Magento 2 is an open-source premier eCommerce platform. Its extensibility and flexibility make it a robust and scalable eCommerce development infrastructure. While you can develop a Magento store by using the knowledge available on the internet, a Magento 2 development agency can equip your eCommerce site with advanced features and functionalities.
They know how an eCommerce site that looks like a hobbyist’s experiment can be transformed into a professional website. In this post, we will discuss some of the advanced Magento techniques that you need for your online store.
Table of Contents
I. Harnessing the power of extensions
The power and robustness of Magento 2 come partly from its vast marketplace of extensions. These are tools that help Magento developers customize and supercharge Magento 2 eCommerce sites with the required functionalities. Payment Gateways and Shipping Solutions are common extensions used on eCommerce sites. Their functionalities can be enhanced by adding more extensions, such as, for marketing automation and loyalty programs. You can find extensions that automate tasks, saving you time and effort.
For example, you can use an extension that automates abandoned cart reminders. Similarly, you can use an extension for processing invoices seamlessly.
Magento 2 offers a wide spectrum of extensions that help eCommerce stores personalize shopping experiences. Live chat and product recommendations, for example, can be used for personalized shopping experiences for customers. To choose the best extensions for your Magento website development, you should identify your needs, research and review available options, and begin with a few, avoiding overcrowding your eCommerce store with extensions.
II. Magento 2 development: Customizing themes and templates
A theme is how the website is organized and structured, its looks and feel, and the colors and content. There are two ways to create a theme for your Magento eCommerce site. First, starting from scratch with Magento’s open-source code for a customized theme. Second, work with a template by customizing it to suit your needs.
While the former is a labor-intensive process, it can produce a completely new theme aligning with your brand’s identity and voice. The second option of working with a template is easier. It can produce your theme more quickly and with less cost.
Crafting a custom theme with Magento open-source code starts with setting up a dedicated directory for your theme. You also need to register your theme with Magento before you can work on building the looks, the feel, and the remaining features. Your Magento development agency will work with programming languages like LESS and CSS.
III. Performance optimization techniques
In the highly competitive eCommerce space, even a millisecond counts if it’s about the loading time of your Magento 2 store. An online store that’s slow to open, load pages, or process transactions can lead to lost sales. However, Magento developers can overcome this by using Magento 2 advanced performance optimization techniques.
Your performance optimization drive for your Magento store should begin with server optimization. It can be achieved by choosing a reliable hosting partner with a stable Magento 2 optimized infrastructure. Use the latest PHP version, implement caching solutions, and clean up unnecessary data to optimize server performance.
Another vital optimization surface is the front-end. You can begin with image optimization by reducing their file size without letting the quality suffer. Let your Magento developer minify and combine JavaScript and CSS files, use the content delivery network, and enable browser caching to optimize the front-end.
Performance monitoring and analysis is the final step that can help you find the gaps that may still be there. You can use Magento 2’s or third-party performance profiling tools to identify performance bottlenecks. Monitor performance metrics like load time, etc. to identify areas that need optimization.
IV. Implementing advanced checkout and payment solutions
Do you might need some expert tips for Magento 2 development regarding the advanced checkout and payment? You should consider this question and check your options. A streamlined checkout process can lead to fewer card abandonments and more conversions.
A checkout process that uses fewer steps is the best. Using a one-step checkout extension that uses a single form for billing and shipping details can be a good idea. Allowing guest checkouts for those who don’t want to create an account to complete a purchase on your eCommerce site is another simplified checkout feature that you can have.
When it comes to payment methods and payment gateways, the Magento development agency needs to take a look at new options. Usually, they support more ways to pay for online shopping. New payment methods such as PayPal, Amazon Pay, Stripe, etc. offer secured payment for several multiple methods – local and foreign currencies and digital assets.
Among new payment methods, digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc. offer convenient and secure payment solutions. When integrating new payment methods, ensure they use secure payment gateways. You can also use extensions for EMIs or recurring payment options. However, you must consider payment gateway fees, security compliance, and compatibility with Magento 2.
V. Leveraging APIs and headless architecture for Magento 2 eCommerce sites
Traditionally, Magento 2 eCommerce websites have their back-end combined with the front-end. However, Magento 2 APIs allow external APIs to connect and interact with the site’s data. This paves the road for a headless ecommerce architecture where the front-end can be built with any React, Vue.js, or some other framework while the backend remains Magento 2. By leveraging APIs and headless commerce technology, Magento developers can achieve omnichannel experience, faster development, greater scalability, and improved security for their Magento 2 eCommerce site.
By using headless commerce, a custom-built front-end can be developed for each touchpoint such as a website, a mobile app, or a voice assistant. It also helps in implementing quick changes and updates on the front-end, which is a typical necessity for an eCommerce site. Decoupling of the back-end and front-end reduces the vulnerability to cyberattacks. Progressive Web App (PWA), which offers a native mobile app experience without requiring an app download, is another Magento 2 API that can make your eCommerce site more versatile.
Conclusion
Magento 2 is one of the most powerful Magento 2 eCommerce website development platforms. However, if you are not using a certified Magento development agency, your Magento store may lack some advanced features. We have discussed several of these features in this post such as using Magento extensions, developing custom themes, performance optimization, using APIs and headless architecture, etc.
Your Magento website development partner can tell you more based on your eCommerce project and its unique needs. Make use of these advanced Magento 2 techniques to make your Magento 2 eCommerce store flaunt Fortune 500 vibes and functionalities.
Author Bio
Ronak Meghani is a co-founder of Magneto IT Solutions, who has been working closely with B2B and B2C digital commerce medium and enterprise companies since 2010. He has helped more than 200 brands build or improve their online B2B and B2C ventures in contemporary eCommerce or customer-centric next-generation digital commerce.
Ronak is committed to recommending and proposing a digital commerce platform aligned with your business objectives and vision. If you are looking for a Shopify development agency or digital commerce services, his expertise and experience can be a valuable resource in helping you achieve your goals.
