Many companies of any size prefer building their website with an open-source eCommerce platform, like nopCommerce, to have countless options to market their products. Both B2B and B2C businesses can present pertinent videos, photos, and proper descriptions to persuade customers with data and facts thanks to these CMSs. ECommerce solutions that rely on SaaS (News - Alert) do not offer as many of these choices.
It is obvious that the demand for the eCommerce SaaS platform is not even close to constituting a significant threat. Almost three-thirds of all eCommerce websites run on an open-source platform, clearly highlighting that their popularity is still intact. Strong open-source eCommerce platforms enable you to build the ideal, long-lasting online store of your dreams. We can fairly say that the need for an open-source platform is still strong and prevalent right now.
Some vendors start with SaaS eCommerce platforms as they may seem simple and fast to install, configure, and launch an online store. However, business growth can be limited and there could be a need to change a platform. To make the transformation process successful, companies can use the helpful tutorial, which is presented in this article, to boost an eCommerce business with improved software.
Reasons to change from a SaaS eCommerce platform to an open-source one
Since changing the platform of an eCommerce store is not a simple task, there should be substantial causes that outweigh the benefits of staying. The main reasons that merchants can displease SaaS eCommerce platforms are related to financial and technical concerns.
How an open-source eCommerce platform can decrease operational costs
It can be stated that one of the primary arguments in favor of moving to a shopping cart software with source code is to save money in the long run. Usually, it is because an open-source eCommerce platform can be available for free without any subscription fees. Most of the software with source code has no hidden costs that can limit business operations.
Talking about cloud-based software, businesses can pay essential fees that can include:
- subscription-based (ownership);
- transaction charges;
- storage;
- support;
- extra features.
SaaS will be less expensive in the beginning for smaller businesses. However, when the business expands, i.e. increases in income, traffic, and the quantity of items, as well as your staff's ability to access the admin panel and complicate business operations in general, SaaS prices might skyrocket.
Shopify's basic package, for example, costs $32/mo. It seems appealing. To acquire a more robust Enterprise-level solution, however, you must purchase Shopify Plus, which starts at $2000/mo plus a percentage of transactions. Therefore, with open-source software eCommerce companies can more efficiently manage their financial stream in the long-term.
Open-source software breaks any limits in eCommerce development
ECommerce enterprises can choose between using open-source platforms or investing additional time and money in current solutions based on software-as-a-service as they reach their technical constraints. In particular, lack of scalability, functional gaps specific to industrial organizations, and website design that is based on an available number of themes are the most typical reasons for SaaS limitations.
Some online businesses can be unreasonably afraid of open-source software supposing that broad web development skills and knowledge are obligatory. Although there could be some complex platforms without built-in features, industry leaders, especially ASP.NET eCommerce platforms, like nopCommerce, can provide a wide range of functionality. In addition, open-source software is generally scalable and easily accessible for any company.
Preparing your business for the transition from a SaaS to an open-source
You may already be aware that switching from a SaaS to an open-source eCommerce platform can boost internal business processes, add functionality, make websites more flexible and mobile-friendly, improve the overall user experience, and close security vulnerabilities.
Most merchants who plan to migrate their eCommerce websites can face many challenges due to having complex integrations and product information. To avoid losing an existing presence, as well as a large amount of data, online store owners need to create a plan that can help with a smooth transition.
A replatforming process can start with collecting all necessary information about the features of an existing eCommerce solution, as well as calculating the budget for it. Afterward, an online store owner picks an appropriate open-source platform together with a solution partner.
List things your SaaS eCommerce platform limits your business
As we identified, software-as-a-service platforms can limit businesses in many ways. However, there could be certain challenges that depend on each technology in conjunction with the specifics of an industry.
First, a business can spot the main issues that disturb overall growth. Usually, they are related to a lack of extensibility and various expenses. Then, there could be deeper research considering what changes should be made to scale an online business. To have the best understanding of the features that a company limits, solicit opinions from marketing, sales, and customer service employees.
Finalize the list of desirable features and pick an open-source eCommerce platform
You can make a list of all essential elements that should be in a migrated eCommerce solution after you have a fresh perspective on the needs of a business.
Here are popular features that companies usually seek from moving to an open-source eCommerce platform:
- ability to seamlessly scale and add an infinite number of SKUs;
- unlimited customization possibilities;
- comprehensive reporting capabilities for monitoring sales and orders;
- advanced configuration of filters and smart search engine;
- reputable marketing and shipping platforms, as well as payment gateways that are built-in or can be effortlessly integrated;
- multi-language and multi-currency features that enable merchants to sell globally;
- various checkout types, like one-page and anonymous online checkout;
- a responsive storefront;
- omnichannel commerce functionality;
- meeting PCI (News - Alert) DSS and other security requirements;
- advanced eCommerce SEO.
As a merchant lists all required features, it is time to pick an appropriate software with a source code. The selection of the right open-source eCommerce platform can significantly impact the success and growth of an online business. The power of choice lies in your hands – embrace it wisely to unlock the full potential of your eCommerce venture.
Evaluate the budget for your replatforming project
Basically, the following expenses of adapting an open-source eCommerce platform and professional support are the main parts of the overall cost of replatforming. Despite having to pay for only two things, the difficulty of moving to other eCommerce software, companies can face extra spending which can exceed an anticipated budget. To minimize negative effects, it is recommended to have a carefully thought-out plan.
It should be certain that everyone understands the project's goal and objectives prior to initiating a conversation regarding the budget. The definition of the various financial streams for the project can then be left up to business departments and/or executives. At this stage, communication inside an organization is crucial until the whole team is certain that everything is included in the final budget.
When it comes to available resource allocation, there should be more than enough funds for replatforming and further business. For continuous operations over the following three to five years, the operating costs should be also evaluated.
It's crucial to have a separate budget stream for unforeseen expenses because planning is never precise. Allocating 10–20% of the total budget for emergencies can be a thoughtful move.
Find a solution partner that can help you with the migration
As was considered, changing SaaS to an open-source eCommerce platform can be a tricky task for businesses of all sizes and types. There is a need for technical skills to move all data and seamlessly start operating. For this purpose, a business can use some help from developers that are specialized in migration and work closely with a chosen open-source technology.
In case a vendor decides to complete its replatforming project on its own, it can be stuck with challenges, including:
- downtimes;
- losing data;
- security breaches;
- malfunctioning integrations and extensions;
- time wasting on gaining the required skills and knowledge.
Employing a skilled development team will help you avoid these dangers. It can guarantee a smooth and effective migration process, ultimately saving much more money.
The main steps to replatforming an eCommerce website from SaaS to an open-source platform
Even though it was recommended to delegate the process of migration to a solution partner, it is advised to get acquainted with significant parts of a successful transition.
UX design and website development
The creation of an excellent user experience is a starting point for migration to a new eCommerce solution. After defining the optimal purchasing journey, a web design can be developed to enhance the shopping experience. The design will often be adjusted several times in response to input from other employees.
The process of replatforming eCommerce continues with developing your website. The requirements of your company identify the time required to construct an eCommerce website. In addition, the total duration of an eCommerce solution development is based on how deeply it is required to customize.
Data migration
The next step is transferring data from an old to a newly created eCommerce website. Extract, Transform, and Load, or ETL, is a three-step procedure that is frequently used to migrate eCommerce data.
- Extract — as the data, which is supposed to be migrated, is sorted and mapped, it is essential to effectively get it without any losses.
- Transform — adjust from a current data format to the required one.
- Load — loading data into a new system, which is typically done twice: a test and the full data load.
Keeping and maintaining an eCommerce website’s SEO
Using the best eCommerce SEO practices is the third step in replatforming your online store. It is advised to assess if the new page layout and structure have a solid SEO base. The other two things that are essential to look for are an understandable codebase and loading speed.
Additionally, it should be certain that any novelty is optimized for search engines. All microdata from a former solution should be seamlessly moved to a new one. Setting up 301 redirects is also necessary in case there are differently structured URLs or pages that are gone. Following the configuration of your new site, it should be checked that both HTML and XML sitemaps have been created and published.
Integrating external eCommerce systems
The process of adding other services can be launched right after placing the initial batch of data into a new eCommerce solution. To make it more understandable, there is a need for mapping data flows and integrations with other parts of a new eCommerce solution.
It is beneficial to prepare an architecture and basic processes as a foundation for more effective integrations. Due to the expertise of an experienced solution partner, a lot of time and money can be saved during this time.
Testing user experience
To ensure a successful launch, the final step in an eCommerce replatforming project is to test your new site across various devices, browsers, and use cases. Having certain clients try your new website can provide useful input.
It is fair to say, lots of tests cannot guarantee that all possible use cases are addressed. This is why it is critical that you engage your development partner in the web store launch so that mistakes may be identified and addressed promptly.
The SaaS to open-source transition case: increased performance and scalability of Music Tribe
Based on identified concerns with the shopping experience of B2B sales, Music Tribe initiated the migration from SaaS (SAP (News - Alert) Hybris) to the open-source eCommerce platform (nopCommerce). This multinational business found a solution agency that developed a B2B web store at a low cost that is powerful, streamlined, and easy to use with seamless ordering.
After identifying the desired outcome from migration, Music Tribe alongside the solution partner spotted the main technical obstacles:
- retain functionality while improving the design and UX;
- the need to keep sophisticated product availability and price classification rules that are unique to partners;
- keep the ability to classify orders based on various characteristics;
- data migration from SAP services to Microsoft (News - Alert) Dynamics 365 system using MDM (Master Data Management).
The next step was designing and developing the new eCommerce website that helped Music Tribe reach objectives and address existing challenges. As a result, the solution partner created a number of features and put out tactical approaches:
- new partner management system that enables the company to effortlessly add multiple partners and their profiles with product requirements;
- Web Server – Middleware Server – Database Server system to seamlessly sync data keeping the eCommerce website’s performance high;
- to ensure that order statuses are properly updated with MDM, the intuitive system was added to separate orders depending on product eligibility and shipping address;
- a cutting-edge search engine utilizing ElasticSearch;
- new solution is responsive and adapted to mobile devices enabling you to conveniently order from any device and place worldwide.
In addition, moving to an open-source platform has allowed Music Tribe to significantly reduce costs by getting away with license fees.
The user-friendly interface of nopCommerce has made the replatforming process substantially better for the Music Tribe team's management of product information. The constant performance of this robust solution also enables the Music Tribe managers to concentrate on their primary business activities.
Wrapping up
It is fair to say that transitioning from SaaS to open-source eCommerce platforms provides better performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. In general, financial and technical concerns drive merchants to switch to open-source solutions, which significantly decrease operational costs. Open-source software breaks limitations found in SaaS platforms, providing flexibility and scalability for thriving in the market.
Replatforming requires careful planning, and evaluating limitations, and desired features. Prudent budgeting and seeking professional assistance ensure a smooth transition. Key steps include UX design, data migration, SEO maintenance, and external system integration. Also, it is essential that the transition be carried out by professionals who are familiar with the chosen platform inside and out and who can map the key data from the old store to the new configuration.
