E-commerce - 5 Feb 2015

Drupal Commerce vs. Magento

Choosing an e-Commerce platform can be a difficult decision, as there are so many different types of e-Commerce software out there from which businesses can choose. The heart of any online store is the software that runs it, so selecting the right one to meet your business’ needs is important.

When investigating suitable shopping cart solutions, it’s important to consider differences in all of the various features that products offer and of course to consider their cost factor. Some of the key features to keep in mind when selecting a tailored e-Commerce platform are the ease of setup, secure order processing, attractive templates (themes) and the ability to upgrade as necessary (paid or unpaid options).

Although there is an extensive list of shopping cart solutions out there, let’s just look at two major players in the e-Commerce arena — Drupal Commerce vs Magento.

Drupal Commerce

As an open source CMS that has been around 2001, Drupal has secured a reputation for being a leader in e-Commerce platforms. Many large Corporations have used Drupal as a tool for success, such as Google, Yahoo, AOL, Sony and Harvard University, just to name a few.

Drupal is loaded full of features andbusinesses from small to large will marvel at how easy it is to create an e-Commerce environment suited to their needs. Some of the elements that set this software apart from the rest of its competitors are:

• It is an integrated CMS and e-commerce platform combined into one
• SEO is simplerand quicker to manage, given there is only one platform in play
• Drupal offers solid community features which help drive repeat customers
• Support and maintenance of a Drupal e-Commerce site is easier than other platforms because there is only one set of tools for a business team to learn
• Less development time as it is one platform to use

Magento

Magento must be included near the top of the list as being a solid open source e-Commerce platform. As a very modular software, developers naturally find it attractivedue to its endless possibilities to create what clients want and its ability to manage complex product offerings. Although not a CMS, Magento does offer CMS functionality and by integrating WordPress, this option permits for the combination of content management and marketing tools.

Here are some advantages to using Magento as a shopping cart solution:

• It has mobile friendly configuration
• It is optimized for SEO, thus increasing the odds of being quickly noticed by search engines
• Many third-party integrations such as PayPal, QuickBooks, etc.
• Ability to boost sales via the use of prompts which encourage consumers to browse different items
• intelligent search capabilities enhance consumers’ ability to find what they want using a variety of different parameters
• Robust product management with the ability to manage complex variants etc.

When it comes to determining Drupal Commerce vs Magento as a suitable fit for an online business comparing the various features of both and matching them to merchant needs is a great start. While both platforms are excellent ecommerce solutions, Drupal Commerce is more robust when it comes to content management, while Magento more effectively manages large, complex product assortments without the need for additional modules.