“Magento 2.3 Open Source & Commerce Release Notes and Features”
There is no doubt that Magento has built up its reputation as the most popular eCommerce platform in the world. According to a study conducted in 2017, 31.4% of the top 100,000 websites ran on Magento. Currently, there are more than 2,50,000 merchants around the globe using Magento as their eCommerce platform.
These statistics along with many others clearly state that the platform got the immediate attention from several major brands as well, and that too in an incredibly short period of time. Besides, the powerful platform keeps on revamping the default user as well as e-commerce experience through periodical updates that include interface overhauls, bug fixes, security patches, advance features and more.
To continue providing innovative and engaging experiences in2019, Magento has released its latest version update 2.3 packed new functionalities that will help merchants set up high ecommerce standards in the upcoming year while empowering developers to deliver unparalleled solutions to their clients.
Magento 2.3 was announced during Imagine 2018 Conference in Las Vegas. The main aim behind launching Magento 2.3 is to simplify ecommerce for merchants and ecommerce development for developers.
Magento commerce and open source 2.3 come equipped with new robust features. Before we dig deep into the highlights of the release, let’s compare the latest version 2.3 with version 2.2 and see what extra functionalities and efficiencies one can expect.
MAGENTO 2.3 vs MAGENTO 2.2
| FEATURES | MAGENTO 2.3 | MAGENTO 2.2 |
| Multi-Source Inventory | YES | NO |
| Progressive Web Application | YES | NO |
| Page Builder | YES | NO |
| GraphQL Language | YES | NO |
| Asynchronous & Bulk Web APIs | YES | NO |
| DB Schema | YES | YES |
| Security Enhancement | YES | YES |
| Cache Management ACL | YES | YES |
| Elasticsearch updates | YES | NO |
| PHP 7.2 | YES | YES |
FEATURES
Multi-Source Inventory
Before this release, Magento had been managing a single inventory system and enabling merchants to keep their inventory on a single platform. But using MSI extension, merchants can locate and manage their inventory on multiple channels. The multi-source inventory feature allows owners to manage their inventory directly from the admin panel of the website regardless of its location. Here are some key benefits of the feature:
· Manage all inventory without the need for installation of third-party extensions.
· Manage stock easily across multiple locations.
· Streamline the checkout process and reduce re-indexing issues by automatically controlling inventory sources.
Progressive Web Application (PWA) Studio
A PWA is a progressive web app which uses modern web capabilities to deliver an app like experience to users while boosting conversion rates and increase engagement. With the help of PWA studio tools, it is easier to create faster and cheaper Magento-powered experiences. Some of the features that PWA studio provides include home screen shortcut, fast page load, offline support, push notification etc.
Fast, reliable and integrated mobile experiences created through PWA studio have been proven to improve SEO and boost conversion rates and page performance. As an open source addition, PWA will have regular updates, regardless of Magento releases, which will include new features, quality improvements and reference theme enhancements
Page Builder
Earlier, one has to create web pages and manage content with the help of HTML and CSS. With the introduction of Page Builder in Magento Commerce, even non-technical users can take full control over content through a drag and drop interface; a set of content types like images, video and banner and instant preview capabilities. With Page Builder, you can easily create new pages, enhance products, add new categories and launch content updates rapidly without needing a front-end web developer.
In addition, you can also integrate existing Magento features like media gallery and widgets into your pages through Page Builder. The functionality also allows the user to create content blocks to use throughout the website and schedule any existing content to go live in the future.
ADDITIONAL UPDTAES
Magento Shipping
The new version come equipped with added support for new fulfilment options and expanded global availability.
GraphQL Support
The previous Magento version uses SOAP and REST. However, in its latest version, Magento has introduced GraphQL API language.GraphQL will enable the developers to define the exact data and join various data in a single request. It enables efficient results, even if the network is slow.
Asynchronous & Bulk Web APIs
Magento 2.3 released this new feature to allow users to make a quick request without waiting for the server’s response. By providing control over the timing and execution visibility of API calls, this feature allows for greater performance, particularly for big online stores that generally receive a large number of API request on a daily basis.
Declarative Schema
The feature allows users to change database structure in XML files. The upgrade and installation process become much easier when developers are able to decide the final desired state of the database. Besides, users can roll-back database changes to a previous version.
Security Enhancement
This Magento 2.3 feature is designed to build and enhance customers’ trust on eCommerce sites. Moreover, in order to minimize attacks by bots and password hacking, Magento has introduced Google reCaptcha and two-factor authentication feature in the latest version.
By integrating two-factor authentication, you can bound customers to provide extra information apart from username and password to log in to their account. The Two-factor authentication requires the user to verify the details through call, SMS or e-mail.
Google reCaptcha, on the other hand, protects your site from spam and abuse while adding an extra layer security around certain web pages like, Login, Signup, Contact Form, Forget password and Admin login.
Cache Management ACL
Magento ACL is the system that allows the merchants to control and define the cache-related actions and provide fine-grained administration access control. Merchants are allowed to assign user roles for cache viewing and management.
Elasticsearch Updates
With the help of this update, merchants can integrate powerful search engine functionalities into their online store. At present, Elasticsearch v5 is supported by Magento 2.3. However, there is a probability that Elasticsearch may become a default search engine in the future.
PHP 7.2
Magento 2.3 supports the latest version of PHP that is PHP 7.2, in order to enhance performance and security. Also, the update replaces mcrypt with a more secured libsodium for encryption purposes.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES FOR 2019
Magento Amazon Sales Channel
To sell products in additional marketplaces, many online retailers are integrating with Amazon. Magento is planning to release an Amazon sales channel introversion 2.3 which will allow merchants to synchronize their store and product data with Amazon. The Magento Amazon sales channel will offer following features:
· Listing Management: Sync your products to an Amazon marketplace by rules, build new products in Magento from Amazon listings.
· Inventory Management: The feature helps to maintain inventory synchronization between your catalogue and Amazon listing, utilize inventory marketing tactics on Amazon.
· Fulfilment Management: Fulfil your order via Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) or a combination solution.
· Order Management: Managing your order is easy from a centralized location within the Magento sales order grid. From a centralized location, you can ship orders, cancel orders and build customer accounts.
Magento sales channel will be available in early 2019 for Commerce merchants on 2.2.2 or higher.
Magento Payments
Cart abandonment is a growing concern amongst sellers. As per the data 70% of online shopping carts across all industries never made it to the checkout. Heavy online payment systems are normally to blame. Magento 2.3 will be equipped with a payment module that is easy to setup and helps improve conversion, handle fraudulent chargebacks and dispute management.
The feature is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2019.
All in all, Magento 2.3 marks a significant step forward in Magento’s development. Moreover, awaited by many, the new Magento 2.3 has released a powerful set of features, and will substantially improve the current customer experience while introducing new opportunities for the merchants, developers and administrators.
CONCLUSION
Magento has certainly evolved over the years, and has been successful in offering state-of-the-art functions, bug fixes, enhancements and critical updates on a regular basis. Magento empowers millions of online stores and continue to improve the efficiency of its platform for developers and merchants.
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