With over a billion dollars in revenue generated annually, it’s no surprise that Magento is one of the most widely used eCommerce platforms out there. With new extensions and third-party integrations constantly being developed for Magento technology, this open source platform continues to grow and expand. Here are some exciting developments future for Magento in 2022.
Magento 2 and the Importance of Migration
The release of Magento 2 in 2016 was a massive step forward for this eCommerce platform. Having been in beta testing since late 2015, Magento 2 promised to become Magento’s most scalable and secure eCommerce platform yet.
Migration can be a difficult process, but for merchants, it’s an important one. Magento 1’s end-of-life date was set for 2020, so continuing to use Magento 1 puts your business at risk. If the system goes down, you may not be able to get help fixing it.
Plus, there are no more security updates for Magento 1, leaving your business exposed. If you’re still on Magento 1, you’ll want to start looking at options for migration sooner rather than later.
Better Visibility for Merchants
Magento merchants are often well aware of how powerful their platform is. However, it can be difficult for merchants to fully understand the full potential of their Magento commerce platform. We’ve already seen the release of API documentation that is designed to help merchants better understand the functionality of Magento.
Although API documentation is still relatively new, we’ll likely see it become a greater part of the eCommerce platform in the next few years. We’ll also likely see an increase in the number of events that can be tracked and monitored by merchants.
Improved Functionality for Developers
As with merchants, it can be difficult for developers to fully understand the functionality and power of Magento. In the past two years, we’ve seen significant improvements in the functionality and documentation for third-party developers. This includes the creation of the Magento Partner Program and the release of the Magento Marketplace.
These developments are a strong indicator that the team behind Magento is dedicated to improving the functionality of the platform for developers. We might also see improvements in the SDKs available, with a focus on mobile and voice applications.
Increased Security
Magento has a relatively checkered past when it comes to security hurting the overall Magento experience. The first version of the platform was widely considered to be insecure, and security concerns have been a constant issue with the platform ever since. While there has been a significant increase in security with the latest version of the platform, there are still improvements that can be made.
We’ve seen the Magento team partner with Hacker One to create a bounty program, and we’ve also seen the release of improved tools for scanning and checking for vulnerabilities in Magento websites. We’re likely to see even greater improvements in security in the next few years.
The Growth of Blockchain Integration
Although it’s a relatively new technology, blockchain has become increasingly important in the last few years. We’ve already seen some significant moves by the Magento team in this regard.
In May of 2019, they released an open source implementation of a blockchain network called Iroha. Iroha is designed to be used as a general-purpose blockchain platform that can be deployed and used on a wide variety of hardware and operating systems.
We’ve also seen the release of a blockchain-based payment system for merchants using the Magento 2 platform. There’s no indication that this growth of blockchain technology will slow down in the next few years, so expect even greater integration with blockchain on the Magento platform.
Magento’s New eCommerce Platform
With the ever-increasing demand for scalability, flexibility, and improved functionality, it’s likely that the Magento team has something new in the works. We’ve already seen them release an open call for ideas and suggestions, so it’s likely that we’ll see an announcement of a new eCommerce platform in the next few years. There’s no indication as to what this platform will look like or include, but it’s a good bet that it will push the boundaries of eCommerce technology.
Unified API for Third-Party Integrations
API integrations have been a crucial part of the Magento platform from the very beginning. With an increasing number of third-party integrations, it’s likely that we’ll see a unification of the APIs for different integrations.
At the moment, each integration has its own API, making them difficult to use in conjunction with one another. We’ve already seen the release of an open source API that allows for standardized request and response handling. This is a great first step towards unification, and we’ll likely see more progress in the next few years.
AI and Machine Learning Integration
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have been growing in importance in the technology world for several years now. From AI assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa to self-driving cars, AI and machine learning are a part of our daily lives.
We’ve already seen a general increase in the integration of AI and machine learning with the Magento platform. Voice assistants, automated shopping carts, and automated product recommendations are just a few examples. We’ve also seen some significant developments related to the creation of neural networks for image recognition and language processing.
With the way the world is moving towards AI and machine learning, it’s likely that we’ll see even more integration with the Magento platform in the next few years.
Start Developing with Magento
Magento is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world. It has been growing steadily for the past decade, and as new technology emerges, Magento is sure to integrate it. At KitelyTech, we work with companies to build digital assets, including Magento applications. If you need a new Magento application or need to make the switch to Magento 2, we can help you with this. Call us at (800) 274-2908 to discuss your next Magento business app.
