eCommerce : OpenCart (3.0.2.0) – Introduction to OpenCart

AsSalam and hi all. In this eCommerce : OpenCart (3.0.2.0) – Part 1, we will cover on the Introduction to OpenCart. Lets start!

• OpenCart is an open source shopping cart solution.
• Just like any other open source software, OpenCart has its advantages and disadvantages.
• OpenCart built with PHP/HTML and MuSQL.
• Simple code design using Model-View-Controller (MVC).

• OpenCart is self-hosted, which means we need to install it on our own server (online or local).
• Basic system requirements for current OpenCart version (3.0.2.0) are:
  • Web server (Apache is recommended, but also can be used on other such as nginx or IIS)
  • PHP with cURL support (at least PHP5.4)
  • Database software (MySQL is recommended, but other database such as MariaDB and PostgreSQL can also be used)
• OpenCart base consists of two different parts:
  • Front store
  • Administration
• Each part contains an MVC structure for models, views and controllers,

• Original OpenCart project was a Perl-based online shopping cart system created in 1998. The project was abandoned in 2000.
• In 2009, the name OpenCart was used as open source shopping cart system built with PHP.
• As of February 2018, there are 3 major OpenCart versions.
  • OpenCart 1.x (2009-2014)
  • OpenCart 2.x (2014-2017)
  • OpenCart 3.x

• Features and benefits of OpenCart for the store owner, OpenCart offers decent set of online store system.
• OpenCart capable to do most of the things expected from a free and open source shopping cart and can be extend it further through third party plugin.
• OpenCart enable admin to publish and organize product into categories.
• Store owner can use over 50 predefined product fields, exp;
  • Generic fields like name, description and price
  • Unique product identifiers like SKU, UPC and EAN, dimensions, option, attributes and more.
• Product can be sort and filter to make it easier for store owner and customers.
• OpenCart also can be used to sell digital products such as software, music or e-books by uploading files and attaching them to individual products.
• Process payment and handle shipping is two important element in any eCommerce website.
• OpenCart come with some 50 different payment plugin and a dozen of shipping extensions in default installation.
• This can be extended with hundreds of payment and shipping plugin from third party developers.
  • Default payment solutions provided such as:
  • PayPal
  • Authorize.net
  • Skrill
  • 2Checkout
  • Amazon Payments
  • Manual bank transfer
  • Cash on delivery
• Default shipping solutions provider such as:
  • UPS
  • Royal Mail
  • USPS
  • FedEx
• For our local (Malaysia) market, it is recommended using local payment gateway provider such as Billplz, iPay88, WebCash, SenangPay and MaybankPay.
  • Example; Billplz 

• OpenCart Billplz extensions : https://goo.gl/FsR1et

• Receive orders and manage customers is a task for store admin.
• OpenCart provide basic order and customer management process.
• First, store admin will receive, process and modify orders, generate invoice and print packing slips.
• Admin also can view and modify customer accounts, assign customer to different customer groups and view their purchasing histories.
• After made an order, customers can leave feedback about your products. Feedback is then displayed on product page.
• OpenCart enable store admin to run special price offer or discount campaigns.
• Three options are:
  • Define a special price for each product and limit it to specific dates if it’s a limited time offer.
  • Set product bulk pricing for wholesale buyers or to entice buyer to purchase larger quantity product.
    oCreate discount coupon codes and send them out in a newsletter.
• OpenCart enable store admin to generate reports and see analytics.
• 4 reports can be generated are;
  • Sales reports
    Orders
    Taxes
    Shipping
    Returns
    Coupons
  • Product reports
    Viewed products
    Purchased products
  • Customer reports
    Online
    Activity
    Searches
    Orders
    Reward points
    Credit
  • Marketing reports
    Marketing report
    Affiliate report
    Affiliate activity
    Default language is English. OpenCart also support multiple language by default.
    Use and install translation language pack.
    Multiple languages used in product descriptions, front store pages and admin-area interfaces.

Thats it for an introduction. Next, I shall share on how to install and setup your OpenCart site.

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