For example, I run a store with over 8000 products. Maybe I can't see it, but how would I populate one of your stores with full product data for 8000 products?
We are working on an easy populate system but in the mean time I could write a script to do this customised to your database in around two hours free of charge.
With zencart, I use Easy-Populate and can load this data via the admin interface in about 40 seconds.
As above ^^^
We also have a module that geo-maps by UK postcode, enabling us to price delivery by the distance between the postcode of the warehouse and the postcode of the customer. (This in addition to a variety of other shipping configurations)
This is also on the road map but the problem we have run up against is that most accurate geo loaction services require a subscription from the end user so we have to ensure it is not only accurate but also cost effective enough fr users to actually want/use it.
Your coupon system appears to be "global" to the store. Zencart allows you to configure coupons by store, category or individual products.
At the moment yes. The next release will allow coupon provisioning to departments, product(s) and also customer groups. i.e. If you have a 10% discount customer group you don't want to give them a voucher for 20% on top (or you might)
Does your system enable electronic Gift Vouchers? (Not the same as coupons).
eVouchers is coming in the next release.
What about image zoom functionality? Do you offer this?
Not at this time although we do offer a image gallery feature for the products.
What about product linkages - cross-sell and up-sell features?
Cross/Upsells is in v1.3 due out beginning of July
Do you enable internal banners (trackable)?
Not sure what you mean by this, the clicks a department/product receives? If so that is scheduled for v1.4
What about user tracking, product search tracking, purchase tracking, etc?
Again that will come in the advanced stats for v1.4
I do like your in-built affiliate management - but it's just as easy to set this up on ZC using something like JROX JAM.
Yes as you will have the ability to use the built in system or plug in 3rd party products like iDevAffiliate
The main difference between Zen and us though is that OMC is a UK product design for UK stores by UK developers. It's also a commercial product so the code is protected and developed based on user request. All this backed up by telephone/email support.
Zen has been around a long time, we've been live since October last year but already have 50+ stores using the system. As with any product though it is the development and enhancement that takes the time once you have the foundations right.
I haven't looked at Zen for a while so I've just installed on my local machine here and I cannot argue it is a very solid product. In terms of extra development, the front end of our system is open source and you are welcome to develop it further.
Although the admin area is encrypted, v1.4 will have the ability to add unlimited additional functionality into the admin area similar to Zens plugins so developers can really do what they want...
Just a couple of points I picked up on the install above...
As with most product you have to download the files, upload to the server and run the installer, takes time. v1.4 of OMC will require you to upload just one file. When run this will grab all the files from our licensing system and kick the install off.
As with most carts I have researched, product variations are handled better with the next release of OMC. We do things slightly differently in that you can have multi-combinations of product i.e. one group for colour then sizes within that colour. This allows for better stock control and product selection.
This is addition to the add-ons and upsells.
In addition v1.3 will have what I consider to be one of best SEO controlled stores around. For every individual department, manufacturer, product, CMS category and article you will be able to set the title bar text, meta tags, URL, H1 tags, alt tags all independently from the admin area to allow SEO specialists to really drill down and create perfect landing pages whilst staying within the DB driven framework.
All in all, OMC is a growth product. Granted it is commercial as opposed to free but then I honestly believe the benefits of the support and development road map outweighs a very reasonable license cost
but you responded to Phil's post by listing some of the aspects of zencart you think are important which Phil's software does not offer.
