Large well known store/brand using OpenCart ?

[WebBandit]

Hi All,
Really quick question...

Does anyone know of a large well known store/brand using OpenCart ?


Many Thanks in Advance,

WebBandit.

 

[14Steve14]

Have a look here it may help you find one

http://poweredbylist.com/

 

[WebBandit]

Thanks for the link... looked over the site, didn't really find any large well known retailers or brands....

Just a little concerned that larger retailers and brands ain't using OpenCart. I like OpenCart (bar a few small things, which I posted in another post recently) but this is kinda bugging me why I cant find examples of these types of well known brands or stores using the platform.

Just bugging me, why ain't they, is this the right platform, do they know something I don't know.... ??

Hmmm, A bit more research needed....

Thanks

 

[Faevilangel]

large brands won't be using OC for their ecommerce sites (imo) because:

- It's not going to easily tap into their fulfilment systems etc
- Most "large businesses" will be using Microsoft / IBM etc technology so the website needs to work with that.
- The agencies who build these sites aren't interested in opensource

Most will be running huge systems which have been custom built and work with each other, they will be running on asp or java. Their websites will be taking in millions per year so their budgets are beyond an opensource project (imo).

Opencart is still relatively unknown compared to others and has very little media exposure compared to WordPress so you might find they have never heard of it.

 

[templateagreements]

Have you also considered using Shopify? Not sure about the big names but they claim to have facilitated sales of over $2bn since they started out. Coming from a programming background, the thing I most liked about Shopify is the robustness of a SaaS solution combined with the ability to edit almost all of the front-end code to control the look and feel.

I suspect most larger companies would choose to build their own platform as they would not want to rely too heavily on any single supplier/service provider especially one that is critical to their operation. Also larger companies are more likely to want to lock value in to their own business with their own proprietary technology, rather than essentially continue to develop someone else's IP.

 

[Faevilangel]

Have you also considered using Shopify? Not sure about the big names but they claim to have facilitated sales of over $2bn since they started out. Coming from a programming background, the thing I most liked about Shopify is the robustness of a SaaS solution combined with the ability to edit almost all of the front-end code to control the look and feel.

I suspect most larger companies would choose to build their own platform as they would not want to rely too heavily on any single supplier/service provider especially one that is critical to their operation. Also larger companies are more likely to want to lock value in to their own business with their own proprietary technology, rather than essentially continue to develop someone else's IP.

The problem with shopify and other SaaS solutions are:

- majority are based in the US - big issue for some people
- you're limited to what they say you can do
- if they go bust, you're pretty much left with nothing

SaaS ecommerce solutions are great for businesses who only want to sell a few items a week and won't really want to expand too much.

Far too many times I get called into helping businesses upgrade their websites from SaaS platforms as they quickly outgrow the usefulness of the platform, from limited payment options, limited number of products and limited expandability.

I do like the SaaS platforms but businesses really need to do their research on whether it is a good fit ... Ignore the pricing etc just go based on the current needs of the business, the potential needs in 6 months and then in 12 months.

The last thing you want to do is spend £10k building and promotion a shopify site to then have to start again in 6 months as you're being hampered by the software.

 

[fisicx]

To echo favvi's comment most large sportes will be using bespoke applications.

They may at the very core have some white label product but it will be so heavily modified as to be unrecognisable. The front end (the bit you see) is just plain old HTML generated from a bunch of database fields. Nothing new or exciting. It's the bits you don't see is where all the money has been spent. My brother works for a major brand and they employ about 200 people whose sole job is to look after the website. Everything is bespoke.

 

[andygambles]

Thanks for the link... looked over the site, didn't really find any large well known retailers or brands....

Just a little concerned that larger retailers and brands ain't using OpenCart. I like OpenCart (bar a few small things, which I posted in another post recently) but this is kinda bugging me why I cant find examples of these types of well known brands or stores using the platform.

Just bugging me, why ain't they, is this the right platform, do they know something I don't know.... ??

Hmmm, A bit more research needed....

Thanks

Most large brands will have custom built sites. OpenCart is a shop in a box so you can start selling online quickly.

That is no to say it isn't very good. It is and works very well out of the box.

 

[antropy]

Some are listed here:
http://www.opencart.com/index.php?route=feature/liveshop

These guys are relatively big with shops in places like Bluewater but perhaps not a big brand like you were thinking:
http://www.hanahuk.co.uk/

I think the really big ones would probably either be going for a custom built solution or one of the really big expensive closed-source solutions. And when I say really expensive, we're talking hundreds of thousands of pounds total cost.

 

[Spock]

We are the biggest site for wall art in the world and use opencart!

 

[WebBandit]

Thanks guys for the answers\views and insights so far given me some food for thought....

Off track a bit .... Magento CE is this something the big boys are still using or are they starting to head away from it ? (Due to ebays involvement, server load, delay of development... or its it the way to go ?)...

Again thanks everyone...

 

[Paul Norman]

I have no idea what shopping systems other big sites use, or why, and do not know if Opencart would be suitable or not.

We don't use it. Or any other 'off the shelf' cart, because we need total flexibility, and we need integration into our main systems. Our site is high volumes.

Cost, at this level, is not the main consideration. A bit ecommerce site is many thousands of pounds, and thus the cost benefits of these kinds of packages are not a consideration.

 

[Davef]

The problem with shopify and other SaaS solutions are:

- majority are based in the US - big issue for some people
- you're limited to what they say you can do
- if they go bust, you're pretty much left with nothing

- There are SaaS sites based in the UK
- Many have a large list of features and with API it opens up other possibilities for integration into other systems
- As long as you can get your customers, orders, products, categories out in the form of csv and ftp your images you are far from being left with nothing.

SaaS ecommerce solutions are great for businesses who only want to sell a few items a week and won't really want to expand too much.

Sorry I have to totally disagree with that. I know of companies using SaaS solutions who are turning over millions and expanding rapidly.

Far too many times I get called into helping businesses upgrade their websites from SaaS platforms as they quickly outgrow the usefulness of the platform, from limited payment options, limited number of products and limited expandability.

Maybe they just picked the wrong SaaS platform !

 

[threenine]

It's simple most large enterprises have large IT departments with Developers, Integrators, Systems Admin, Project Managers, Help Desk and all the other IT department Minnows you can think of.

They have integrated numerous systems over the years, from a vast array of suppliers to address all aspects of the business i.e. Supply Chain Management, ERP, HR, Inventory and a vast array of other business acronyms.

Most system architecture will be based around Java, MS, Oracle, IBM, and a complex array of other vendors.

When it comes to a web project, no Open Source Cart is going to satisfy their needs, as they need to integrate with all systems including the ones that monitor the toilet roll levels in the staff toilets. It is easier to build their own solution from scratch, mostly because they have the Resources, Money and Time.

When you're running your web shop from your spare bedroom you don't have this problem, your integration problems revolve around does your "Cart" accept CSV stock imports and can people pay for the items they want!

You don't have the TIME, MONEY & RESOURCE to do everything from scratch, so a ready rolled solution works well. If you actually manage to make a success from your spare bedroom business, you can then think of employing the vast array of IT bodies to squander large amounts of money to build your very own Shopping cart, and integrate it with all manner of other software of your choice.

Take it from me, a software developer who has assisted many companies in spending large amounts of money to re-invent the wheel albeit in different colours and features. Most of the carts available will do what you need, and more, but they all come with a learning curve (Time), and require additional plugins (money) to add great features that You (Resource) can implement.

Personally my favourites are Magento, WP Ecommerce & Woo Commerce. I have heard great things about OpenCart & ZenCart, but haven't used them yet.