What are Webhooks in Magento 2
Discover webhooks in Magento 2: a powerful tool to reduce manual workload for business owners. Learn how they work, their key features, and easy configuration tips.
Summer Nguyen | 11-11-2024
Consumers today expect a flawless shopping experience. For merchants, it’s the demand for high-performance websites. This puts pressure on both web developers and business owners to find a robust eCommerce solution that satisfies all users’ needs.
Magento has a high reputation as one of the best eCommerce solutions, allowing users to build a solid online presence. In this post’s scope, our topic will be gourd Magento Commerce Cloud.
As the latest offerings of Magento, what’s unique about Magento 2 Commerce Cloud? And its core benefits? Together, let’s dive!
Magento Commerce Cloud or Adobe Commerce Cloud (earlier known as Enterprise Cloud Edition) is an automated hosting platform that’s specifically created for Cloud solutions.
In technical jargon, Magento Commerce Cloud is a PaaS (platform-as-a-service) hosted on AWS (Amazon Web Services), along with some advanced options. Users can get benefits from PaaS-based environments to run their online businesses with enhanced security and less effort required.
Put simply, you can consider Magento Commerce Cloud a comprehensive eCommerce solution for online stores’ smooth performance.
Magento Commerce Cloud offers unique benefits such as:
Eco-tool Package is a set of scalable and exclusive deployment tools designed specifically for merchant requirements. It comes with crips and commands that simplify the Magento Commerce Cloud process, including:
Cron management
Verify project configuration
Deploy to a Docker environment
Apply Magento custom patches and fixes
All these tools enable you to manage and deploy Cloud for Magento Commerce projects effortlessly and effectively.
Combining all variants into a single package makes it easier for merchants to update their cases, while Magento can focus on delivering updates more rapidly and with higher quality.
In simple terms, the Cloud is an electronic structure allowing data to be stored across multiple computers and then served up via networks like the Internet. The Cloud functions as an enormous store, processor, and space.
As a Cloud-hosted solution, Magento Commerce Cloud works on the same merchandise. That’s being said; its performance is outstanding in many aspects compared to traditional hosting:
Increase server uptime _ Because of cloud hosting, the system of interconnected servers makes sure there’s no single point of failure. It means any downtime or loss on a single server can’t result in extended downtime for your applications and website
Cost-efficiency _ You don’t have to be concerned about the capital expenditure on infrastructure since providers are responsible for that. You only have to pay for the used services and resources
Enhanced security _ Cloud hosting offers users secure and encrypted solutions, backup recovery, firewalls, SCIM identity management, data separation, and storage segregation. All create a well-established infrastructure with multiple layer security
Higher scalability _ Allows users to allocate resources efficiently in response to a website’s or application’s needs. You can even add/ reduce storage, bandwidth, RAM, or other resources in the cluster of servers with no difficulty
Latest technology _ Making use of cutting-edge technology, Magento Commerce Cloud enables you to integrate and customize your websites automatically and systematically based on your business’s preferences
Along with all these benefits, since Magento Commerce Cloud runs on AWS and is managed by the Magento team, you have no worries about finding a reliable hosting provider. Plus, there’s also a dedicated team who helps your web perform in its most efficient way.
Any of Magento’s solutions comes with a comprehensive administrative suite that allows you to manage even the most complex tasks with ease.
Magento Commerce Cloud, on the other hand, has features that are unique for advanced eCommerce operations. Below are just a few.
Magento B2B features are the most outstanding enhancements of Magento Commerce and Commerce Cloud in comparison to the Open Source edition.
Developed based on the needs of wholesale merchants, Magento Commerce Cloud allows the implementation of complex organizational hierarchies via several advanced tools, such as:
Company accounts
Quick checkout options
Requisition lists
Company Credit
Company Payment
Shared Catalog
B2B Quote and so forth
Page Builder is another exclusive tool of Magento Commerce and Magento Commerce Cloud. Its power comes from the ability to build out unique pages and manage content in the most user-friendly manner - Via dragging-and-dropping page elements.
The tool provides a system of pre-built controls known as “content types,” which include four categories and are displayed in the Page Builder’s menu, specifically:
Layout
Elements
Media
Add Content
You can easily create and design your page content via the drag-and-drop functionality and see the live preview on the storefront via the Magento Page Builder.
ElasticSearch functions as a powerful catalog search solution. It allows customizing searches throughout your whole website. Specifically, Elasticsearch benefits Magento Commerce Cloud users via:
Real-time and advanced search results on products in the store’s catalogs
Support for multiple languages, stop words, and synonyms
Don’t disrupt web visitors while Elasticsearch reindexes
Effective to horizontally scale
The ability of ElasticSearch is scalable, performant, and accurate
Simply put, ElasticSearch is a beneficial tool for merchants who attempt to navigate massive inventories, plus making it easier for your shoppers to search for their wanted items.
There’re many tools in Magento Commerce Cloud allowing you to divide clients into different groups way more precisely than default features in the Open Source edition.
In other words, you can create several segments based on the customer data, for instance:
Basic information gained via customer accounts: Gender, Address, Email Address, Date of birth, etc.
Browsing history
Products are added to customers’ shopping carts
Anonymous users and authenticated users
With all the collected data, you can offer unique marketing strategies aiming at different groups of customers for better performance.
Visual Merchandiser is a set of exclusive tools used for positioning product appearance in the category listing. You can easily organize the display of any product in just a matter of a few clicks.
The unique point of Magento Visual Merchandiser is that it presents each product as a tile on a grid. As the admin, you can manage products in order using drag-and-drop functionality or change the Position value of each item.
As its name suggests, Instant Purchase accelerates the checkout process by remembering your customers’ shipping and payment information. As a result, customers can make an “Instant purchase” for their next shopping time at your store.
For consumers who meet the conditions, the Instant Purchase button will appear underneath the Add to Cart button on the product page when they make a purchase.
As mentioned above, Magento Commerce Cloud is hosted on Amazon Web, a strong and reputable platform. With AWS, the Magento Cloud version can offer its users up to 100% growth in memory storage.
It also comes with unlimited possibilities to manage, scale, and expand a product catalog while still delivering a continuous increase in performance.
In addition, the Magento team optimized various other features like MySQL buffers, REDIS Cache, and ElasticSearch, which resulted in even more speed gains.
High-quality images play a vital role in the success of an online store. They affect directly on conversion rates, and thus on business sales. Despite the importance of photo quality, high-quality images usually cause a slow loading time because of their large sizes.
To address this matter, Magento has released Image Optimization reducing the image size by more than 60%. Most importantly, this technology is powered by Fastly exclusively for Magento Commerce Cloud only.
Merchants can modify and optimize web images with Fastly Image Optimization while not affecting the origin server or photo quality.
Magento Commerce Cloud provides users with robust security features in order to relieve merchants of operational responsibility, mainly:
Offer an extra protection layer of Web Application Firewall (WAF), preventing unwanted traffic from entering your site. Plus, provide the most incredible flexibility for customization and progress while reducing the trader’s operational responsibilities
Magento Commerce Cloud is already PCI certified as a Level 1 solution provider. This help deter malware inputs, cyber-attacks, and other types of security threats
Built on AWS infrastructure - A mutual obligation security model where all parties have a responsibility to keep up the framework security
Site Audit Services
Mageplaza offers FREE site health check (15hrs) to help you identify any website flaws & weaknesses and fix them before they start costing you a fortune.
Explore MoreMagento Commerce Cloud has a command-line interface called the Magento Cloud CLI. It enables you to perform routine and automated tasks.
Here are some things developers and store managers commonly use the Magento Cloud CLI for:
Managing projects and environments: Easily create, switch between, and manage different versions of your online store (like testing environments and your live store).
Automating tasks: Set up the CLI to automatically perform repetitive tasks, saving you time and effort. For example, you could schedule backups or updates to run at specific times.
Executing cloud commands: Perform various actions related to your Magento Commerce Cloud setup, like managing users, deploying code, or checking logs.
Magento Commerce Cloud includes access to New Relic, a powerful tool that helps you keep your online store running smoothly and efficiently. It’s like having a mechanic for your website, constantly monitoring its performance and identifying any potential issues. Here’s what New Relic does in Magento Commerce Cloud:
Magento 2 Cloud relies on Fastly, a content delivery network (CDN), to deliver your online store’s content to customers much faster, no matter where they are in the world. Imagine your online store’s content like pictures and product information being stored in a central warehouse. A CDN acts like a network of smaller warehouses spread around the globe.
Here’s how Fastly benefits your Magento 2 Cloud store:
** 1. Advanced Pricing Rules**
Magento Commerce Cloud helps to set custom pricing rules for different customer groups, here are the details:
2. B2B Account Management
Magento Commerce Cloud B2B helps businesses that sell to other businesses (B2B) run smoother transactions. Features like customer accounts, spending limits, and special shipping options all contribute to this. Imagine you sell office supplies in bulk. With customer accounts, your corporate clients can easily reorder and track purchases. Spending limits help you manage credit risk, and special shipping options ensure large orders arrive efficiently.
3. Custom Catalogs
This module helps to create custom catalogs for specific customers or customer groups. Managing complex pricing and product offerings will become much easier.
Here is the breakdown of this feature:
4. Powerful API
You will get powerful API for easy integration with back-end systems and third-party applications with Magento Commerce Cloud.
Imagine your online store as an island. You want it to connect with other tools you use, like your inventory system or a mailing service. Magento Commerce Cloud’s powerful API acts like a bridge, making those connections smooth and easy. This saves you time and effort by automating tasks and keeping your data in sync across different systems. Basically, it allows your store to work more efficiently with the other tools you rely on.
5. B2B Quoting and Negotiation
This tool lets companies make and handle quotes and discuss prices directly through the platform.
6. Multi-Channel B2B Sales
It achieves this by providing a centralized platform where businesses can manage their inventory, customer data, and sales processes. Through seamless integration with online storefronts, brick-and-mortar stores, and mobile applications, businesses can reach customers wherever they are and provide a consistent shopping experience across different channels.
7. Order Management
Magento Commerce Cloud offers an order management system for tracking orders and overseeing inventory. It enables businesses to fulfill orders through various channels. Buyers have the convenience of swiftly placing orders by inputting SKUs, uploading CSV files, or selecting items from requisition lists.
8. ERP and CRM Systems Integration
Magento Commerce Cloud provides seamless integration with leading ERP and CRM systems. It helps manage various business processes and data.
Like the other editions of Magento (EE and CE), Magento Commerce Cloud reaches an incredible level of customization. This is because it runs on a fundamental level as the Open Source and Commerce editions.
Thus, you can assemble, deploy and develop Magento extensions in the same manner as other Magento 2 installations. Though the deployment process is different, the steps for store development are the same, giving you a fully customizable experience.
Still, you will have to access the cloud database via SSH. Plus, you’ll need to configure your remote access pub/private keys and interact with the server that way if you need to conduct some database queries.
The deployment process is processed via Git - the center of code management and deployment for your Magento stores. This happens each time you update the Magento 2 code. In other words, you will need to push the changes of Magento code to the cloud environment using Git.
This Magento Commerce Cloud feature helps to isolate code pushes, thus ensuring that Magento 2 will deploy each update you make. On the off chance that there are any issues, the server will dismiss the build and revert to the earlier state.
PCI compliance, for eCommerce businesses, is global proof that your system is secure and all customers’ sensitive payment card information is protected. Still, the process of being PCI compliant requires lots of time and effort.
Luckily, Magento Commerce Cloud is already PCI certified as a Level Solution Provider. So you don’t have to worry about whether your online store is PCI compliant or not.
Likely the best value feature of Magento Commerce Cloud is its out-of-the-box performance tools. Briefly,
New Relic Services (New Relic APM, New Relic Infrastructure, New Relic Logs): Allow collecting and analyzing data from Adobe Commerce Cloud so that you can better manage and troubleshoot your applications and infrastructure
Blackfire.io: Assist you in testing page performance and obtaining real-time server statistics used while improving your website
ElasticSearch: A powerful search and analytics engine that contains auto-complete search, auto-correction for misspelled words, synonym results for all web content, and many other features. Help increase conversion rates since customers can search more quickly and with greater flexibility
Fastly CDN: Offer services for you to optimize and secure content delivery operations. As a result, your server can process orders more efficiently and effectively
Needless to say, Magento itself is a scalable platform. Magento does come with different solutions so that you can build both small and large websites, as well as anything in between.
And as with most Cloud hosting solutions, Magento Commerce Cloud is scalable enough to meet your demands from catalog size to store management and performance tools.
As mentioned earlier, Magento Commerce Cloud deployment is done via Git pushes. In other words, most of the document framework is read-only. And you properly get some problems with 3rd-party incorporations.
You can create separate read/write areas on the server, but this will complicate your future development process.
The second issue related to server access comes from the appearance of some inaccessible or unempowered procedures in Magento Commerce Cloud. This causes confusion and dissatisfaction during the web development process, plus superfluous deferrals.
Magento, for sure, is a very expensive solution compared to other competitors in the market. The cost for Magento’s premium editions are usually based on a store’s revenue through the platform.
We won’t deny the outstanding results gained via the Magento Cloud edition. Still, it can be a costly platform, especially for mid and small businesses. Magento Commerce Cloud license will vary from $40,000 to $190,000 per year (based on your turnover).
If you choose Magento Commerce Cloud hosting, be prepared to deal with the overhead and complexities that come with this environment.
Magento Commerce Cloud offers 24/7 customer support, which is a great advantage when it comes to resolving some technical issues. At the same time, you also get help from a dedicated account manager of Magento, who directs you to valuable resources.
That’s at least what Magento guarantees to their customers or, more specifically, eCommerce merchants. However, the result is disappointing because of 2 major reasons:
Wait times can be fairly significant if your site is not live (in other words, in development) and you run into an error that requires assistance (on the order of weeks)
If your site isn’t up and running, your support ticket priority is reduced, making your tickets less critical than if they were
Dealing with this during development can be time-consuming as well as costly.
Magento Commerce Cloud is built on a five-layer architecture, each layer contributing to its robust functionality and scalability. Here’s a breakdown of these layers:
This layer forms the foundation of the platform, leveraging the robust cloud infrastructure of either Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure. This ensures high availability, scalability, and security for your online store.
This layer provides the development and deployment tools needed to manage your Magento Commerce Cloud instance. It uses Git for version control and Composer for dependency management, streamlining the development and deployment process.
This layer is the heart of Magento Commerce Cloud, encompassing the core e-commerce functionalities like product management, order processing, customer accounts, and marketing tools. This layer is what allows you to build and manage your online store.
This layer provides a suite of tools to optimize the performance and user experience of your online store. These tools include caching, load balancing, and content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure fast loading times and smooth operation for your customers.
This layer sits at the network’s edge, closer to your customers, to further enhance performance and security. It can handle tasks like serving static content, filtering malicious traffic, and personalizing the shopping experience for your customers.
For a more detailed assessment of this Magento’s Cloud version, let’s have a brief overview of all Magento editions. What’re these differences? In which points does Magento Commerce Cloud perform better?
First of all, Magento Commerce Cloud is the updated version of the Magento Commerce edition. It means that this Cloud solution includes:
All Magento 2 Commerce on-premise features
Plus enhanced Could infrastructure hosting
In other words, Magento Commerce Cloud is an eCommerce platform that includes a Commerce license and cloud-based hosting.
Compared to other versions (EE and CE), apparently, Magento Commerce Cloud was the last launched, still the most powerful and costly. It’s developed to simplify the web development process with core benefits (only having the Cloud option):
Enhanced security with Fastly Web Application Firewall (WAF) and DDoS services
Fast Page Loading with Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Blackfire Profiler and New Relic APM for performance testing
Cloud availability SLA up to 99.99%
Performance monitoring tools and PCI compliant
Bitbucket and GitHub
Global availability
Features | Magento Commerce Cloud | BigCommerce |
---|---|---|
Hosting | Cloud-based (Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure) | Google Cloud |
Pricing | Starts at $40,000 per year | Starts at $29.95 per month |
Scalability | Highly scalable | Scalable |
Security | Advanced security features | Advanced security features |
Integrations | Wide range of integrations | Limited integrations |
Business Intelligence | Yes | Yes |
Content Delivery Network | Fastly CDN | Included |
Command-line interface | Magento Cloud CLI | None |
Features | Magento Commerce Cloud | Shopify Plus |
---|---|---|
Hosting Type | Cloud-based (Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure) | Cloud-based, Proprietary. |
Pricing | Starts at $40,000 per year | Starts at $2,000 per month |
Scalability | Highly scalable | Scalable |
Security | Advanced security features | Advanced security features |
Integrations | Wide range of integrations | Limited integrations |
Business Intelligence | Yes | Yes |
Content Delivery Network | Fastly | Included |
Command-line interface | Magento Cloud CLI | Shopify CLI |
When evaluating whether Magento Commerce Cloud is suitable for your business, several factors should be taken into account. Here are some key factors to consider:
1. Suitable for enterprise-level businesses
Enterprise businesses need Magento Commerce Cloud because it’s built for high traffic and transactions. It’s a robust and scalable platform, meaning it can handle a growing customer base and sales volume without slowing down or crashing. This reliability is crucial for large businesses that depend on their online store for a significant portion of their income.
2. Provide rapid deployment
Large businesses benefit from Magento Commerce Cloud’s quick deployment because it reduces the time between developing and launching new products. This speedier time-to-market allows them to capitalize on trends, respond to competitor moves, and capture customer interest faster. Essentially, it gets them earning from their online store quicker.
3. Manage content system
With Adobe Commerce Cloud, adding things to your website is easy, even if you’re not a tech whiz. This lets you focus on creating interesting content that will draw in and keep customers from all over the world.
This is a big advantage because you can spend more time creating interesting content that grabs attention and keeps customers coming back, no matter where they are in the world.
4. Include advanced security features
Our Magento store might need extra protection, like a super strong padlock. The Commerce version gives you this with regular security updates and cool features to keep things safe, like double login checks and following strict payment card rules.
5. Support Cross-channel shopping experience
Your customers can now shop easily on your store no matter if they’re using a computer, phone, or social media. This makes sure your store feels the same to them wherever they shop, giving them a great overall experience.
6. Offer effective analytic tools
You want super smart tools to see how customers shop on your site, how fast your store runs, and how much you’re selling. This info helps you improve your store and make more money! Magento Commerce Cloud gives you all this, plus it lets your business grow really fast without any problems.
Magento Commerce Cloud is a good fit for businesses that are:
Big and Busy: It’s built for big businesses, like giant shopping malls, that have tons of customers and sell a lot of stuff.
In a Hurry: They offer a fast and easy deployment process, so you can get your online store up and running quickly.
Not Tech Experts: Magento Commerce Cloud, especially the Adobe Commerce Cloud edition, is user-friendly. You can manage your website content without needing a lot of technical knowledge.
Security Minded: They provide advanced security features to keep your customers’ information safe.
Looking to Grow Globally: Magento Commerce Cloud allows for a smooth shopping experience across all devices (computers, phones, social media) and makes it easy to translate your content for international customers.
Data Driven: They offer powerful analytics tools that help you understand your customers, how well your store is running, and how much money you’re making.
Looking to Scale Up: Magento Commerce Cloud is a scalable platform, so it can grow with your business. No matter how big you get, your store can handle it.
1. Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme, a renowned doughnut company with a global presence, recognized the need to enhance its online store to meet the evolving needs of its customers. With a focus on providing a seamless shopping experience across desktop and mobile platforms, Krispy Kreme sought to revamp its e-commerce operations.
Krispy Kreme partnered with Magento Commerce Cloud to rebuild its online store from the ground up. By leveraging the robust features and capabilities of Magento Commerce Cloud, Krispy Kreme aimed to optimize its website for improved performance, enhanced user experience, and streamlined checkout processes.
2. Marie Claire
Marie Claire, a big name in fashion and beauty, sells stuff online and in shops worldwide. To handle their growing online sales and make shopping better for customers, they teamed up with Adobe Commerce Cloud to build a new online store.
Martin Delisle, who heads online sales at Boutique Marie Claire, said it was crucial to keep their customer relationships strong while moving online. Just a month after launching the new website, online sales for their main brand shot up to 4%. Marie Claire managed to get their existing customers to shop both online and in stores by using Adobe Commerce to create a digital shopping experience that stays true to their brand.
3. Sigma Beauty
Sigma Beauty, a rapidly growing cosmetics brand known for its innovative products and high-quality makeup brushes, recognized the need for a scalable e-commerce solution to support its expansion efforts. With a global customer base and increasing demand for its products, Sigma Beauty sought to upgrade its online store to provide a seamless shopping experience for customers worldwide.
Sigma Beauty partnered with Magento Commerce Cloud to build a robust and feature-rich online store that could meet the needs of its growing customer base. Leveraging the powerful capabilities of Magento Commerce Cloud, Sigma Beauty aimed to enhance its website’s performance, improve user experience, and drive sales.
Adobe Commerce Cloud provides users with 2 options:
Starter plan
Pro plan
Each has its own architecture that guides the development and deployment process of your Adobe Commerce plan.
The Starter plan architecture supports up to four environments:
Integration — Offer users 2 testable environments. Each includes an active Git branch, database, caching, web server, configurations, some services, and environment variables, as well
Staging — The Integration branch will merge to the Staging environment when code and extensions pass your tests. Staging includes the active staging branch, database, web server, caching, 3rd-party services, environment variables, configurations, and some services (for instance, Fastly and New Relic)
Production — All code merges to master for deployment to the Production live site once it is ready and tested. This environment includes the active master branch, database, web server, caching, 3rd-party services, environment variables, and configurations
Inactive — Provide an unlimited number of inactive branches
The Pro plan architecture comes along with three significant environments:
Integration — A testable environment that contains a database, web server, cache, some services, environment variables, and configurations. Before merging to the Staging environment, you can develop, deploy, and test your code
Staging — Used for pre-Production testing and contains a database, web server, caching, 3rd-party services, environment variables, configurations, and other services, like Fastly or New Relic
Production — For your data, services, caching, and storage, the Production environment features a three-node and high-availability architecture. This is your store’s live environment, including variables, customizations, and third-party services
Magento 2 Enterprise Solutions Cloud Edition combines both an Enterprise Solutions license and a hosting license.
Thus, the cost of Magento Commerce Cloud can range from $40.000 to approximately $200.000 annually. This cost is based on the expected annual gross sales revenue.
Magento Commerce Cloud does appear to be a bit costly when compared to other Magento variants. However, because many functions and features are already included in the license fee, you’ll save a lot on some website expenditures like hosting and marketing.
To be honest, Magento Commerce Cloud is a perfect, end-to-end solution for eCommerce businesses. It provides a great variety of inclusive features tailored to the specific requirements of the eCommerce companies.
Magento Cloud Edition will be a great choice if you require:
Seamless Production Deployment and continuous innovations
Rich B2B features
High scalability and customization
Enormous Administrative Suite
Advanced analytics and customizable services for eCommerce usage
Built-in tools for excellent speed improvements and better web performance
Omnichannel Experiences
Enhanced Security
However, all these features are valuable for mid-sized and large businesses.
Due to the number of adjacent services and protections that Magento has integrated into the Cloud edition, mid-sized and large merchants are those who end up getting more value. If you’re a startup, then the Open Source edition is a wiser choice.
Magento Commerce Cloud does appear to be a bit costly when compared to other Magento variants. However, because many functions and features are already included in the license fee, you’ll save a lot on some website expenditures like hosting and marketing.
Magento Cloud edition, for sure, is secure and constantly up-to-date while retaining the flexibility of an open-source platform.
If you opt for the Magento Commerce Cloud edition, be prepared to increase your budget to cover additional costs and complexities that come with this environment.
Thanks for reading!