For any reputed online store, CMS is of prime importance. The background using such software would help admins to add or edit and also to moderate content of varied types and nature, and even allow adjustments to designs and elements too.
Plenty of services
There is no shortage of such service providers out there willing and waiting to help you with the same. However, don’t just jump the gun selecting the first one that comes your way. In recent times, there have been significant technological advancements for free and open source solutions, especially with high end software available to use. But first, let’s take a look at what is open source solution.
Open source solutions?
This means any software which has the capability or allows additions and editing to be done, with the help of external sources. For example, WordPress would be one of the best open source solutions we can name here.
Advantages
Let’s talk about Joomla, which millions across the world swear by. With constant communication and contribution, Joomla communities are always bringing out new ways to customise products and improve their stand in the markets. Moreover, such open source solutions are free to use, user friendly and support for the same is easy to find. This is why, when setting up an online outlet for retail and shopping, most developers think of using open source solutions, it saves money too.
But does it work for all
Not necessarily and once again may we use the old adage here, one size doesn’t fit all. As a web owner, you have to check which open source solutions would best suit your needs, functionality wise especially. The CMS shouldn’t be dictating your choices here, your direction or the website’s style too. It is your requirements and needs at the moment which should tell you which open source solutions or CMS you should employ, and not vice-versa.
You can customize it
Yes, open source solutions can be customized and broken down as per your needs. Hence, as a web owner you need to be very clear on how much control you would like to have over the content. You also should know how much control should be had over the designs, which will help you make decisions that are well-informed and in place, thus allowing open source solutions to help you with your online venture too.
This is why we ask you to check with at least four to five service providers around for open source solutions, and then carefully decide in real terms which controls you would like to use for content editing and updating.
Tips on how to choose the best
1. Research, research and more research
Time and tide waits for none, we agree but at the same time research and homework for open source solutions is a must. Review the roadmaps that talk about the open source solutions’ objectives. Find out what can be and should be used, and if that process or version is still being used or not. Obviously, you would want only that which would meet your needs, and researching about it would be the first step to go ahead with.
2. Is the development team well-organized?
If the roadmap for open source solutions is well mapped and fitting, get the release strongly defined for the process. Are you sure about the coders standards being in sync with long-term viability for the open source solutions or CMS services and products? What about future releases, how would it function and will it adapt well to coders changes and testing procedures or not?
3. Testing the open source solution
The CMS software needs to be tested before being employed, have you done that? Read reviews and learn about the various values and features of each software tool. Take time out to learn and test-drive them one by one, at least four to five of your choices. If you take a look online, there are many open source solutions to download and do the test-drives with. You can also check reputed sites and download from them as well.
Seek help from important team members to help walk you through the demos and the versions downloaded. The feedback would tell you all about its harsh reality, pros and cons would be out on each of the open source solution packages downloaded. This is important, so that if there are specifics to be concerned about, you would get to learn about them. You also would learn how to manage the functionality of the software and check with all the necessary features, with regard to the requirements you have too.
By doing the testing of open source solutions, parties involved in the process would feel encouraged to buy-in from all ends. But have a backup for all data before the migration happens, and get all the users trained too. This would build curiosity and interest amongst all and they too would help out in developing open source solutions in future.
The customized code needs to be shared
Finally, when thinking of open source solutions, one also has to learn how to make everything integrated on the path to success using CMS. It is also from other sources and parties that you can gain benefits, especially when expanding on this new found code, and even when using the new found code for the software’s base.
When implementation of open source solutions is talked about, the most successful tactics would only come through when you follow the steps and do your homework. Testing is important, so please do not ignore that step. This would make or break the organizations plus points if not done well, and you need to choose the open source solution wisely.
Please take a look online, read reviews and client testimonials about open source solutions, and only then go ahead with your investments for the same. Also check with experts across various websites, blogs and forums to learn more about the importance of open source solutions too. We hope this write-up has given you the basic information you need.