For dotCMS (news, site), eCommerce + Web CMS seems like a match made in heaven. Reason #1: Everyone wants to do eCommerce nowadays. Reason #2: Java+Java == Eternal love in the marriage of two Java-based software companies: KonaKart (eCommerce vendor) and dotCMS (open source Web CMS provider).
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The two companies are uniting in a partnership to bring eCommerce capabilities to web content management. It all started in the summer of 2009, when the vendors embarked on the journey of designing and implementing the architecture and development of an integrated proposition.
What’s in the Box
The integrated via SOAP web services toolset includes eCommerce specific workflows and templates in order to provide a presentation layer for the eCommerce platform.
Architecture-wise, this integration is comprised of open, standard plug-ins connecting KonaKart and dotCMS. The framework is designed in such a way that it allows for sharing of marketing and social media components across the eCommerce experience.
KonaKart + dotCMS
KonaKart can be deployed on most servers, including JBOSS, GlassFish, BEA WebLogic and IBM WebSphere. The product supports such databases as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle and MS SQL Server.
The core functionality of the eCommerce application is contained in the KonaKart Server (see digram below). It is exposed though either a SOAP Web Service interface, or a Java API.
KonaKart Architecture
KonaKart’s native feature set includes:
- Customer registration to allow to view order history and order statuses
- Multi-store functionality
- Internationalization with multi-language, multi-currency features
- Merchandising with up-selling, cross-selling and other alternatives
- Marketing features with the ability to capture customer data and dynamic content
- Search Engine Optimization with full control of the URL, window title, meta description and keywords
- Various payment modules, including PayPal
- Built-in Google Analytics for such things as advanced segmentation and custom reporting
The integration with dotCMS aims to provide more benefits, including:
- Less IT involvement for marketing and community managers to create and manage campaigns
- Ability to market and promote local events for online stores
- Tying together user-generated community content with eCommerce content
- Content tagging and syndication
While all that sounds like something that dotCMS customers were probably waiting for and could benefit from, one will have to be patient, as the joint release will not be available to the masses until Q2 2010.
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