6 Hidden Pitfalls of Magento and how to Solve Them
If you’re thinking about Magento as your future ecommerce platform, you might be wondering if there are any drawbacks. An expert from ecommerce development company Iflexion reveals the most painful of them along with possible solutions.
Magento is a very popular and powerful platform. Out-of-the-box features are unmatched by any competing software, and the number of users is growing quickly.
(Source: Creative Minds)
But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some hidden pitfalls of the Magento platform. We’ll also give you practical tips about how to avoid and solve them.
1. It can be slow, especially on small servers
Magento’s size and structure demand a high level of processing power, far more than its compact alternatives, such as WooCommerce and Shopify.
The platform is built on PHP, which is generally less effective than alternatives at handling resource-intensive tasks. Many developers complain about the fact that Magento often struggles with heavy loads irrespective of the quality of the hardware on which it’s running.
And while Magento does employ a range of time-saving features, like multiple caching systems and compressed databases, dedicated servers are a must, especially for larger ecommerce sites. The complexity of some extensions can also add further programming headaches.
How to avoid this problem: Powerful hardware is the key. Having dedicated servers will mitigate Magento’s resource-intensiveness to some extent. You can also find tailored hosting plans, which are designed to achieve maximum performance with the platform.
Your developer team should also be able to structure the platform so that no unnecessary loads are placed on hardware and peak times are adequately prepared for.
2. It requires specialized knowledge to run effectively
Magento requires both knowledge about how the platform works in terms of its features and developer know-how. The platform utilizes MySQL databases, is written in PHP and incorporates elements of the Zend framework.
Effectively running the platform will require developer expertise in each of these areas. Even tasks that are relatively basic with other platforms, like designing the layout of the frontend, require some specific knowledge of the platform.
And this doesn’t change for features that are built in. While out-of-the-box functionality is outstanding, fully grasping the potential of the platform takes time. On that point, don’t be misled by “one-click install” features from hosting providers. While it is possible to quickly get Magento up and running, getting the most out of it almost certainly requires dedicated expertise.
How to avoid this problem: Unless you’re planning to run the most basic of ecommerce stores, developer know-how is a must. For most sellers, this means hiring experts, which can grow expensive over time.
That said, finding the right people is easy. Magento has such wide functionality that there are many developers specialized in it.
3. Extensions are clunky
Setting aside the issue of cost for a moment, there are other issues to keep in mind when considering extensions.
The complexity of the system and the fact that many extensions are developed by Magento community means that conflicts are common. Programmers will often rewrite the same classes to build their extensions, which can easily result in issues that directly impact the storefront.
The fact that extensions are not tested by Magento directly also means that weaknesses in code can add an extra layer of security risk.
How to avoid this problem: Unless developers can build in functionality themselves, there’s little you can do about this issue. That said, the need for extensions is usually limited. Magento is very feature-rich out-of-the-box, so this issue wouldn’t probably cause major concern.
Whenever installing extensions, it’s important to follow established processes (cache flushing, testing, etc.) and use only extensions compatible with the current version.
4. Migration is a hassle
Migrating from existing ecommerce platforms, like WP eCommerce, Drupal or Shopify can be difficult, given the uniqueness of Magento’s structure and the mismatch between many features.
It’s a lengthy process that involves backups, data rewrites and manual input of many pieces of information. You’ll also need to schedule the transfer precisely to minimize loss of sales.
Migration involves lots of potential pitfalls, such as insufficient server space, theme mismatches, URL redirects, duplicate content and more.
It’s also worth pointing out that many developers report difficulties with migrating from old to new Magento versions due to changes in the functionality.
How to avoid this problem: There are migration tools, like LitExtension, that can streamline the process.
5. Security issues are common
Magento is not the most secure ecommerce platform. According to Astra Security, 62% of Magento stores have at least one security issue, while 85% of all compromised eCommerce websites are running Magento.
These figures simply aren’t seen with other platforms like WP Commerce and Shopify, where more direct control over security is taken by the providers.
There are a number of reasons why this is the case. Magento Commerce is built on open-source software (the basic coding is essentially the same as the OpenSource version) and therefore vulnerable. Extensions, which are developed by the community and not vetted by Magento add another dimension of risk.
As the most popular platform among bigger stores, it’s also an obvious target for hackers.
How to avoid this problem: Magento regularly releases bug updates so it’s vital to keep up-to-date with these patches (they usually need to be manually installed) and ensure you’re running the latest version.
You should also pay attention to your own server-side security. If you’re self-hosting, you will likely need to pay for a dedicated security plan, preferably from a company that has some knowledge of ecommerce security. Many breaches are the result of overlooking basic security practices like hiding admin pages and using SSL.
Quality assurance can be of tremendous value for pinpointing potential and actual vulnerabilities.
6. It’s expensive and there are hidden costs
Magento Commerce payment plans are the most costly of any ecommerce software and there are added expenses for extensions and further functionality. A new theme, for example, might cost anywhere upwards of $300. And while some extensions are free, most are usually priced in the range of hundreds to thousands of dollars.
The free community version isn’t ideal for most stores looking for a complete solution, and even then development costs can be high. In-house Magento plans start at $2000/month and go all the way up to the tens of thousands for large enterprise solutions.
The packages are good — they include 24/7 support and tailored hosting, among other things, — but the overall cost can exclude smaller stores from seriously considering Magento.
How to avoid this problem: Aside from the free community version, there isn’t any solution to this problem. If you’ve decided that Magento is the platform for you, it’s simply a case of coughing up what you need to pay.
It might sound obvious, but it’s worth pointing out that it ultimately comes to cost analysis. Is an eCommerce store turning enough revenue, and will benefits be sufficient, to justify the increased expense?
So should you go for Magento?
Despite its drawbacks, Magento is still one of the most powerful and feature-rich ecommerce platforms available to sellers.
Its out-of-the-box functionality is unparalleled on the market. Many big-name retailers use it, including Nike, Kurt Geiger, and Ford. Everything from multi-domain and multi-language stores to in-built loyalty programs are included as features.
The large community, dedicated support team, and a wide range of extensions are all extra reasons that many people opt for Magento.
Many eCommerce developers will see these problems as minor ones, and be attracted to the platform for its obvious benefits over competing software. Others will decide that they haven’t got the know-how or resources to deal with them. Careful consideration, test-driving the platform, and seeking expert help are all vital steps.
