Magento is Easy! Interview with Deryck Harlick

Brent W. Peterson
Sep 6, 2018 · 5 min read

Do you think Magento is harder or easier than other software?

If we are talking about Magento compared with rival e-commerce software then I would start with this… e-commerce is not simple, the key is finding the software that suits you and what your business requirements are. Once you get over the initial learning curve, as with any software, then it gets easier. This is true of all of the major e-commerce packages.

One of the misconceptions I find with ease of use of Magento is that the complexity comes from the additional features built in that gives the store the maximum amount of flexibility. If you choose to use that functionality then the learning curve may take longer. If you don’t use it, and you don’t have to then it is less of a learning curve. But Magento can also be a high performing e-commerce system that is future proof for the merchant. Look at is this way, you can buy an automatic car and it will do the job for you, but the best performing sports cars are manual shift. Which would you prefer?

So Magento can be as ‘easy’ as any platform out there but with the added flexibility, performance and scalability that Magento gives you.

Why is Magento a good choice for any business?

You can do so much straight out of the box, and if you can’t there is normally a plugin/ extension out there to fill that functionality gap. The knowledge base around Magento is very extensive. Just google your Magento query and you will often find several high-quality articles and solutions based on others experiences.

Where do you think Magento stands out from SaaS platforms?

With Magento you have your own install of the codebase. You, your developer or whoever you give permission to are free to customize your Magento store as much as you like and you are not tied to what the software vendor limits. With a Sass service, if they pull a function, you will lose that function on your store. If the Saas provider pulls the service you are subscribed to completely then you are now on the lookout for a new e-commerce platform and you may only have a few months to find it. Even if Magento disappeared tomorrow (which they won’t) you will still have your install on your server which you can maintain yourself.

What are the limitations?

For smaller merchants, there is often a pressure to have an agency to shadow them. This is sensible but can be an overhead, especially in the early days.

Also if you have a very small and simple product base then you may find that Magento overly features rich for your requirements.

Tips on merchants purchasing Magento for the first time

Find a good hosting provider who is proficient with Magento and can install this for you. Also, spend some time getting to know the product yourself BEFORE outsourcing the development of your shop. By doing this you will have familiarity with Magento and your conversation will be far more intelligent with any agency or third party developer you choose to use.

When you do go about building the store initially try to stick with the out of box functionality to start with. Get something live and earning quickly, you will then start learning what is working and what needs to be refined and you can make changes and customizations as you go.

Is becoming or being a MCSS Important?

This depends on your role. I am a Magento Certified Solution Specialist to demonstrate to my clients and delegates that I do know the product very well and I know what I’m talking about.

One of the advantages of becoming an MCSS, other than getting the certification, is that you do have to study many of the more obscure features of the product to be able to pass.

If you are consistently involved in Magento projects, particularly in an agency environment where you may be the link between the client and developer (I’m thinking account managers and project managers) then I would recommend you have this qualification.

From a merchant point of view if you are discussing features and how to do things in Magento I would recommend discussing this with a MCSS over someone who is purely a developer (there are many developers who are both). An MCSS should have more of a business view of how Magento can be used so in most cases this is the appropriate person to talk to.

How can Magento be easy for users?

Initially keep it simple. If you are building a new store then utilize the out of the box functionality of Magento. It amazes me how many companies go straight into customization without testing if what is there does the job for them.

Where do users struggle in Magento?

I think from a usability point of view it is very easy to rush into populating a new Magento store with products without a sound understanding of product attributes and attribute sets. I’ve experienced many stores where all products are in the ‘Default’ attribute sets. They are not aware of the problems being stored up as the product catalog grows. I always say to my delegates that if you can understand attributes and sets then you are a long way to having control of your product catalog.

The other area that at face value is a struggle is importing product data. It is such an important part of running and maintaining a store. Getting a good understanding of this is a real help for most merchants.

Does a hosting partner matter?

Yes. Get a hosting company that really knows Magento (not just ones that say they host Magento, there is a difference). There are several out there.

The key difference is that if there is a problem with your store they will be able to identify if it is a hosting problem or Magento core issue if it is then they will fix it. If it isn’t a hosting problem they will quite often point you in the direction of where the issue is so you can save time on troubleshooting.

The opposite of this is a host who will not investigate anything unless it is pure hosting issues.

Where to get help?

We run regular training courses to help Merchants get up to speed with Magento, either open courses or we can come onsite and train a team. You can find the details here:

https://www.magetraining.com

Do you have a new product to pitch :)

We have launched a new on-demand tutorial for anyone who wants to either set up a Magento store, get familiar with Magento right the through to anyone wanting to get in-depth Magento store management experience. You can find it here:

https://ondemand.magetraining.com/courses/category/Magento%202

Brent W. Peterson

Written by

Follower of Christ, Husband, Father, Magento Evangelist, Runner, Would be willing to quit my job to be a full time running coach.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade