Magento is the most popular e-commerce system in the world; also for B2B webshops. 93% of B2B buyers prefer to buy online directly from the supplier where clear information is available. As you probably already know, Magento 1 and 2 have been on the market for some time. So Magento 3 is going to come and when the time comes, you can count on us as well. Even though little is known about Magento 3, we can expect extensions that further optimise the user-friendliness of the software. Jelba is an expert in building and running B2B websites and B2B webshops. For this we work with various B2B webshop software, such as Magento 1 and Magento 2. But what exactly is it? And what can you do with the Magento software?
What is Magento?
Magento software is an open-source software with which (B2B) webshops can be built. Because it is open-source, the platform is continuously improved by programmers worldwide. This ensures that there are regular updates available, for example for safety reasons. In addition, there are many modules (plug-ins) that can be downloaded, making it relatively easy to add new functionalities to a Magento website. Modules do not always offer the desired solution: these extensions are not specifically built for your website. Never install anything without first making a full backup of your website. This prevents conflicts that are irreversible. Magento is a stable and popular platform, but the configuration is quite complex. We therefore advise you to always consult a front/back-end developer, who is specialised in Magento. Another advantage of Magento 1, 2 and soon also Magento 3 are the possibilities to connect ERP systems or B2B P.I.M systems like Greedy Bean.
Differences Magento 1 and 2
Magento 2 was released at the end of 2015 and has therefore switched to a new format. If you had Magento 1 and wanted to switch to Magento 2, the webshop had to be be rebuilt. It is a completely new platform with a different structure and more system requirements. This will also apply to Magento 3. But what exactly are the differences between 1 and 2? Below are a few notable differences listed:
- Easier interface
The use of Magento 2 is somewhat easier. Users can find and create items better. This makes it easier for owners of webhops to make changes themselves. In addition, the backend is also responsive, making it more accessible to access the webshop from anywhere and on any device. - Faster
Thanks to the so-called Varnish Cache, Magento 2 is up to 25% faster than Magento 1. Because this version is a lot faster, it is more user-friendly and ensures fewer dropouts in your webshop. In addition, changes are also implemented more quickly. - For developers
The fact that Magento is so successful is mainly due to the work of many developers. Magento 2 has built a new framework, especially for developers, that allows developers to optimise the performance of the webshop. Errors are detected more quickly, and therefore solved. This often benefits the indexation: a website with many errors is punished by Google, resulting in a lower ranking. - Responsive
With Magento 2 it has become easier to make the webshop user-friendly for tablets and smartphones. The standard theme is fully responsive. And as mentioned before, the back-end is also responsive, making it easier to make adjustments to the webshop on a tablet or smartphone. - Security
Magento 2 forces developers to work in a streamlined way, which results in fewer security leaks. In the future, the safety of the system will only become more important, which is why an optimisation of Magento 3 is expected in this respect as well.
Advantages of a B2B webshop in Magento
- Magento’s open-source software is ideal for B2B.
- The software is easy to expand thanks to thousands of different modules.
- Magento is easy to connect with commonly used systems, such as an ERP or a PIM.
- Magento offers support in many different languages and currencies.
- Developers worldwide continuously improve and adapt the software.
Magento in the B2B sector
The Magento software is also extremely suitable for the B2B sector. This is due to the fact that Magento offers the possibility to create profiles based on ‘customer segments’. This allows you to offer your customers the possibility to quickly and easily place orders online at their own net prices. By means of these accounts, your customers can also reorder orders or order quickly by means of a simple import containing the sku’s / quantities. Sales can be maximised by not only allowing your customers to pay via ideal, but also by allowing them to order on account, for example. Magento keeps track of available credit and keeps track of sales when predefined limits are exceeded. In addition, Magento can handle large volumes, unlike some other platforms, which experience problems with a lot of complex product data. Furthermore, Magento offers extensive options to configure products in terms of filters, tables and other attributes.
Jelba and Magento 3
Jelba is specialised in Magento 1 and 2 and will be able to support you with Magento 3 in the future. We build, integrate (link with ERP and other systems), optimise and run a number of large B2B webshops for our customers, with great success. Because it is important that your webshop works well and is well set up, it is important that you call in an expert when applying Magento. A well-designed webshop saves time, money and the ability to fully digitise your sales processes. Do you want more information about Magento, or do you have any comments? Do not hesitate to contact us.