Though Drupal was first introduced in 2001, it still remains relevant today and powers thousands of websites, including online stores. Its users love its built-in features (views, translations, simple admin views, etc.) and claim to have successful and busy ecommerce sites up and running on this CMS. Beyond ecommerce, Drupal web development offers a versatile and robust solution for building websites of all kinds, thanks to its flexibility and scalability.
But considering high competition in the ecommerce industry, some may ask whether Drupal ecommerce development is still relevant. In short, the answer is: yes. Now, let’s look at Drupal ecommerce in more detail.
What is Drupal commerce?
Drupal is a powerful and versatile platform for website development, but let’s shift our focus to its ecommerce capabilities. To build a successful online store, you’ll need Drupal Commerce, the platform’s native ecommerce module. This tool offers essential ecommerce features, including the ability to create product types, dynamic product pages, multiple order types, and efficient order management.
When compared to platforms like Magento, Drupal Commerce stands out as equally responsive, high-performing, integration-friendly, and SEO-optimized. Its true strength lies in its flexibility, making it an excellent choice for online stores that demand extensive customization and complete control over functionality.
Benefits of Drupal for ecommerce
Drupal is a powerful choice for ecommerce development, offering key benefits like headless commerce support, scalability, robust security, and full customization. Its open-source nature allows businesses to tailor their platforms with over 40,000 modules, while its API-first approach enables omnichannel marketing and seamless content delivery.
For businesses looking to leverage Drupal’s full potential, partnering with a trusted Drupal development company like https://attico.io/ ensures expert guidance and efficient implementation. Drupal also excels in delivering experience-led commerce, creating intuitive and engaging shopping journeys. Backed by a strong developer community and dedicated security team, Drupal provides flexibility, reliability, and scalability for growing online stores.
Best practices for Drupal commerce development
Creating and customizing a Drupal Commerce website follows the same basic steps as building any ecommerce store adding features, choosing themes, and optimizing for SEO. However, specific best practices can simplify and improve the process. Let’s dive in.
Work with trusted developers
Partnering with experienced developers is crucial but often overlooked. High-quality development and thorough testing reduce the risk of issues after launch, saving you time and money on fixes. Investing in professional Drupal development from the start ensures a smoother, more reliable process and avoids costly mistakes.
Upgrade to Drupal 9 or 10
Drupal 8 reached its end of life in 2021, and Drupal 7 support ends in January 2025. Now’s the time to migrate to Drupal 9 or 10. The biggest reason to upgrade is security supported versions receive regular updates and patches, protecting your ecommerce store and customer data. Migration is complex, so it’s best to work with professionals to maintain data integrity and minimize downtime.
Implement regular data backups
With cyberattacks on the rise, regular backups are essential to protect your store’s data. These backups stored in the cloud or on secure physical devices can quickly restore data in case of loss or a breach. Key scenarios where backups are critical include:
- Source code changes: Mistakes in coding can cause major problems, so always have a backup.
- Store migration: Migrating data increases the risk of accidental loss.
- Third-party apps: External tools can introduce security vulnerabilities.
Plan your store setup thoroughly
Drupal offers flexibility to build a tailored online store, but overly complex setups can hurt performance and security. To prevent this, plan carefully. Define key features, map integrations, and outline the design. The more detailed your planning, the smoother and more cost-effective development will be.
Prepare for seamless integrations
Integrations like payment systems are essential but need proper preparation. Set up required software and hardware, confirm security measures, and test performance. Only after thorough testing should integrations be finalized and implemented.