We all know about the existence of such popular e-commerce platforms as Shopify, Prestashop, Woocommerce and Magento. But have you ever heard of Shopware 6? Despite its advantages, it is still not as recognizable as those mentioned earlier. It would seem to be a new platform on the market, but is it really?
In fact, Shopware has been around since 2000. It was created by a group of programmers in Germany. Since then, the platform has come a long way, undergoing many improvements and updates. In 2019, a landmark moment occurred when Shopware 6 was launched, replacing the earlier version, Shopware 5.
The latest version introduced revolutionary changes and expanded e-commerce possibilities, gaining traction in European countries.
What is Shopware?
Shopware stands as an innovative e-commerce platform designed to facilitate the creation, management, and development of online stores. With a user-friendly interface and a plethora of robust functionalities, Shopware caters to both technical and non-technical users alike.
Powerful features for easy management
Beyond the fundamental tools for product and order management, Shopware boasts a dynamic page builder that empowers users to construct personalized layouts and landing pages effortlessly. Utilizing a drag-and-drop mechanism, this feature streamlines the process of creating custom designs.
Effortless store management
Shopware allows you to set up reactions to specific store events with Flow Builder without programming. An example of a simple process using Flow Builder is automatic notification to a customer about an order being shipped. The first step is to check if the order has been paid. Then, if it has, send a shipping confirmation email. Finally, update the order status to “Sent.”. And all this is already out of the box in Shopware 6 completely free!
Global recognition and growth
Despite the fact that Shopware is a very powerful solution, in fact, outside the country in which it was created, it has not gained significant popularity (even though it was created earlier than its rivals such as Magento (2007)). However, don’t let this information mislead you. Since Shopware version 6, there has been a reversal of this trend and a noticeable increase in interest beyond Germany.
Source: Shopware Market Share and Web Usage Statistics (similartech.com)
User-friendly interface and customization
The development of Shopware is managed by the German company Shopware AG. The company currently has 370 employees, contributing to Shopware’s reliability. Additionally, Shopware boasts a user-friendly interface, suitable for non-technical users, and the flexibility to customize the store using plug-ins. Shopware 6 is designed with a modular architecture in mind, which means stores can be easily customized. All this without the risk of losing functionality during upgrades.
Let’s take a little more look at its built-in functionality.
Shopware 6 SEO module
Shopware’s built-in SEO module empowers you to optimize your store for potential customers. A key feature is customizing unique URLs for each product page, category, or landing page. This creates user-friendly addresses containing relevant keywords, boosting your store’s organic search rankings.
Additionally, Shopware’s SEO module lets you set unique meta titles and descriptions for each page, a crucial element in optimization. Using appealing and relevant meta data enhances user visits and boosts positive search result outcomes.
Shopware’s SEO tool also allows you to customize and create an XML sitemap that makes it easier for search engine robots to index your store, so your store can be more accurately indexed by Google and other search engines. This, in turn, helps improve your store’s position in search results, especially for long-tail keyword phrases.
Localization and multilanguage
Shopware 6 is an e-commerce platform that strongly supports localization. It enables online stores in the global market to tailor their sites for diverse languages and currencies. This is crucial for achieving worldwide reach, boosting sales potential, and creating personalized shopping experiences for customers across various countries.
Languages in Shopware can be easily managed with an advanced multilingual system. Shopware administrators can add, edit, and remove various language versions. This customization suits regional preferences, allowing customers from different countries to see product details, categories, and info in their language. This improves communication and trust in the store.
Another important feature in the localization area is support for multiple currencies. As a result, Shopware-based stores can display product prices and convert currencies on the fly, according to customer preferences. Customers from different regions can view products in their preferred currency, making it easier to compare prices and make purchasing decisions.
In addition, Shopware offers advanced mechanisms for adjusting prices and delivery charges based on customer location. This allows flexible management of pricing policies by region, as well as convenient calculation of delivery costs for customers in different parts of the world.
Shopware 6 Page Builder
Page Builder is a powerful tool that allows you to create and edit web pages in an intuitive way. It is ideal for people with no programming experience who want to quickly and easily create unique and attractive visual pages for their online store.
With Page Builder, administrators have the ability to design pages through the drag-and-drop method. The process of creating pages becomes extremely simple and intuitive, like putting puzzles together. All you have to do is select the appropriate elements, such as headings, text, images, buttons, forms or graphics, and then drag them to the desired position on the page.
With this feature, Page Builder allows you to instantly preview your changes, allowing you to instantly customize the look of your site. There is no need to write or edit any HTML or CSS code, saving you time and eliminating the need for programmer assistance in this process.
Shopware’s Page Builder also offers a number of advanced features that give administrators full control over the look of a page. Administrators can customize colors, fonts, margins, section layout, backgrounds and many other aspects to create personalized and conforming pages with a visual identity.
Shopware 6 Rule Builder
Let’s introduce another amazing feature offered by the Shopware platform that allows online stores to flexibly personalize and automate various aspects of their operations. Rule Builder allows you to create advanced rules and conditions that can be applied to different areas of your store, such as product pricing, availability, discounts, shipping and much more.
Dynamic pricing strategies
With Rule Builder, you can easily customize your pricing strategy by creating dynamic promotions and special offers that are automatically activated under the right conditions. For example, you can set progressive discounts for customers who add more products to their shopping cart, encouraging them to buy more.
Personalized customer engagement
In addition, Rule Builder also allows you to personalize offers based on customer behavior. You can customize offers and product recommendations based on previous purchases, browsing history or customer preferences, increasing the chances of realizing a sale.
Optimized delivery conditions
Delivery conditions can also be optimized using Rule Builder. You can set different shipping conditions depending on the customer’s location or the weight of the order, allowing you to manage and control delivery costs more efficiently.
Automated inventory management
What’s more, Rule Builder gives you the ability to manage inventory automatically. You can set up rules that automatically change the availability of products on the product page when the stock level reaches a certain level. This prevents customers from ordering products that are currently out of stock.
Unprecedented flexibility
Rule Builder allows you to create complex conditions that can be combined using logical operators, giving you unprecedented flexibility in creating marketing strategies and activities.
Conclusion? Rule Builder is an indispensable tool for any Shopware store owner who wants to customize their offers and activities and optimize their marketing efforts. With this tool, it is possible to attract and retain customers more effectively, resulting in increased sales and increased competitiveness in the e-commerce market.
And this is just a small part of what Shopware offers!
How to get started with Shopware: Shopware Academy
Can I handle the guidance with so many advanced features? The answer is yes.
Shopware Academy is a great place for anyone who wants to maximize the potential of the Shopware platform and improve their e-commerce skills. What’s great is that this educational platform offers not only advanced courses for developers but also a lot of valuable and free resources for easy implementation for anyone operating a store.
The free courses on Shopware Academy are ideal for both beginners and more advanced users. They offer practical tips, discuss best practices and provide insight into all the key features of the Shopware platform. Those responsible for managing a store, such as owners, managers, or store staff, can easily expand their knowledge and skills, which in turn contributes to more efficient work and more effective customer service.
With Shopware Academy, you don’t have to be a programmer to master the platform. The availability of free courses for a variety of audiences makes learning more accessible and friendly for all interested parties. The courses are taught by experienced experts who are very familiar with the platform and will impart their knowledge in an accessible and understandable way.
Shopware 6 licenses
Shopware 6 offers different types of licenses that allow users to choose the most suitable option for their business needs and requirements. Below you will find the main types of Shopware 6 licenses.
What is the cost of Shopware Community Edition?
Shopware 6 provides an open-source version, also known as Shopware Community Edition (CE). This version is free and available to all users. It provides complete access to the source code, allowing advanced users and developers to modify the platform according to their needs. The open-source license is a great option for smaller stores and those who want full control over their e-commerce site’s customization based on individual requirements.
What is the cost of Shopware Rise?
The cost of the license of Shopware Rise is $600/600€ per month. This is a solution for more demanding customers that provides not only additional support but also additional functionality (Emporium theme, Mail configurations for different Sales Channels). There are 3 different hosting options to choose from: SaaS, self-hosted and PaaS.
What is the cost of Shopware Evolve?
The price of the license for Shopware Evolve is already set individually. It includes all the other functionalities from the Rise plan, but also some additional ones (B2B features, Advanced search, subscriptions), which are described in the Roadmap and labeled “Evolve”. It also includes an additional level of support.
What is the cost of Shopware Beyond?
Shopware Beyond is the next and most expensive license for the most demanding customers. Here the price is also set individually. It has not only the highest level of support, but also additional functionality, such as multi-warehousing.
Selecting the appropriate Shopware 6 license relies on factors like store size, budget, functional needs, and technological advancement. Smaller businesses new to e-commerce can find the open-source version ideal. Larger enterprises gain advantages from paid editions, featuring enhanced features and manufacturer support. A cheaper license doesn’t equate to limited functionality; Shopware allows unlimited customization, though it demands more effort to implement.
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