- Objectives
- Version Upgrade: Perform a seamless upgrade of Magento Open Source, from version 2.4.4 to 2.4.6.
- Site Code Refinement: Conduct site code clean up during the upgrade to address pre-existing feature-related issues and remove outdated modules to improve site performance.
- Home Page Audit & Redesign: Undertake a thorough examination of the home page, pinpoint areas for user experience enhancement, and implement recommended improvements.
- New Feature Integrations: Improve website features by introducing functionality enhancements, including language translations and the integration of a new payment gateway.
- Results
- Rapid Development: On-budget and on-time upgrade delivery in 1.5 months
- Enhanced Security and Performance: The upgraded version and code clean-up provides a more secure platform and stable site, resulting in improved performance and easier maintenance.
- Improved User Experience: The revitalized homepage design boosts user satisfaction and conversions through improved interface and engagement.
- Enhanced Website Capabilities: By integrating French and Spanish translation options and introducing an additional payment gateway, these enhancements provide an enriched site experience to foster increased interaction and bolster sales opportunities.
Project Highlights
Brain & Code revamped Joto Imaging's Magento Open Source website, upgrading it to version 2.4.6 and adding new features like a language translator, new payment processor, and a redesigned homepage. These additions improve the online shopping experience for Joto Imaging's custom printing customers while ensuring platform stability and optimal performance.
You can access the upgraded Joto Imaging website at https://jotoimagingsupplies.com
Magento Open Source Upgrade from 2.4.4 to 2.4.6
Joto Imaging had been using an outdated Magento Open Source version 2.4.4 for their website platform so to enhance performance, bolster security, and stay current, they enlisted Brain & Code’s expertise to upgrade to version 2.4.6.
Benefits of Keeping Magento Open Source Up-to-Date
Upgrading to Magento Open Source 2.4.6 provided Joto Imaging with several significant benefits:
- Improved Performance: The migration to Magento 2.4.6 brings substantial enhancements in performance, scalability, and optimizations across various aspects, including site search, database compatibility, code libraries, and accessibility. Additionally, updates to administrative features and optimized category tree rendering contribute to more efficient site content management.
- Enhanced Security: Upgrading the Magento Open Source version ensures that the website is equipped with the latest security patches and features. The 2.4.6 release encompasses eight security fixes and improvements, addressing potential platform vulnerabilities and bolstering online security.
- Staying Current: By staying up-to-date with the current version of Magento enables Joto Imaging to leverage the latest e-commerce trends, features, and technologies. This strategic approach allows them to maintain competitiveness within the ever-evolving online marketplace.
Resolving Issues with a Magento Open Source Upgrade
To enhance Joto Imaging’s eCommerce site, Brain & Code executed the following actions during the upgrade to improve performance:
- Compatibility Assessment: Conducted a thorough review to identify and rectify conflicts with custom code and third-party extensions. The result is a more stable and reliable website that is compatible with version 2.4.6.
- Efficient Module Cleanup: Examined and removed 18 extensions that were either unused or could be substituted by a native Magento functionality. The removal of redundant third-party extensions streamlined the site which reduced conflicts, cut maintenance costs, and enhanced user experience.
- Enhanced Theme Compatibility: Resolved theme compatibility issues, particularly with browser breakpoints, ensuring that the website displays correctly on responsive devices. This improvement enhances the accessibility and usability of the website for a wider range of users.
- Resolving Site Issues: Some existing bugs in website features were fixed during the upgrade, leading to a more reliable and user-friendly website, minimizing user frustrations and enhancing satisfaction.
Revamping the Home Page: A UX Audit and Redesign
In addition to the essential upgrade to version 2.4.6, Joto Imaging sought to improve the online user experience by engaging Brain & Code to perform a User Experience audit and execute a new homepage design.
Expert Review of Joto Imaging’s Homepage
A User Experience (UX) audit was performed to provide an expert review of the Joto Imaging Supplies homepage to improve usability and conversion. The assessment aimed to:
- Identify critical issues in the home page user interface
- Provide recommendations to address the opportunities discovered during the evaluation
Conducted by Brain & Code’s experienced Human Factors Certified Usability Analyst™ (CUA), this comprehensive review centered on 10 established UX principles tailored to the eCommerce homepage landscape within their industry. Each guideline was scrutinized using specific criteria designed to assess its effectiveness.
The audit yielded several key UX recommendations, including:
- Display a diverse range of product types prominently on the homepage.
- Ensure that carousels respond intuitively to user interactions and feature accessible controls.
- Integrate thoughtful customized imagery and design elements to convey the site’s brand identity and catalogue.
- Include parent product categories directly on the homepage for improved accessibility and findability to products.
- Exercise discretion when incorporating advertisements on the homepage.
Incorporating New Homepage Designs
Building upon the insights gained from the UX audit, Brain & Code designed new responsive homepage layouts to apply the audit’s recommendations. The selected design was successfully implemented during the upgrade, resulting in a host of improvements:
- Majority of categories are now visually presented on the homepage.
- Distracting ads and promotional content have been removed from prime locations on the homepage.
- Eliminated usability issues by replacing the homepage carousel with static promotional banners.
- Featured engaging content, calls-to-action blocks, featured sliders, and blog feed.
This redesign empowers Joto Imaging to keep their homepage content current while maintaining a layout that prioritizes accessibility, optimal user experience, conversions, and consideration for search engine optimization.
Enhanced Multilingual and Payment Options
In response to identified service gaps, Joto Imaging took steps to improve its feature offerings for both USA and multilingual customers to provide a more inclusive and user-friendly experience.
Integrating Magento Language Packs and Extending Multilingual Translations
To enrich language choices for customers in Canada and the USA, Joto Imaging sought to introduce French and Spanish-translated stores. This expansion was achieved through the integration of native Magento language packs and the incorporation of a translation extension.
Through the installation of Magento’s robust language packs, Brain & Code successfully set up translation of essential elements like buttons, labels, and error messages into both French and Spanish. These language packs serve as a foundation for customizing an online store to cater to diverse languages and regions, delivering crucial functions for language translations.
To further refine and tailor translations, Brain & Code also provided technical expertise and assistance to integrate the Automated Translator by Blackbird extension. This comprehensive third-party Magento extension empowered Joto Imaging to manually or batch-translate areas that may not be covered by Magento’s native language pack, such as product names and descriptions. This added flexibility enabled them to fine-tune content translations to better align with their customers’ preferences and requirements.
Expanding Payment Processing Options with Elavon
In the world of eCommerce, offering a variety of secure payment options is paramount. With a significant customer base in the United States, Joto Imaging recognized the need to enhance their payment processing capabilities to better serve their American clientele so reached out to Brain & Code to integrate the Elavon payment gateway.
Brain & Code ensured that the Elavon payment gateway was seamlessly integrated with the Magento Open Source platform following the 2.4.6 upgrade. This payment processing integration resulted in a smoother and user-friendly checkout process, to reduce cart abandonment rates and enhance the overall shopping experience.
Conclusion
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Brain & Code and Joto Imaging, the Joto Imaging website has undergone significant enhancements. This project resulted in the upgrade to Magento Open Source 2.4.6, the integration of new features, and improvements in online presence, ensuring a high-performing experience specifically tailored to custom printing customers.
The result is an improved shopping experience with enhanced features and a more user-friendly interface, which we invite you to explore by visiting the upgraded website at www.jotoimagingsupplies.com.
