ZippyCart: Ecommerce Software Reviewed

ViArt Review: PHP Cart Overview

• Fully Manage & Track Inventory
• 3 Versions Available: Light, Standard,
  Enterprise
• PHP Shopping Cart
• Online Order Tracking
• Accepts Multiple Currencies

ViArt is a popular shopping cart option for merchants in search of an affordable licensed ecommerce solution. This 1005 template based PHP cart features a built in CMS, helpdesk, and forum and is built off of 97% open source code. ViArt runs on MYSQL, Postgre, or DB2 databases, but you will find that it's easiest to use when running it on MYSQL. Merchants can choose to either purchase a one-time license, multiple licenses, or pay a monthly hosting fee to use ViArt as a hosted shopping cart. This provides a great deal of flexibility for merchants just starting out or already seasoned in the ecommerce space. ViArt provides 3 different licensed packages with slightly different feature sets included in each, but even their most robust package (Enterprise) is highly affordable when compared to other licensed solutions with similar feature sets. To learn about what makes ViArt tick, get pros and cons, and ViArt's overall ZippyScore™, read the expert ViArt review below.

ViArt Review: Shopping Cart Report Card

Shopping Cart Feature	ZippyCart Rating Out of 5
Customer Service
Level of Customization
Search Engine Friendliness
Ease of Setup
Range of Tools Available
Ease of Use for Merchant
Ease of Use for Customer
Final Shopping Cart Score	ZippyScore: 3.8 Out of 5!

ViArt Review: Expert PHP Cart Review

The premise of ViArt’s shopping cart software is around its ease of use, with its site going so far as to say that "Now anyone can set up a secure online store without the need for any programming knowledge." As a PHP shopping cart, it almost sounds too good to be true, but in fact ViArt’s software is just as easy to use as they claim, if you are willing to pay for the support to go along with the need.

For example, all three versions of the shopping cart software ViArt provides (Light, Standard, and Enterprise) all come with the basic general features around design. All three shopping cart products provide 97% open source PHP code, and easy to use web based administrative panels. The shopping carts also support shopping in multiple currencies, and create a friendly user interface for customers.

Marketing Your Online Store

On the marketing side, the shopping cart software packages begin to differ around the integrated environments functionality. The Enterprise solution will incorporate a CMS, Helpdesk, and a Bulletin Board environment, where the Standard will only support the CMS and Bulletin Board. The Light will support the Bulletin Board as well, but will only offer a limited support of the CMS.

Product Marketing & Management

There is no distinction between the systems in terms of the ability to manage products and categories, allowing each system to fully manage and track inventory and pricing. As a merchant you can also list an unlimited number of products, with as many categories, sub-categories, and other nested tagging for as many layers deep as required. Coupled with the ability to list all products on site is the ability to manage the inventory successfully with system notifications per account, based on levels you pre-define.

Order Processing & Shipping

The shopping cart packages do not differ in their sales order functionality. The Enterprise, Standard, and Light packages all offer a PHP based shopping cart with an order maintenance system, online order tracking, and the flexibility to add product process. The shopping cart experience for the customer is a simple three-stop checkout, with the ability to fully customize their order profile, payment details, and confirmation pages to make their return an even easier checkout process.

The ViArt CMS & Help Desk

The differences in service are truly defined in the CMS limitations and the HelpDesk. The light version of the shopping cart software will have some CMS capabilities, but the functionality is limited to customization of the storefront and the creation of nine basic layout schemes. The Standard and Enterprise versions of the software will provide added functionality around RSS feed support, the number of articles allowed within the various categories, and the customization of pages.

The HelpDesk support is limited to the Enterprise shopping cart software only, and provides support in ticket management and storage, full statistical reporting, and the ability to set up templates and the properties of certain fields. The HelpDesk can also be levered through a shopping cart system as a file manager, allowing the owner to upload zip files, and create custom META data for each page.

ViArt Review: Conclusion

PHP shopping carts are in high demand because they can easily integrate into many websites, are supported by many servers, and allow for a greater amount of functionality and customization. Most PHP carts require you or a web developer to install the software and manage changes through a sometimes difficult backend. With ViArt, you get the perks of a PHP cart without the hastle of installation and customization. The administration panel is a breeze, making this a truly unique shopping cart solution that is worth the investment.