but it would be useful to understand the basics, sweet spots and difficulties of the online store. In addition to this, there should be a clear understanding about priorities, timetables and the budget.

If the research regarding the above details is done properly, then professional developers will take those details very seriously. For being successful, it is necessary to stay up-to-date and get involved during the development process.

2. Gather Potential Magento Partners

It is advisable to ask for recommendations of a trusted colleague about finding the best Magento developer. If there is no colleague available, it is better to seek the aid of third party service providers such as hosting agency or accountants. Otherwise, one can also explore connections on Linkedin which helps to find professionals in any field.

3. Look for Certified Magento Developers

In order to certify developers using Magento platform, Magento corporation operates online training courses. And Magento certification exams are given to professionals who want to differentiate themselves from the existing competition with Magento credential. This shows their seriousness about the work.

According to the type of expertise within the Magento platform, different types of certifications are given. An example for this is a Magento Solution Specialist is a person who can efficiently place business objectives with Magento functionality and thus optimize the use of native features. For this they require a deep understanding of business in general and eCommerce in particular.

Other certifications include certified front end developer, Magento certified developer, social learning group certification, modification kit and Developer plus.

You May also Like:10 Must have Skills of Magento Developer in Magento Development Services

4. Find an Agency

Magento is having different type of certification as it has many aspects of eCommerce, such as business logic, drop shipping, PHP programming, content marketing, design and implementation, usability etc.

As mentioned above it has so many aspects to cover, hence no one can manage all of them alone. Hence it is better to hire a Magento Development Company for addressing all aspects of establishing and managing a Magento enterprise. These companies may differ in quality, size and availability.

It is essential to thoroughly study about various agencies and their services before making the decision.

5. Visit Customer Sites

Customer reviews can greatly help Magento developers, but at the same time such reviews can also mislead developers. Customers may not be able to judge the difference between a medium quality site and a high quality one.

It is really a good idea to see excellent reviews written by people who liked the developer personally and those written by people who have negative remarks regarding their website development.

One can check the portfolio yourself in order to pay attention to details like ease of use, user flows, internal links and accessibility of information.

6. Find a Long Term Relationship

Online store can sometimes work improperly due to virus, attack by hackers or simply not function well. There also requires regular updates, license renewals, add new features and ideas. All these should be managed by a programmer who will be available to solve in the long run.

7. Seek the Tycoons

It would be wise to look out for influencers who are well informed and have a good reputation in the industry. Such person should be an acceptable person who has authority to speak in conferences or one who post regularly either on a blog or on social media.

Seeking a good Magento developer is a critical step in the successful development of the web store. All the above seven things can be helpful to hire a good developer. Also, as the case of every developer, they should care the needs of the client and remain with them whenever the client needs them.

How to Find an Expert Magento Developer

Posted on May 19, 2016 by probytesnextjs

Magento is considered to be one of the most complex e-commerce environment available today even though it is trusted by world’s reputed brands. When compared to other platforms like Opencart and Shopify, Magento have better capabilities of Search Engine Optimization, product types, automation of orders and shipments, user capabilities, coupons, modification and customization, gift codes etc.

Magento is more suitable for developers but it is difficult to set up and operate independently. Only a Magento expert can use Magento regularly and resume the initial structure and development of a Magento e-commerce business irrespective of its size. It is not an easy task to find an ideal Magento developer.

The following are the seven things that should be considered while hiring a Magento developer:

Know Exactly What is the Requirement

It is a better idea to build a detailed plan about needs and desires of the company. There is no need to become an expert in Magento but it is advisable to know the basics which helps to understand about the focal points, advantages and difficulties of the online store. Also they should have a good understanding about priorities, timetables and regarding the budget.

The key to success is to stay up-to-date and involved throughout the development process.

Gather Potential Magento Partners

One of the best way to find a developer is to ask for recommendation from a colleague and someone from the industry you are working. If not, it is better to seek the aid of third party service providers. Linkedin is a great platform to find professionals in this field. Another way to find the developer is to check out in groups like Magento Developers Group, Magento Universe or any other Linkedin groups.

Look for Certified Magento Developers

Magento corporation conducts online training courses for certified Magento developers. Magento certification exams are made to know how effectively developers work and withstand the competition.

There are a variety of certification provided to developers depending upon their area of expertise. For example, Magento solution specialist is a person who can appropriately align business with magento functionality and optimize the use of native features.

Other examples of certifications include certified front end developer, moderator kit, magento certified developer, social learning group certification and developer plus.

Recommended Read:

7 Reasons Why Magento Is Excellent For E-Commerce

Find an Agency to do Everything

Magento includes many aspects of e-commerce such as PHP programming,content marketing, usability, business logic, design and implementation of programs and much more aspects.

A magento development company with can be hired to properly address all aspects of setting up and managing Magento enterprise. This company will provide members with needed skills. And these companies may vary in size, quality, availability and price.

Ask to see Customer Sites

Customer reviews are having great importance. It is difficult for customers to differentiate between medium quality site and a truly remarkable site. In order to avoid this, they often refer customer reviews that have negative as well as positive remarks. Special attention should be given to accessibility of information, ease of use, internal links and user flows.

Find Yourself a Long Term Relationship

If websites are built properly, sales processes will be automated without the requirement of programmer’s front. But there is chance for viruses, hackers or improper functioning. Here comes the requirement of a good developer. And that developer should be available for problem solving in the long run.

Hire the Best one with the Help of Influencers

If you are aiming for a big budget project, you can choose influencers who are well informed and have a good reputation in the industry. And those influencers can be respected people who may speak at global conferences or who may regularly post about topics either on a blog or a social media.

Finding an efficient and expert magento developer is the first step in making a successful web store. It is also one of the crucial steps that may affect the business in the future. The above things can greatly help in hiring the right magento developer for the company.

Magento Customization: Which are the Best Magento Extensions for Your Online Store?

Posted on April 5, 2016 by probytesnextjs

Magento Customization has solidified its place as the most supported content management system for creating online stores. It is easy to use, versatile and permits stores deal with their operations easily. Magento gets its true force from extensions which permit developers to execute functionalities in an exclusive way. Extensions that support deals are the highest point of the pick for any Magento designer.

Here are some of the extensions that help your deals.

Mobile Shopping Cart

To make sure smooth and secure online transactions, you can make use of the Magento extension Mobile Shopping Cart. All kinds of debit and credit cards are acceptable. This extension helps you to procure the tag of reliability by protecting the personal financial details of customers. These features bring you popularity in the competitive market of web business.

Must Read:

The Best Magento Development Extensions for Blogs

Reward Point

Reward Point is one of the best extensions for Magento and a reliable system to extend your objective business sector. This income boosting extension for all intents and purposes permits you to modify your online store as indicated by your need.

In the event that you need to add any additional feature, it is possible to install this extension with a basic configuration. Besides, it empowers you to concentrate on the requirement of your clients. The implementation of this extension guarantees you increased profit and wider reach.

CreareSEO

In order to increase revenue and improve the sales, SEO is important for your store. It is true that Magento is a built-in SEO platform. But enhancing performance will give you more profit, which can be done with CreareSEO extension.

This extension allows you to customize settings and to enable new tools as well. You can manage issues like unwanted 404 pages, duplicate content, etc. with this feature.

Out of Stock Notification

The entrepreneurs and customers are able to know about the status of their items stock with the help of Out of Stock Notification extension. It will enable the entrepreneurs to arrange their products as needs be, clients can expect the interest of those items. Definitely it helps to develop a pseudo craze among buyers.

Online Auction

You can join the auction and bid for your favorites with the Online Auction extension of Magento. With this revenue driver extension entrepreneurs can ensure the demand for their product in the market

You May also Like:

6 Amazing Magento Extensions to Improve Your Online Store

Product Review

Keeping in mind the end goal to enhance your deal figures, Product Review extension is important to acquire the trust of your clients. As clients regularly check the feedback of individuals who are as of now utilizing the products, this extension will give clarity through survey, and reviews of products.

Daily Deals

The Daily Deals extension helps you to increase your sales dramatically. This extension offers you to imbue the marketing technique “up selling” into your business. Charming the clients through daily deal concept can be a fruitful revenue enhancer.

People always wish to get products at a reduced cost and Daily Deals is successful in bringing products at a discounted price. Moreover, you can list your special products for the day and make it available for 24 hours via this extension. This will definitely give you results.

Magento One page Checkout

One Page Checkout is a much needed Magento extension to boost your business. It is unpleasant for customers to go through 3-4 page checkout process for completing a deal. As the name indicates, this extension gives a pleasant shopping experience to customers who visit your site to buy a product by offering them a single page checkout process.

Cart abandonment is greatly reduced owing to this feature. SagePay payment method is another smart feature of this extension.

Magento Customization is a blessing for your web business. Installing the right Magento extensions will definitely boost your online business. So, if you haven’t installed these extensions, you might be missing some good business deals. What are you waiting for! Start with Magento.

10 Must have Skills of Magento Developer in Magento Development Services

Posted on March 10, 2016 by probytesnextjs

If you are one among the young aspiring business people, who are searching for a great opening of their E-commerce project, then you are at the right platform and reading the right article. With Magento development services you can own a clear E-commerce store.

However, to acquire the undeniable advantages of this open – source platform, you have to use Magento designer for getting ideal benefits in setting of business growth and income generation. These passionate web designers try to execute best of class web development ventures for your business.

With the increasing demand of exclusivity in E-commerce industry, the established as well as the rookie businessmen are switching to conventional shopping stores rather than the traditional ones which were used earlier. The main question, apart from choosing the best web development platform, is how would you know if the designs and development strategies which your hired Magento developer is applying are correct or not? It would be difficult for you to know it if you are not that technically sound.

But don’t worry, here is a list of 10 brilliant qualities which you can search for while hiring an expert Magento developer.

Recommended For You: Is Your Magento Website Slow? Speed It Up With These Tips

1. Developer’s Knowledge

The developer ought to have proper knowledge of all the technical fields. Additionally, he must show an enthusiasm to learn about the latest ideas and updates identified with his portfolio. This would enable him to understand the limitations and developments of the web business.

2. Innovative Mind

If you want to create a unique commercial portal, you have to hire an innovative web developer who has faith in researching new ways to create unmatched web designs, webpages, and so on for your business growth.

3. Imaginative Perspective

An experienced developer ought to hold an imaginative perspective to convert your business a success. He could work in line with the strategies of your business brand. Such a developer is fit for building an undeniable website from scratch.

4. Professionalism

Professionalism of your developer makes an intense effect on your business and also on your customer base.

5. Multi-tasking Ability

A passionate developer understands multi-tasking ability which gets exhibited while working on business projects.

You May also Like: 8 Reasons Magento is the Best Choice for eCommerce

6. Marketing Knowledge

Creativity of a developer is a demonstrated advantage of enlisting an expert hand. They build exceptionally inventive and creative shopping stores that keep clients down to the site.

7. Quality of Work

Ensure that your magento developer is utilizing quality techniques and technologies as a part of your web ventures.

8. Experience of Developer

It is better to check the portfolio of the web developer before employing because experienced designers are reliable and responsible for their work and developments.

9. Awareness of your Business

The principle motto of your web designer is to understand the business motives, so that he can arrange out methodologies to take care of your demand.

10. 24/7 Availability

It is good to hire a web developer who is available day in and day out all through the process. They are capable of completing tasks on time without compromising quality standards.

Therefore, you can consider these 10 qualities before employing your web developers. Always keep in mind these skilled developers of Magento development services adopt brilliant methodologies to deliver demand specific projects ranging from Magento customization to upgrading and then to development.