Hey everyone! I’m working on a project for a grocery store. We need an internal system for order entry and tracking. It’s kind of like an e-commerce setup, but not quite.
We need stuff like:
Product catalog
Customer order tracking
Inventory management
Order status updates
But we don’t need online features like shipping or payment gateways. We also have some unique requirements:
Complicated discount system
Lots of product details
Managing orders from producers
I’m not sure if I should customize an existing platform or build something from scratch using a web framework like Python/web2py. I’ve looked at options like Drupal/Ubercart, Django/Satchmo, and RoR/Spree. Ubercart is changing a lot, which worries me. Spree looks good, but I’m already using Python for some stuff.
I’m not into Magento’s business model, and I’ve heard bad things about osCommerce.
What do you think? Any suggestions for a flexible open-source e-commerce system I could adapt? Or should I just build my own? I’d say about 30% of what I need isn’t in typical e-commerce software.
Hey there! Have you thought about checking out PrestaShop? It’s pretty flexible and might work for your grocery store setup. I’m curious though - what’s the most unique feature you need that standard e-commerce platforms don’t offer?
I totally get why you’re considering building from scratch. Sometimes it’s the best way to get exactly what you want. But man, it can be a lot of work! What’s your timeline like for this project?
Also, I’m wondering about your complicated discount system. Can you give an example of how it works? That could really help narrow down whether an existing platform could handle it or not.
Whatever you decide, it sounds like an interesting project. Keep us posted on what you end up going with!
Based on your specific requirements, I’d lean towards building a custom solution using a web framework like Python/web2py. While existing e-commerce platforms offer many features out of the box, your unique needs (complicated discounts, detailed product info, producer order management) might be challenging to implement without significant modifications.
Given that 30% of your requirements fall outside typical e-commerce functionality, and you’re already using Python, sticking with that ecosystem could be advantageous. A custom solution allows for greater flexibility and scalability as your needs evolve.
That said, if you want to explore existing platforms further, consider looking into Odoo. It’s an open-source ERP system with e-commerce capabilities that might be adaptable to your needs. It offers more flexibility than traditional e-commerce platforms and could potentially handle your inventory and order management requirements.
Ultimately, the decision depends on your development resources and long-term maintenance considerations. A custom solution offers maximum control but requires more upfront development time.
Have u considered looking into WooCommerce? Its super customizable and integrates nicely with WordPress. You can tweak it to fit your specific needs without starting from scratch. Plus, theres tons of plugins available that might help with some of your unique requirements. Just a thought!