In November 2015, Magento has launched an update to its existing platform - Magento 2, much to the excitement of its +300k active users. As with any new product, Magento 2 did not come without early-stage bugs and minor technical issues. However, even then, an overwhelming majority of the early adopters were quick to outline the vastly improved admin UX, improved load speeds and highly agile content. Some neat out-of-the-box features like Visual Merchandiser and Multiple Databases (Enterprise Edition), were also much welcome.
However, now that the dust has settled, the market tendencies still point out the fact that Magento 2 is not being adopted at the rate, that Magento perhaps expected it to. Having spoken to some of the leading Solution and Technology partners, and paired it with our personal experience - it is clear that M2 modules still make up around 30% of overall sales, and the M1-M2 migration is still being met with robust resistance.
We believe that this phenomenon can be associated with 2 paramount factors:
1. Resistance to Change Theory - drastic changes almost always bring about resistance
to these changes. There are 7 stages, that follow after a change has taken place: Denial, Anger, Confusion, Depression, Crisis, Acceptance and New Confidence. This is a natural progression, and it can not be stopped - only slowed down or sped up, due to various factors. Subsequently, the two latter stages will eventually kick in, forcing the Magento community to embrace the new reality. The only thing left to do is wait.
2. It bears a high price-tag, whether you are looking to migrate your website or purchase M2 extensions. Moreover, M2 support also comes at a higher cost, due to only a handful of companies bearing the coveted Magento 2 Trained Solution Partner badge. For a business that is running smoothly and is seeing growth, while on M1, it can seem illogical to make drastic changes and potentially disrupt this growth, by introducing a new variable to the equation. After all, how great can the benefits of the new platform be? And do they REALLY make up for the hefty price tag?
We are not ready to leave the second factor to sort itself out, with time. So we have compiled a list of M2 benefits, that will hopefully help change your perspective on it, if you are a nonbeliever.
Improved Back-End Admin UX
In the earlier version of the Magento platform back-end interface, the accent was made on and performance and execution, while lacking in looks and practicality. And while highly technical users operated the system with relative ease, those with less expertise struggled to grasp the convoluted and complex processes. The new interface has evidently addressed this issue, allowing an average user to operate the system with more ease, while also improving the experience for the developers. Additional improvements consist of the following:
- Optimised for all screen sizes, including tablets and mobile devices;
- Improved UX and an updated, flat design;
- New data grids and seamless column reordering capability, adding a tailored touch;
- Inclusion of filter breadcrumbs that enable you to identify multiple filtering criteria, even during heavy, simultaneous use;
- New element types, including single- and multi-selectors in forms, advanced dynamic capabilities and live input data validation;
- New product creation workflow, including reduced numbers of product templates from seven to four, which is enough for all types of online sellers. Also, it enables you to create configurable products at once.
Faster Loading Speed
Numerous industry speed tests have suggested that Magento 1 was lagging behind it's industry rivals. Caching speed had to be optimised with the help of third party extensions, such as Nexcess Turpentine, which also resulted in additional costs associated with integration and potential extension conflict resolution.
Magento has clearly done it's research and has improved it's new version, with integrated support for caching, via Varnish, and full-page cache component. Subsequently, the load speed gets a much welcome trim, compared to the older platform version, allowing for fast content delivery, improved back-end usability, as well as indirect benefits like improved conversion rate and positive brand image,
Main Payment Gateway Support
An important new feature and a tick for Magento 2 is it's default integration with all main payment gateways, which ha proven difficult, in the past. The supported gateways include:
- PayPal,
- Authorize.Net,
- Braintree,
- CyberSource (Enterprise Edition),
- World Pay (Enterprise Edition).
With this development, Magento truly up-scales it's effort to help you provide your customers with a diverse range of payment methods, improving the checkout process and increasing the conversion rate, all while saving you time and money on any additional development cost and third-party solutions.
Improved Check-out Experience
In Magento 1, the checkout process has, at times, been complex to configure and customise, for the merchant. It also required a myriad of information fields, to be filled in by the customer. It resulted in abandoned carts and poor checkout experience. Magento 2, once again, has addressed this issue.
In the new version, the customer will get redirected to the guest checkout page, after going to basket, where an email input is required. Existing customers can complete a seamless, 'fast-checkout', with saved details. New users are able to create a new account, after the “Thank You” page with a single click, using the order information.
Overall, this drastically reduces the time it takes to complete a check-out, reduces the number of abandoned carts, increase conversions and encourage repeat-purchase.
Improved Test Framework
If your e-commerce store has a complex architecture, with a myriad of moving parts -it goes without saying, that regression tests are a must, prior to any update roll-out. By doing so, you can ensure that your store continues it's uninterrupted operation, without any downtime and subsequent loss of sales.
Magento 2 comes with a built-in test framework, that makes regression and functional testing, a seamless process. It also ensures that no features are impacted by the added functionality.
Multiple databases Support
The problem with Magento's previous version, was that the database, that was used by clients, browsing the products and services, was the same one that the admins used.
This lead to reduced performance, during peak use hours. The performance would also stagnate, when multiple admin users were using the platform. Magento 2 has go you covered. It allows for multiple databases to be created, thus de-cluttering the website and keeping performance levels high, at all times. The databases could be split, as follows:
- Main (products and configuration settings);
- Checkout;
- Orders.
Your next step
The bottom line is, that it is the change that all brands will have to embrace, eventually. And it is up to you to decide, whether you wan't to stay with the existing solution, for now, or upgrade your website now. However, hundreds of websites have already been migrated, and the results and testimonials speak for themselves. The future belongs to the brave. And if you are ready to take that step, and elevate your website to new heights - we are here for you .
Speak to us today, to learn how we can help.