Understanding eCommerce: An Interview With Daniel Kerr, CEO at OpenCart
Author: Rutuja Pawar
Published: January 22, 2025
Categories: eCommerce, Interview
Introduction
With the exponential growth of the eCommerce industry, every retail business is looking to build a successful online store where they can sell their range of products and services. However, to build a successful eCommerce business, you need to start with the basics of understanding eCommerce as an industry.
We spoke with Daniel Kerr, CEO of OpenCart, an open source online store management program, about the concerns of eCommerce entrepreneurs and the latest trends in the industry.
Table of Contents
- What inspired you to start OpenCart? Tell us the story.
- What are some of the top concerns of first-time online sellers?
- What are some of the common mistakes first-time sellers often make?
- What are some of the most interesting observations you have made about the changing dynamics of the eCommerce industry in the last 3 years?
- What are your future plans for OpenCart?
What Inspired You to Start OpenCart? Tell Us the Story.
Daniel Kerr shares the origin story of OpenCart and what motivated him to create the platform:
Background and Motivation:
- In 2007, Daniel Kerr was working as a software engineer in a battery company
- He realized the lack of proper updated technology for eCommerce
- Many businesses didn't have the updated technology to really thrive
- He decided to develop his own solution
The Development Journey:
- During the initial five years, he was working a full-time job and working on this project after work
- The dual commitment completely destroyed his health
- He was eating unhealthily and sleeping less
- During that period, he wasn't making any money from the project
- Despite the challenges, he believed in his idea and the need for updated technology
The Turning Point:
- It was only in the last two years that things took a turn for the better
- That's when he quit his job and launched OpenCart
Top Concerns of First-Time Online Sellers
When it comes to building a successful business and understanding eCommerce, there are three main things that all entrepreneurs want to get right:
1. The Product
Online sellers want to determine:
- If there is a need for the product in the market
- What the competition is like
- How to market and promote the product
2. The Price
A common concern among new sellers is:
- Figuring out how to price the product so that it has a competitive advantage over their competitors
3. Building a Profitable Business
Another concern most new sellers have is:
- Finding ways to sell a great product that's competitively priced
- Ensuring the product has enough marketing to promote maximum sales
Common Mistakes First-Time Sellers Make
Rushing to Launch Without Proper Testing
Once entrepreneurs decide on a product, they are in such a hurry to launch that they do not check their website properly.
Common Issues:
- Some of the pages aren't responsive
- The UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) need to be worked upon
Best Practice:
- Test and then test again before launching your website to the world
Key Insight:
A large part of understanding eCommerce and building a successful eCommerce business depends on the efficiency and performance of your eCommerce website.
Changing Dynamics of the eCommerce Industry
Daniel Kerr shares the most interesting observations about the changing dynamics of the eCommerce industry in the last 3 years:
1. Cloud Version
- The Cloud is today's modern way of hosting
- Almost everything is now on the cloud, including:
- Music
- TV & movies
- Personal photos
2. Payment and Shipping
- With increasing competition in the eCommerce environment, businesses are increasingly improving their services
- Key improvements include:
- Providing multiple payment gateway options
- Better shipping options to retain customers
3. Advertising and Marketing
- Businesses are working hard to go out there and be seen by their potential customers
- They're engaging in various kinds of advertising and social media marketing tactics to get the word out there
Future Plans for OpenCart
OpenCart Cloud
OpenCart is working towards OpenCart Cloud, which is:
- An eCommerce solution hosted on AWS servers
- Built for every type of business
Team Excitement:
- The team is very excited about it
- They can't wait to see businesses thrive like the other 450,000 businesses have since OpenCart started back in 2005
Priority and Vision
Main Priority:
- Allow merchants to focus on their business
- Leave the technical side of their online business to OpenCart
Future Outlook:
- It's just the beginning, they have so much planned
- They've done research on what they want to see develop in their cloud solution
- They have a very loyal developer base
- They're excited to see the community of OpenCart benefit from this
Key Takeaways for eCommerce Entrepreneurs
Understanding eCommerce Fundamentals
- Product Selection: Ensure there is market need and understand the competition
- Competitive Pricing: Price strategically to maintain competitive advantage
- Marketing Strategy: Develop comprehensive marketing plans to promote sales
- Website Quality: Test thoroughly before launch to ensure responsive design and good UI/UX
- Technology Adoption: Embrace modern solutions like cloud hosting
- Customer Retention: Offer multiple payment options and reliable shipping
- Visibility: Engage in advertising and social media marketing
About OpenCart
OpenCart is an open source online store management program that has been serving businesses since 2005. The platform has helped over 450,000 businesses build and manage their online stores.
Leadership: Daniel Kerr, CEO
Related Resources
- Building a successful online store
- Setting up an eCommerce website
- Best payment methods for eCommerce
- Social media marketing for eCommerce
Article Information: