E-Commerce Open Source Solutions An overview of tools and the main functional concepts of a trading site Writers: Frédéric de Gombert Florent Sabourin For further information: www.smile.fr Tel.: +33 (0)1 41 40 11 00 Mailto: [email protected] Page 2 E-Commerce, open source solutions [1] PREAMBLE [1.1] Smile Smile is a company comprised of engineers specialising in the implementation of open source solutions and the integration of systems based on open source solutions. Smile is a member of APRIL, an association focused on the promotion and protection of free software. With over 300 employees in France, and 350 throughout the world (June 2010), Smile is the leading French Open Source solution company. Since around the year 2000, Smile has been actively monitoring the technological market, allowing us to identify, to test and assess the most promising open source solutions. We can then present our clients with the strongest, most sustainable, most efficient products available. This approach has given way to a whole range of white papers covering various different application sectors. Content management (2004); portals (2005); business intelligence (2006); PHP frameworks (2007); virtualisation (2007); digital document management (2008); and ERPs (2008). Among the works published in 2009, the “Open Source VPNs”, and “Open Source flow controls and Firewalls” articles, within the “Systems and Infrastructures” collection are also of interest. Each of these works offers a selection of the best open source solutions in the relevant domain, their respective qualities, and feedback on operational use. As stable open source solutions slowly gain ground in new sectors, Smile will be present to offer customers the benefit of these solutions risk free. Smile appears in the French I.T. market as the integration service provider of choice, to assist major companies in adopting the best open source solutions. Smile has also developed a range of service offers over the last few years. A consultancy department has assisted our clients since 2005, through preproject phases, solution research, and project support. In 2000, Smile created a graphics studio which in 2007 became known as The Interactive Media Agency. This agency offers not only graphic design services, but also e-marketing, editorial, and rich interface expertise. Smile also has an agency specializing in Third-party Application Maintenance, application support and application processing. Smile offices can be found in Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Bordeaux and Montpellier, with presence in Netherlands (BeNeLux office), Spain, Switzerland, the Ukraine and Morocco. © Copyright – Smile - Open Source Solutions – All unauthorised reproduction is strictly forbidden Page 3 E-Commerce, open source solutions [1.1.1] Some Smile references a) Web sites Laboratoires Boiron, Foncia, Crédit Coopératif, EMI Music, Salon de l’Agriculture, Mazars, Areva, Société Générale, Gîtes de France, Patrice Pichet, Groupama, Eco- Emballage, CFnews, CEA, Prisma Pub, Véolia, NRJ, JCDecaux, Larousse, 01 Informatique, Spie, PSA, Boiron, Dassault-Systèmes, Action Contre la Faim, BNP Paribas, Air Pays de Loire, Forum des Images, IFP, BHV, ZeMedical, Gallimard, Cheval Mag, Afssaps, CNIL… b) Portals and Intranets Eurosport, HEC, Bouygues Telecom, Prisma, Veolia, Arjowiggins, INA, Primagaz, Croix Rouge, Invivo, Faceo, Château de Versailles, Ipsos, VSC Technologies, Sanef, Explorimmo, Bureau Veritas, Région Centre, Dassault Systèmes, Fondation d’Auteuil, Korian, PagesJaunes Annonces, Primagaz… c) Electronic Document Management and ECM Agefiph, Primagaz, UCFF, Apave, Géoservices, Renault F1 Team, INRIA, CIDJ, SNCD, Ecureuil Gestion, CS informatique, Serimax, Véolia Propreté, NetasQ, Corep, Packetis, Alstom Power Services, Mazars… d) E-business Furet du Nord, Camif Collectivité, La Halle, De Dietrich, Adenclassifieds, Macif, Gîtes de France, GPdis, Longchamp, Projectif, ETS, Bain & Spa, Yves Rocher, Bouygues Immobilier, Nestlé, Stanhome, AVF Périmédical, CCI, Pompiers de France, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique… e) Business Intelligence and ERP Lafarge, Groupe Accueil, Anevia, Projectif, Xinek, Companeo, Advans, Point P, Mindscape, Loyalty Experts, Cecim, Espace Loggia, Nouvelles Frontières, France24, La Poste, HomeCineSolutions, Vocatis, Skyrock, France Domicile, Polyexpert, Cadremploi, Cmonjob, Meilleurmobile.com… f) Infrastructure and Hosting Kantar, Pierre Audoin Consultants, Rexel, Motor Presse, OSEO, Sport24, SETRAG, Canal-U, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, ETS, Ionis, Osmoz, SIDEL, Atel Hotels, Cadremploi, Institut Français du Pétrole, Mutualité Française… © Copyright – Smile - Open Source Solutions – All unauthorised reproduction is strictly forbidden Page 4 E-Commerce, open source solutions [1.2] This White Paper E-commerce has literally exploded over the last few years: with a turnover of 20 billion Euros in 2008 (25% more than 2007) the number of online shoppers is in constant progression (over 65% of web users have already made an online purchase) with an ever-greater number of traders, both new and established, opening their own online shop. E-commerce turnover in billons of Euros in 2008 Source: iOE Study – E-commerce report 2008/Fevad/KPMG A recent Forrester1 study showed impressive projections, with growth of 68 billion in online European retails sales in 2009 and up to 114 billion by 2014, representing an increase in average yearly expenditure per household of from €483 to €601 for this same period. It is difficult, then, to ignore this new digital revolution and the associated Open Source solutions which play an ever-more important role. This White Paper proposes an overview of Open Source E-Commerce solutions. We will present a selection of the best tools, and then review the main functions, indicating how each tool performs. In order to select the right tools on which to build an E-Commerce platform, it is important to understand the fundamental concepts of a trading site, we endeavour to explain these concepts in the first part of this White Paper. E-commerce touches upon a wide variety of issues, such as Customer Relations, Business Management, Logistics, Web-marketing, etc. We will not go into each of these issues here, as they are far too vast and specific. 1 http://www.forrester.com/rb/Research/western_european_online_retail_forecast%2C_2009_to/q/id/5543/t/2 © Copyright – Smile - Open Source Solutions – All unauthorised reproduction is strictly forbidden Page 5 E-Commerce, open source solutions [1.3] The benefits of an Open Source Solution Open Source solutions are gaining new ground at an incredible rate year after year in all areas of application. New key players are emerging and there is now a proven logic to the Open Source business model. Solutions are ever-more mature and are now seen as very real alternatives to proprietary solutions. Before focusing on functionality, let’s take a look at the benefits that these Open Source solutions provide. The financial benefits are the most obvious reason for choosing an Open Source solution. While implementing an Open Source solution is never free of all costs, it is a great deal cheaper than implementing a proprietary solution. An Open Source solution can prove up to 5-10 times cheaper to integrate. Services also generally cost less, as the very “open” nature of the product lends itself to knowledge sharing. As solutions reach maturity, however, the cost factor is no longer the most important issue to consider. The main arguments for Open Source solutions are: • The non-dependence or limited dependence, on the editor. We know that changing tools can be very expensive, and editors can be tempted to profit from the ‘golden goose’ of clients who have become captives. This scenario is often referred to as vendor lock-in. • Durability is another strong criterion. Open Source solutions may not quite have a guarantee of “eternal youth”, but the availability of their source code to a community of clients and partners guarantees widespread distribution of the know-how associated with the implementation of these solutions, and as such their development. • The “Open” aspect is also a big issue. Open Source solutions are generally more compliant with standards, and more open to the possibility of adding modules. As regards durability, the worst that can happen with an Open Source solution is that the community can gradually lose interest in the solution, generally in preference of a more promising solution. As such the product may one day need to be replaced, but at least the winding-down process is slow allowing the client ample time to migrate to another solution. It is important to also point out that even if the editor one day winds down, the community remains and can continue working on the product and its evolution, this is the very principle of Open Source solutions. © Copyright – Smile - Open Source Solutions – All unauthorised reproduction is strictly forbidden Page 6 E-Commerce, open source solutions As for the “Open” aspect, while in theory it is essential that the modifications can be made to the source; in practise this can be risky. As such it is not in these terms that the “Open” aspect is of benefit, but in its capacity to accept extensions, and to interface with other applications. An editor with commercial objectives doesn’t always have purely the clients’ best interest at heart. The editor operates in a competitive market so it goes without saying that they want their tool to be better than their competitor’s, but once well- established, the editor may