What is Saleor eCommerce: Platform Introduction
Tags: saleor, ecommerce
Published: 2021-06-22 13:02:26

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>Introduction</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Owning an online store seems to be a challenge nowadays. The progressing digital transformation and the trend of moving business online accelerated as the world’s situation changed dramatically in the last twelve months. Such a situation also changed the way people do the shopping and raised their expectations.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>These two things combined led to more significant demand for modern solutions in the eCommerce industry. Owners of online stores want their customers to have a better shopping experience delivered faster than ever before with many features simplifying or making the whole buying process more pleasing.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Such solutions include <a href="https://pagepro.co/blog/what-is-headless-ecommerce-all-questions-answered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">headless eCommerce</a> platforms like Saleor. Keep reading to find out answers to questions like:</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li>What is Saleor?</li><li>When to use Saleor?</li><li>How Saleor help you sell more?</li><li>What are the benefits of Saleor as a PWA?</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>More than that, you will have a better understanding of its core functionalities, and you may get inspired by a few Saleor eCommerce stores.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>What is Saleor?</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Saleor is a headless e-commerce platform for delivering blazingly fast, dynamic and personalised shopping experiences. It enables you to create great-looking online stores which have all the features modern webshop should have. Take advantage of an admin dashboard to manage products, people, and functionalities. You can use Saleor whether you are a small, midsize or enterprise-level retailer with a physical or digital inventory.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>If you decide to use Saleor, your webshop will be available as both a <strong>typical online store</strong> and as a <strong>PWA application</strong>. The latter means that your customers will be able to browse the store offer and <strong>do shopping offline</strong> and with no internet connection.&nbsp;</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Saleor is an open-source platform written with Python, React, Django and GraphQL. If you need more technical information, just check out their <a href="https://docs.saleor.io/docs/developer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">developer documentation</a>.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Saleor offers:</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><strong>Ability to use your favourite tools</strong> – you can integrate Saleor with favourite tools you already use like CRM, CMS or fulfilment API thanks to GraphQL API.</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><strong>Front-end freedom</strong> – you can either use the default PWA storefront, JavaScript SDK or build a client from scratch in the language or platform you prefer. In other words, you can decouple the front-end layer from business logic.</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><strong>Flexible products</strong> – you can set up products as they are and integrate them with accounting and inventory management systems. Some of product configuration options:<ul><li>Product bundles (this option will be available in 2021) – it allows you to sell individual goods or services as mixed and complementary packages</li><li>Groups – this feature will make your online store more intuitive and easier to browse through thanks to grouped products</li><li>Configurations – it doesn’t matter what you sell because Saleor helps you by providing the flexibility of products configuration</li></ul></li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><strong>Possibility of going global from the day one</strong> – with Saleor you can sell wherever you want to thanks to:<ul><li>Multi-channel/Multicurrency – you can create customised sales channels with different currencies, pricing and product availability</li><li>Multilanguage – at the moment Saleor supports more than 30 languages</li><li>Multi-warehouse – possibility to assign particular warehouses to shipping zones allows for automatic calculation of available products depending on local stock levels</li></ul></li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>When to use Saleor eCommerce platform?</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>As a modern eCommerce platform, Saleor offers various features and functionalities (described later in this article) that help businesses achieve different business goals. However, these goals can be achieved with other eCommerce platforms as well, so the question is: when Saleor exceptionally shines?</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li>When WooCommerce or PrestaShop is no longer enough for you</li><li>You are looking for a Magento 1 alternative (note: since June 2020 Magento 1 Open Source is no longer supported)</li><li>When Shopify is not sufficient, but you don’t want to pay for Shopify Plus</li><li>You have in-house Python and React competences</li><li>When you want to build a <a href="https://pagepro.co/blog/multi-tenant-ecommerce-platform-in-three-months/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multi-tenant platform</a></li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>Why choose Saleor?</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>All the things mentioned above wouldn’t be possible without a few things Saleor provides to its users. These include:</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><strong>Blazing speed </strong>– page speed and performance are crucial Google ranking factors and reasons why customers choose (or not) a particular online store. Saleor helps you delight users with a shopping experience that loads in a blink of an eye.</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><strong>SEO efficiency</strong> – the front-end layer in Saleor shops is static, and Google favours static pages as they are fast, light and easy to scan for robots.</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><strong>Accessibility on any device</strong> – your online store will work seamlessly on all devices and screen sizes.</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><strong>Rich user experience</strong> – having a good offer isn’t good enough, and creating a custom user experience is one of the things that can give you a competitive advantage. Experiment with your design without compromising the page load speed.</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><strong>Instant changes</strong> – once the developer makes changes, these will be visible to the customers.</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li><strong>Safety</strong> – on the contrary to dynamic pages, static ones (the front-end layer of Saleor’s webshop are static) have no direct connection to the database, dependencies, user data, or other sensitive information. Your customers’ data is safe.</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>Benefits of Saleor as a PWA application</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>As already mentioned, a webshop built with Saleor acts as both a typical online store and a PWA application. Now, let’s take a closer look at the latter, but instead of writing down its definition, it’s better to focus on the real benefits it provides.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Possibility to sell anywhere, anytime, and on any device</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} -->
<ol><li>Design of Saleor’s online stores is 100% responsive and adapts to any device.</li><li>Browsing and buying are possible, both online and offline.</li><li>Push notifications make it possible to mix online and in-store experiences.</li></ol>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Higher customer engagement</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Thanks to PWA, your online store will be more effective and engaging for your customers. Just look at the numbers below.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Choosing Saleor results in:</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li>20% lower bounce rates</li><li>25% higher page views</li><li>80% quicker time to checkout</li><li>9% increase in revenue per visit</li><li>2.8x greater conversion rate</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Lower development costs</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Statistics are merciless – 80% of applications will be uninstalled within a week. So why spend money on something people won’t be using? With Saleor you don’t have to spend money on building a separate mobile application because your online store will work as a PWA application which doesn’t require installation.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>Core Saleor eCommerce functionalities</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Saleor combines ready-to-use elements and powerful integrations to let you create customised shopping experiences for your customers. These can be built on top of the GraphQL API, which makes everything much easier and faster.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Now, let’s explore Saleor’s core functionalities.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Saleor Storefront</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>No front-end limitations</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>There are no limitations of how your store’s front-end can look like – <a href="https://pagepro.co/custom-storefront-for-headless-ecommerce.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">design and build a Saleor storefront</a> with the technology of your choice.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>SDK</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Connecting to the API is effortless.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Total customisation</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>You can either use a pre-made PWA template or simple front-end SDK to make your online store look the way you want.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Multi-device accessibility</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Save money on building a separate mobile application as your online store will work well on any device, both as a typical online store and as a PWA application.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Constant UX optimisation</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Creating user experience (UX) once is not enough – improve it continuously with A/B testing.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4><a href="https://pagepro.co/custom-storefront-for-headless-ecommerce.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Headless development</a></h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Work separately on the frontend and backend thanks to decoupling them.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Powerful product configuration</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Flexible product types</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Your inventory can contain both digital and physical products with multiple variants that are easy to configure.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Unlimited product attributes</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Sell products of different types that can have different attributes depending on what you need. In other words, Saleor adapts to your inventory – not the other way around.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Product bundles and collections</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Create product bundles and collections by grouping similar or complementary products to increase revenue per order.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>SEO optimisation</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Take care of organic traffic by creating SEO-optimised content for products, collections, and categories.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Multi-warehouse inventory</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Manage multiple locations seamlessly by tracking stock levels, editing multiple products at once and checking items that aren’t available anymore.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>CSV import and export</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Saleor makes it possible to import and export any product data to Google and Excel.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Internationalisation and localisation</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Multi-language</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Saleor already offers more than 30 languages.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Translations module</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Translate dynamic content in the dashboard to create different language versions if you need them.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Localised data</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Saleor takes advantage of geolocation – it checks your location and matches it with the location of your customers. This way, you can sell both locally and globally.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Global support</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Whether you are in Europe or the US, Saleor supports you in building better shopping experiences.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Global taxes</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Thanks to integrations with Avalara and Vatlayer, tax calculations in major markets are covered.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Data-driven marketing and sales</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Tracking sales history and metrics</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Track performance by viewing individual or multiple sales numbers in real-time or past time.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Experimentation</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Use data and A/B tests to optimise your store and its user experience.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Upselling with machine learning</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Saleor offers machine learning tools to generate more revenue through upselling. It delivers not only a better shopping experience but also a higher average order value.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Modern, PWA storefront</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>High performance and speed</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>PWA is the fastest technology that any eCommerce store can use. Forget about Magento load times and buffering once and for all.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Enhanced SEO</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Take care of SEO by editing all essential aspects of your online store, like URLs, metatags and Open Graph. These are things that are important for higher organic traffic which means new customers.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Quick product search</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Integrate your online store with Elasticsearch so your customer can quickly browse through the store.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Order management</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Shipping freedom</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Give customers the possibility to choose their favourite carrier or delivery method. You can also set different rates for each option depending on a shopping zone, price, or weight. Tracking info can be added to every item.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Customer profiles</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Get a bigger picture of your customer base by creating individual profiles for each customer.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Solve different issues easily</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>If there are some problems with inventory or customer service, you can try to solve them by creating dummy or actual orders.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Refunds and returns</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Manage refunds and returns easily in one place on the order fulfilment page.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Cart and checkout</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Payment integration</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Use global providers like Paypal, Braintree or Stripe to collect payments.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Sales and vouchers</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Increase conversion rate by creating sales and vouchers.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Abandoned checkouts</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Remind customers about abandoned carts as the Saleor online store saves such information.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Customise carts and checkouts</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Modify the checkout process according to your needs and data.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"textColor":"vivid-red"} -->
<h3 class="has-vivid-red-color has-text-color">Back office</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Staff management</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Invite staff members and assign privileges and roles to them.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Authentication keys</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Make it possible to log in through Google and Facebook to prevent unwanted access to the admin dashboard. Use authentication keys for that.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>GDPR compliance</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Make your store comply with GDPR or other laws to make sure your customers feel safe about their personal data.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Google Analytics integration</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Measure and analyse traffic to your online store thanks to Google Analytics so you can check who your customers are and how they behave.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} -->
<h4>Manage your pages</h4>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Adding new content like articles or additional pages is easy as pie.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2>Examples of Saleor eCommerce shops</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->

<!-- wp:image -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4xA65YGCFjrHj1drOJGyM0vC2KVul-kpgm_I0ikT5F2V33TxgO-mvpT48ujuMziu2Ci4v3MH0eETeKZcK7a7KwcS3h2HAvRe0bw93-ELF3RjuuQDnWWSEEYdooYPuwgZPlU6xtIz" alt="Roomlab homepage screenshot"/><figcaption><a href="https://roomlab.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">https://roomlab.co.uk/</a></figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-dots"} -->
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-dots"/>
<!-- /wp:separator -->

<!-- wp:image -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/fxagWq0mMCOiGBznoELFtnnUOEgfQRLMJTL8lJMD0FvnR1gvuB-AOZ_C1rVbnbQWHXTBsxSNx8YU4KUCKX9pQCqs_whNcwgT6soL4RJteGTp_2Y6UCiqoWERE5B9ztQivq-V_79L" alt="Patch homepage screenshot"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.patchplants.com/gb/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">https://www.patchplants.com/</a></figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Results:</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li>Sales increase consistently at 30% per month</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->

<!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-dots"} -->
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-dots"/>
<!-- /wp:separator -->

<!-- wp:image -->
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KvyWLZtGHQiR36-kChuCEhR8R5RuQo723D2xqJjB3i9ZMAQk3cS8nd7wsLS4cfa_utRq_hCQO6woTprrhxIKG9h_PWUglZnQtmpH9cABsR5gmncNlBxlT7Pe7aCxGCNoK7I8Adet" alt="Pretty Green homepage screenshot"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.prettygreen.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">https://www.prettygreen.com/</a></figcaption></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Results:</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:list -->
<ul><li>+1% improvement in eCommerce conversion</li><li>+5.55% improvement in average order value</li><li>+6,25% improvement in product recommendation clicks</li></ul>
<!-- /wp:list -->