Today I started exploring the new features of Microsoft Commerce Server 2009. The question to me was: 'what is new and what does it have to offer?'.
Commerce Server a a product of Microsoft taht forms the basis for an E-Commerce environment for large and medium size companies. It is deployed for web shops that offer a large catalogue of products.
Connections with back-office systems belong to the possibilities. In this way a product that is bought online can be directly registered in the stock system and the administration. Standard support for Microsoft BizTalk comes with it.
The installation of Commerce Server 2009 is a little awkward though. First you need to install Commerce Server 2007. It appears to be that Commerce Server 2009 is more the less a layer on top of Commcerce Server 2007, with a new API, where the web shop talks to.
What is new in Commerce Server 2009:
- Microsoft Sharepoint integration
- Multi Channel possibilities
- Clear seperation between the business layer and the presentation layer
- Better extensibility for better integration with for example CRM.
- Support for Live services
- Many (30) web parts for SharePoint
For about a year now I'm working with Commerce Server 2007 in various projects. Now its time for 2009. Online there is not yet much (handson) information available, but as soon as I gained some practical experience with the product, more information will follow.
Links to get started with