How to Choose the Right Magento Solution Partner: 10 Key Considerations

Using Magento (Adobe Commerce) as the main platform for a digital commerce store is a great idea, but challenging in the implementation.

A lack of proper management, accountability, and communication are among the top reasons why projects fail. And most of the challenges stem from one root cause — choosing the wrong technology partner.

In this article, we’ll show you how to find a professional Magento partner and what you need to know before turning to a Magento development agency.

Disclaimer: At Elogic, we have years of experience in the development of Magento stores, and we know what pitfalls may appear when you start a new project. While choosing a Magento development agency, you need to be aware of possible risks and challenges. So, let’s find out how to find a Magento partner and choose the best Magento agency that perfectly matches your project’s needs.

Insider info: Not everyone is a professional Magento partner

To save yourself from falling victim to a disreputable development company, be aware of these red flags:

• They give you a very low quote
• They agree to everything
• They don’t go over the scope of the project with you
• They don’t ask a lot of questions

If the Magento development agency doesn’t raise any of these red flags, your next step is to ask them questions related to their experience and internal processes. These are the six main questions you should ask:

1. How many Magento 2 projects have you successfully released?
2. How many Magento 1 to Magento 2 migrations have you done? (if this is the type of project you want them to implement)
3. How long do you work with Magento Enterprise edition?
4. What’s the biggest store you have launched (in terms of scale — traffic, orders, etc.)?
5. How many certified Magento developers do you have?
6. What does the software development process look like?

Before any code is written, don’t be surprised if the people you’re hiring go through every detail with you. They’re doing this to mitigate problems and misunderstanding down the line. If you’ve decided on a scope of work and your project development is underway, that doesn’t mean there won’t be setbacks. You have to keep in mind that some things may take longer than expected, so being flexible and open-minded is essential.

Often as a client, you may feel that the company or person you are hiring is obligated to do whatever you say without any constructive criticism. A professional Magento website development company will give advice and try to implement as many best practices as possible.

Overall, there are countless factors you should consider while evaluating an ecommerce partner.

10 things to take into account when choosing a Magento development partner

A good idea is useless without the right people to manage it. For a Magento project, you need more than just a group of people who can code. It’s always better to opt for professional service providers with domain knowledge and deep experience in working with Magento platform. 

Use the following criteria to create your own shortlist of Magento development companies that you feel are the best fit based on your needs:

1) Reputation

There are a lot of business review sites out there like Foursquare, Clutch, Trustpilot, etc. that put together lists of the top companies in different categories. The category you want to focus on is Top Magento developers and development companies.

Check the company’s portfolio, and read reviews from their clients. The best way is to find an agency that had similar projects to yours, or if the agency has experience in your domain.

If the company offers references, we recommend you contact them for more information. That way, you can get a more objective view of the company and ask any pertinent questions.

Elogic is a certified ecommerce development company that was recently listed as a Top Magento Developer by Clutch.

2) Portfolio

In some cases, you can start working with the new company and be their first client. And, in some cases, it may even work. But, in reality, in most cases, a company without a portfolio is a bad sign. Look for a professional portfolio with information about what they have accomplished and, most importantly, how it was done.

Understanding what the company is capable of is a big benefit because you can judge whether the price and quality match with what you’re looking for.

3) Pricing model and rates

Don’t be surprised if you don’t see rates on the company’s website. All projects are different and require in-depth analysis and a roadmap of when to add resources. For example, depending on your project scale, budget, and especially your deadline, you might need more developers to jump in.

Also, be prepared to answer tons of questions about the project — it’s the only way a company can decide what pricing model (fixed price, time and material, dedicated Magento developer team) will mitigate risks for both sides.

4) Communication and transparency

Precise coordination and communication is key when working with commerce solutions. Сommunication is tied into every process and every task. Because of this, any dissonance or misconception between developers, managers, and stakeholders can result in missed deadlines and project failure.

Work communication is a two-way process, like a dialogue. To understand whether the development company has good communication standards and transparency, contact them. A prompt response loaded with accurate information is a good sign.

Before signing any contracts, you can judge the level of communication and transparency by how the agency answers questions. If they agree to everything and don’t offer any constructive feedback based on their expertise, steer clear of them. You don’t want “yes-men” to handle your project.

To start your communication, conduct some video calls to meet the team. Pay attention to how potential partners reply to emails and if they are prompt to reply.

Another crucial issue to consider is the tools for communication. What kind of video conference or chat software the agency you might hire is using. This is very important for future communication.

Also, check the project management skills. How does your potential team manage the projects in terms of communication? Do they use stand-up calls, sprint planning? How often do they conduct meetings? These aspects are really important for delivering Adobe Commerce services to ensure all steps of your project will be covered comprehensively.

5) Location

Geography used to be a major barrier to communication. With the Internet, we’ve solved most of the underlying issues. However, if you’re outsourcing to Europe and Asia, you need to think about time zones when you plan meetings.

Apart from time zone inconveniences, consider the cultural and social differences between you and your potential Magento partner. Are they in stark contrast to yours? If they are, be ready to deal with more misunderstandings and miscommunication.

Be wary of companies that hide their true location. Also, keep in mind that headquarters in the US that’s presented on the agency’s site may be a virtual office.

6) Certified Magento developers

In case you didn’t know, Magento offers training courses and certifications. If you’re deciding whether to shortlist a company, this can be the make-or-break step. A company without certified developers likely isn’t serious about a partnership with Magento (which we’ll discuss in the next section).

According to Magento.com:

“Experienced Magento professionals can validate their real-world skills by earning a Magento Certification. Magento Certification Exams are geared toward professionals who want to differentiate themselves from the competition with the ultimate Magento credential.”

Note: Certifications are offered exclusively through the Magento website, so if a company shows you another site, it’s not a valid Magento certification.

To find out if the company has certified and reliable Magento developers, you can enter either the developer’s name, their company’s name, or their ID number here.

7) Magento partners

Magento Solution Partners are trusted development agencies and consulting companies focused on helping merchants create the best ecommerce solutions using Magento. As global elite partners, they possess extensive expertise and resources to deliver high-quality services.

To apply as a Solution Partner (depending on the tier), you need to have a certain number of Magento Certified developers and Magento 2 developers who have completed Magento training on staff.

To check if the company is a Solution Partner, you can look them up in the Magento Partner Directory.

8) Domain knowledge

Domain knowledge isn’t something you can read in a book or learn from launching a few stores. Magento experts spend years diving into the powerful capabilities of the platform and earn their stripes by finding solutions to challenges along the way.

We, at Elogic, have experience across a variety of verticals — fashion, electronics, retail, paints and coatings, gift cards, telecommunications, and many more. As a partner with expertise, we leverage our extensive knowledge to deliver outstanding results for our clients.

9) SEO and Data Privacy

A good Magento Commerce development company understands the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) and how it affects traffic and conversions. To get a higher rank in Google, you have to develop more than a content strategy. Google now includes mobile performance and overall site performance in its ranking algorithm, so a development agency should pay attention to performance optimization for an ecommerce platform.

Data privacy continues to be a major concern. Facebook recently received serious backlash after their privacy scandal, which caused millions of users to stop using the platform. Securing your customers’ data should be a top priority, which is why we recommend adhering to the General Data Protection Regulation model passed by the European Union. The reason? Because the standards are higher than the US model.

10) Post-deployment support

Support after deployment is an important, and sometimes overlooked, part of the development process. A professional Magento service provider with a proven track recordwill include post-deployment support in the budget. At this stage, the company will help you get used to the platform and show you the ins and outs of how to get everything from product categories to shipping set up properly.

Additionally, they will assist in processing feedback from end-users who may experience bugs that were not found in the development process. Their expertise ensures you can integrate Magento seamlessly into your existing systems, enhancing your overall ecommerce operations.

Read more: Progressive Web Apps for Ecommerce

Benefits of Working with a Magento Solution Partner

Opting for a Magento Solution Partner brings numerous advantages that can boost your digital platform performance and growth.

Expertise and certification

Magento Solution Partners are certified and vetted by Adobe, which means they boast the highest level of expertise and knowledge about the platform. The partners have a deep understanding of Magento’s capabilities and can offer advanced solutions tailored to your specific business needs. Their certification process involves continuous training, ensuring they stay updated with the latest features, security updates, and best practices.

Access to exclusive resources

By working with a Magento partner, you gain access to a wealth of exclusive resources, including advanced tools, extensions, and modules that are not available to the general public. These resources can help streamline your development process, enhance your platform’s functionality, and improve user experience. Additionally, partners often have early access to Magento updates and new releases, allowing them to implement the latest features and improvements on your ecommerce platform ahead of your competitors.

Customized solutions and strategic guidance

Magento partners are not just developers; they are strategic advisors. They work closely with you to understand your business goals and challenges, offering customized solutions that align with your vision. Their experience across various industries and projects allows them to provide valuable insights and recommendations that can drive your business forward. Whether it’s optimizing your platform for better performance, enhancing security, or improving conversion rates, a Magento partner typically brings a holistic approach to your whole ecommerce strategy.

Ongoing support and maintenance

Maintaining an ecommerce platform requires ongoing support to ensure it runs smoothly and efficiently. Magento Solution Partners offer comprehensive support and maintenance services, from regular updates and security patches to performance optimization and troubleshooting. This proactive approach helps prevent potential issues, minimize downtime, and ensure your site remains secure and up-to-date.

How to Find Magento Certified Partners: The bottom line

Having a strong relationship with the company you’re dealing with is mutually beneficial. Good relationships are born out of shared interests, values, and experiences. In the end, if you value quality and expertise, you should be willing to pay the extra money to hire a company whose goal is to build a long-lasting partnership with you and support your business growth.

If you ask the right questions and follow the checklists on how to find a professional Magento partner we’ve outlined in this article, you’ll meet your business needs and goals with no hassle.

If you still have any concerns about developing a Magento online store, just contact us and we will help you to transform your brand into an ecommerce leader.