OpenCart is an Open Source Online Store Management System
Arun Kumar Biswal
The themes, plug-ins, extensions, and tools provided by ecommerce platforms make it easier
for enterprises to take their businesses online. You have option to choose from several ecommerce
platforms according to your precise needs and objectives. Unlike other ecommerce platforms,
OpenCart is open source and free. Hence, you can use this online store management system to
build and run ecommerce websites without paying any monthly fees. In addition to reducing ecommerce
application development cost, OpenCart also comes with features to accelerate custom web store development.
It enables you to build and customize ecommerce applications using popular technologies
like HTML, PHP and MySQL. Also, OpenCart makes it easier for you to build, maintain, and upgrade
the web store by supporting model-view-controller (MVC) pattern. Also, it helps you to promote
and sell products to more customers by supporting multiple languages, currencies, and payment
gateways. You can even take advantage of the features provided by OpenCart to create a robust
ecommerce website according to your precise needs.
Features that Make OpenCart Compete with Commercial Ecommerce Platforms
Supports MVC Pattern
As mentioned earlier, OpenCart is developed based on MVC pattern. The MVC pattern enables
you to accelerate web store development by keeping the user interface and business logic layers
separated. The separation further helps you to maintain the ecommerce website quickly and make
changes to its source code without any hassle. At the same time, you can customize the open
source ecommerce platforms according to your precise needs simply using HTML, CSS, PHP, and MySQL.
User-Friendly Admin Interface
OpenCart further comes with a simple and user-friendly admin interface. It allows you
to manage multiple stores through a single admin interface. You can even use the admin interface
to categorize users/user groups, and set precise access and privileges for each user. At the
same time, you can use the admin interface to access important information related to customers,
sales, and orders. The latest version of OpenCart also comes with an admin interface which
is accessible on both computers and mobile devices.
Supports Unlimited Products and Categories
OpenCart makes it easier for you to sell a large number and variety of products by supporting
unlimited products. It even allows you to organize and display the products in a structured
way by creating multiple categories and subcategories. You have option to create many categories
and subcategories, and assign products to individual categories. OpenCart also allows you to
sell both physical and digital products. You can even boost online sales by providing the marketing
features provided by the open source ecommerce platform.
Helps to Drive Online Sales
In addition to facilitating sale of both physical and digital products, OpenCart further
helps you to promote the products and increase online sales. The admin dashboard provided by
the ecommerce platform enables you to create and monitor digital marketing campaigns from a
centralized location. At the same time, OpenCart also helps you to boost online sales by implementing
reward programs and improving customer journey. You can even take advantage of an integrated
system provided by OpenCart to promote the products effectively through customer reviews, comments,
and ratings.
Supports Multiple Languages, Currencies, Payment Gateways and Shipping Methods
Unlike other commercial ecommerce platforms, OpenCart does not allow you to sell products
through various online sales channels. But it helps you to sell products to customers regardless
of their current location by supporting multiple language, currencies, and payment gateways.
In addition to supporting thirty-five payment methods, OpenCart also allows you to set up recurring
payment option for customers and sell product through subscription. At the same time, you also
have option to choose from several shipping options according to the shipping address of individual
customers. These options help you to sell your products in a flexible way and improve shopping
experience of global customers.
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