Oscommerce is shopping cart software that can be used in any web server that has installed PHP and MySQL. One of the big advantages that oscommerce has, aside from being free, is its reputation. It has become a trusted shopping cart supported by a lot of people and has been in the business for quite a long time. This combination of support and time are reasons why it is popular among a lot of people and is used by a lot of online stores.

This shopping cart software solution is freely downloaded together with its code/contributions. And since clients who make use of this software solution can modify the codes to make the software compatible with their site, Oscommerce is very suitable for any kinds of online stores. For businesses who are planning to become bigger in the future, oscommerce allows for customization and expansion with the help of professional website developers. Yes, it is suitable for any kinds of stores, from any countries and available to different kinds of nationalities, because of its multilanguage and multicurrency features.

Added to this is its being user-friendly, both to the administration and the viewers. Magento uses a shopping cart model that is very familiar, and the product catalog can be accessed using a lot of ways. Newsletters and emails are sent to customers to notify them about certain products and promos. The software also provides security in their accounts to protect any information data about themselves. This information data includes, but is not limited to, their history of purchase, status of their orders, among others. On merchant’s side, the software makes it possible for merchants to check what is going in their business through report generation, payment processing and back-up tools, including packing slips and even invoices. Merchants have control over catalog content, catalog structure, shipping cost calculations and the products being sold. Aboce all, security on the merchant’s administration are is simple, thus easy to use, and is protected.

Oscommerce also helps in the marketing strategy of your business. It has product catalogs, product specials, reviews, newletters, related product features, and what’s new feature. All of these helps your customers know what new products are being offered and what products are doing well in the market and how these products can help them.

One reason why I started using osCommerce is because it has already received wide patronage giving an impression of reliability. Since it’s an open source, downloadable-for-free software, it’s very suitable for people who are on a tight budget. Being an open-source software, it is also very flexible because there is always room for customization. And, if problems arise, since it is well supported by its developers, I always have people to ask. However, it took me some time to do the customization especially if I do not get any help from developers. Thus, even if it’s for free, since customization is not that easy, I still have to shed some money to hire somebody to customize it for me.

Getting started using OsCommerce is a breeze because of its automatic web browser installation and upgrade procedure. I especially like the fact that I can make quick and easy changes in the layout. On the downside, since there are no templates available and I can only edit the footer, the header and the right and left columns, I do not have much room in design creativity. Thus, if you are looking for software that offers a lot of templates, then I do not recommend osCommerce for you. However, the features of the software come in default in a complete out-of-the-box solution and it has an object oriented backend making changes easy to do. Aside from these, osCommerce widens the range of my possible customers since it’s multi-lingual (English, German and Spanish speaking users) and multi-currency.

As for security, even though it’s an open-source software, I did not have to worry because osCommerce provides a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption for my customers. The downside comes in the administration side. It does not have any built-in password protect for the administration area. I still have to go to the osCommererce site or ask the people responsible for my website to add password protection.

One of the best things I like about osCommerce is that it does its own optimization for my site. It presents catalogs, newsletters, reviews, and features for products related to what I am advertising. Yet, the osCommerce shopping cart is not so effective with large catalogs. If I have more than a hundred products and if I frequently change some information about the products, I would need to modify some elements in the product administration and have modules to manage the data. For catalogs that have thousands of products, some problems in searching and browsing may arise.

One difficulty one may have as a first-time owner of an e-commerce site is the terms that are used loosely which is the origin of all confusion. When you scroll down to the end page of any Algozone website some links to products are arranged side by side. The phrases osCommerce Template and osCommerce Skins are often mistaken one for the other. We’ve always recommended for e-commerce starter-sites to purchase a template first and build up the site for it to be ready for shopping cart integration. To get you started on the template you would want to purchase and the skins you would like to have, we must first define the two terms. Skins and Templates are what makes up a layout, one template can have several skins while skins can be used for different templates. The difference of these 2 elements goes beyond color and lines, read on since most osCommerce sites deal in these terms. The Skin is the term used for all the following elements of how a page is to look.

• Index -This is your Home Page
• Content Page – your post and comments
• Archive List – this is where all your prior articles have been put in folders according to month.
• Archive – is the page where all entries for the month are displayed.
• Pop-ups – this is where images of a pop up are controlled.

Taking the elements into consideration, Skins are the outer part of the layout which attract and engage the browsers. The template on the other hand has the items below to control for a websites’ look.

• Item header – Your post title and description.
• Item Body – This is the posted text.
• Item Footer – this can contain added information or footnote or a Learn More text to redirect a reader to another page.
• Comments Area – this is where messages are typed and posted if the site owner wishes.

The Template is also responsible for the ‘look’ of each item above and some of the organizing elements that make up a website page. The following are the controlled by the template itself: archives look, categories in the navigation bar, parts of the search & query and the locale settings (date & time).

Both the template and the skin are complimentary; it all boils down to the Template being the framework while the Skin is the outward component of a site. Without a skin a template will look drab while a skin just can’t be without a template. AlgoZone osCommerce templates are all designed for the comfort and ease of any customer while the skins are there to delight the eye.

Feel free to visit AlgoZone for osCommerce Skins and Templates that are adaptable to any platform.

Recently, technology has paved the way for another path of commerce, advertising and selling of products or services using mobile gadgets. M-commerce simply put selling and purchasing transaction through a mobile device with computer network access. This way the commerce works with the use of gadgets like the new gen cell phones, PDA’s and i-phone which have dashtop publishing functions.

There was a time when window shopping and red tag sales meant going to an actual store building.

Ads were only on TV, newspapers, billboards and radio. In just a few years with e-commerce working a store front can be a virtual one too. E-commerce is now turning to m-commerce for expansion, connecting a site store to a mobile gadget which has browsing capabilities. Now why would anyone risk their commerce on mobile too? The answer is simply because most people are on the go and may not have access to their desktops or even have wi-fi for their laptops. The handiest thing people are carrying right now is their hand-held mobiles and most of the ones out right now have web access. Imagine how many visitors can be added to your average visitor record if you are accessed anytime and anywhere, this means more sales.

Transactions through mobile is quicker and promises easier delivery. Purchases and services can be redeemed at the store through an electronic coupon. Bank transfers via mobile banking is more convenient and you never have to miss paying your bills!

For store owners, m-commerce is effective in target marketing. Analytics data can be set to track virtual store site visits done via mobile gadget. People taking time to visit your site through mobile indicate interest and higher odds of purchase than from a visit from a desktop which can indicate just and interest but not an immediate purchase.

A successful commerce is all about gaining maximum exposure on a world wide scale. There are no more limits to distance and location anymore when it comes to selling products and services.

Selling your products and services online can be frustrating and limiting when you use to rely on typical website template. All templates are set-up for image and text content and not anything else. Just recently webhosting companies have added templates integrated to an osCommerce software that allows you to run your website like a store. An ordinary website takes longer to load when plug-ins are installed, there are even times when a templates are vulnerable to bugs in an add-on. OsCommerce is the solution and the beginning of virtual store-fronts to come.

Actual store owners considering expanding their market online are naturally doubtful how effective a virtual store can be. Most may be apprehensive in choosing the right osCommerce software to use.  

How would you know which template is the one for your store? How sure are you its the software that would last years and not be obsolete? 

Do as any smart shopper does, canvas and keep our eyes open for the following:

osCommerce Standard

Any open source software have several standards to follow, this would indicate the software’s definition and limitations. Not all open source programmers stick to them so these might not have been tested long enough to find out if there are bugs which will surface.  Unless you have a head for sorting out codes and debugging software then the risk is worth it. BUT if you are just starting out it is advisable to stick to standardized osCommerce and the ones with a template added. They may cost you, but with the additional perks like extra template skins and modules it makes it worth it.

Does it load fast?

Most osCommerce sites present  virtual store packages with demos, and this is the only way to know for sure that loading doesn’t take long. Are the images and graphics similar to what you have on your existing site? Fast loading is one way to ensure that your clients and site visitors don’t click out of your store because they don’t like the wait. Not all have the same Internet speed, so this is a very important thing you have to check out.

Once going over the demo, explore the details of the shopping cart you choose, some software offer optimized graphics and smart sizing. This would be convenient for your uploading and an assurance that your image file upload is adjustable.

Browser Compatibility

All over the world, different browsers are used for dashtops, desktops and laptops. How do you get all visitors and prospective customers to your site if most browsers error on your URL? All osCommerce sites have customer support or a downloadable user’s manual, check out broswer compatible properties.

Customer Support 

The problem with downloading your own copy of software is that the source or the author may not be available for advice of trouble shooting tips when the need arises. Now buying a template ready version of the osCommerce you want gives you the assurance that your store front is safe. 

Upgrades

Most  support services have ways of dealing with bugs that may surface and they may even have upgrades of your shopping cart that you would want to subscribe to. Before purchasing a shopping cart template, you can inquire about policy on upgrades. You can even sign-up for their newsletter to make sure you are informed. You may not need the upgrade now yet the promise of software upgrade goes to show that the software is being developed and improved.   

Just as we’ve reminded all our clients, don’t be fooled by the design or the colours of a template demo. Check out the inner workings of the template you want,  think along the lines of how your virtual store would run and not just appear.