Let’s start with a few words about the platform. Sylius is an outstanding eCommerce framework providing a developer-friendly environment for creating any shopping experience for B2C and B2B eCommerce, designed for medium to large companies that require a high degree of customization and flexibility. With a large community and many plugins, Sylius solves about 70-80% of common eCommerce problems out-of-the-box, leaving the remaining 20-30% to be customized to specific requirements and has more advanced customization options than other platforms. The CMS plugin simplifies the process of managing custom pages on the Sylius store website, streamlining content management, making it easier to add various types of pages, and enhancing overall site functionality through a comprehensive content management solution.
Before diving into the specifics of managing content in Sylius platform, it’s important to understand what a content management system (CMS) is and the advantages it brings to an eCommerce platform.
Quick jump
- What is a Content Management System?
- Sylius’ approach to CMS
- BitBagSyliusCMSPlugin-overview
- Setting up BitBagSyliusCMSPlugin
- What is Sulu CMS?
- Key features of Sulu CMS
- SyliusCMSPlugin vs. SyliusSuluPlugin-comparison
- Product Information Management technology
- Combining CMS and PIM for effective content and product management
- Best practices for content and product management
What is a Content Management System (CMS)?
A content management system (CMS) is a solution that allows business owners and marketing teams to create, manage, and modify content on a website without the need for technical knowledge or the ability to write code (even HTML). A CMS provides a user-friendly interface for managing content such as text, images, videos, and other multimedia elements. It’s useful for websites that require frequent updates and content changes, such as blog posts, news sites, and other custom subpages.
Sylius’ approach to CMS
Sylius is an open-source eCommerce platform known for its flexibility and modularity. It is built on the Symfony PHP framework, making it a popular choice for developers looking to create custom eCommerce solutions. However, Sylius does not come with built-in advanced CMS features.
To fill this gap, you can use the BitBagSyliusCMSPlugin or SyliusSuluPlugin by BitBag – plugins created to integrate seamlessly with Sylius and provide the necessary CMS features. These plugins transform Sylius into a more comprehensive eCommerce solution, allowing for content management directly within the platform.
BitBagSyliusCMSPlugin – CMS plugin overview
The BitBag Sylius CMS Plugin is an open-source solution that aims to increase the functionality and flexibility of a Sylius-based eCommerce platform by providing a comprehensive content management solution – including blogs, pages, and multimedia – all from within the Sylius built-in admin panel. It extends the capabilities of Sylius by adding features typically found in a traditional CMS. BitBag Sylius CMS Plugin will be a good solution for both traditional and custom eCommerce projects because it integrates seamlessly with existing configurations, offering a range of features for simple site content management and integrate with other tools and platforms.
User-friendly editing
The plugin includes a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, making it easy for users to edit content without needing HTML or CSS knowledge.
SEO and site map management
SEO is essential for attracting visitors to the online store. The BitBag Sylius CMS Plugin includes built-in SEO features that let you handle metadata, keywords, and other SEO components directly from the admin panel. It also includes site map management, which helps keep the site well-organized and makes it easy for search engines to crawl.
Setting up BitBagSyliusCMSPlugin
For detailed instructions on how to install Sylius CMS Plugin by BitBag, see the plugin’s documentation.
Basic configuration and key features of BitBag Sylius CMS Plugin:
Once the plugin is installed, you need to configure it to suit your needs. Here’s how you can set up the CMS plugin to start managing content:
1. Access the CMS settings
Go to the CMS section in the Sylius admin panel. Here, uou will find options to create blocks, pages, sections, FAQ or add various media types.
2. Sections
Organizing content into logical sections enhances site navigation and improves user interactions.
To create a new section, navigate to the “Sections” button within the CMS category of the admin panel. Click on the “Create” button, where you will be prompted to enter details, such as section code and name.
After creating a section, you can start assigning pages and blocks to it. To do this, select the desired page or block and choose the appropriate section from a dropdown menu.
3. Creating a new page
Managing custom pages such as “About,” “Contact Us,” or “Terms and Conditions” becomes simpler.
Click on the “Pages” button and then “Create” to create a new page. You can fill in the page title, content, and other details. The WYSIWYG editor makes it easy to format your content and add images or videos.
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4. Dynamic blocks and pages
The plugin allows us to create dynamic content blocks that can be easily added to any page on the Sylius store. Create custom pages, such as “About Us,” “Contact Us,” or any other information pages needed without requiring a developer’s input.
5. Media management
Efficient media management is crucial for any content-rich website. The plugin offers tools to easily upload, organize, and manage various types of media, including images, videos, and other multimedia elements.
For more technical info, take a look at our blog post on the technical configuration of the Sylius CMS Plugin by BitBag: How to build a blog in a Sylius-based online store using BitBagSyliusCmsPlugin
You can find the SyliusCmsPlugin repository on our GitHub >>
Projects where we used the BitBag Sylius CMS Plugin
Planeta Huerto (part of the Carrefour Group)
A large part of Planeta Huerto’s marketing is blogging platforms. They create a lot of content to help their customers decide what they need to buy and how to properly use their products. This is a key part of the marketing strategy, and the store must be properly integrated with the blog.
With this in mind, we abandoned the WordPress we had been using so far and used our open-source CMS plugin. However, this solution still needed some customization and new features to meet the needs of Planeta Huerto.
We added the ability to embed product data and easily link to the store from pages in the CMS. The Sylius CMS plugin started out as a simple solution that met basic blogging needs, so new features had to be added, such as a publication schedule. Already in the initial phase of work, it turned out that the CMS plugin (instead of WordPress) would meet the need to integrate the blog with the Planeta Huerto store by adding more brand pages with all its products on the list.
The entire Planeta Huerto case study >>
Domotio
Domotio originates from the Polish company ALDEX Dyderscy sp. z o.o. from the SME sector. It is a modern platform offering the highest quality lighting. The company wanted efficient content management and running a blog.
To implement these assumptions, we used our BitBag Sylius CMS plugin, which we used for content blocks and building a blog. As a result, Domotio can easily and intuitively build its content and provide valuable knowledge to its customers via the blog.
The entire Domotio case study >>
What is Sulu CMS?
Sulu CMS is an open-source content management system designed to manage websites, mobile apps, and other digital platforms. Built on the Symfony PHP framework, Sulu provides a flexible and scalable platform for creating and managing digital experiences. Its core architecture is designed to meet the needs of complex, content-rich websites that require high performance, extensive customization, and seamless integration with other systems.
Key features of Sulu CMS
Sulu CMS comes packed with features that make it an excellent choice for businesses looking to manage their content more effectively. Integrating Sulu CMS with Sylius provides businesses with a solid combination of advanced content management and powerful eCommerce features.
Flexible content structure
Sulu offers a highly flexible content structure, which is one of its standout features. With Sulu, you can:
- Create a variety of content types, such as pages, blogs, and landing pages
- Customize these content types to fit specific needs, ensuring a unique experience
- Use a component-based architecture, allowing developers to create and reuse components across different pages and applications. This reduces redundancy and ensures consistency across your content
Multisite and multilanguage capabilities
Sulu is designed to support multiple sites and languages from a single installation. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses operating in various regions or markets. Key benefits include:
- Multisite functionality: Manage several websites, each with its own design, structure, and content, all from a single Sulu instance.
- Multilanguage support: Easily handle content in different languages, helping you reach a global audience without hassle.
Headless CMS capabilities
Sulu can operate as a headless CMS, meaning that it can deliver content across multiple channels (websites, mobile apps, IoT devices, etc.) through APIs. This separation of the backend from the frontend allows for better flexibility in how content is displayed and delivered, making it easier to create and manage multi-channel experiences.
Live preview and real-time editing
One of Sulu’s most user-friendly features is its live preview and real-time editing capabilities. These features allow content creators and editors to see how their changes will look across different devices and screen sizes before publishing. The real-time editing feature allows admins to make changes on the fly, speeding up the content creation process and reducing the need for multiple revisions.
Getting started with Sulu CMS
- Set up the development environment: Install Symfony and configure your development environment based on Sulu’s requirements. Ensure all necessary dependencies and tools are in place.
- Install Sulu CMS: Use Composer to install Sulu CMS into your Symfony project, ensuring your Sylius installation is up-to-date and compatible with the Sulu version. Follow the installation instructions provided in the Sulu documentation.
- Configure Sulu and the API: Set up Sulu’s configuration files to define content types, templates, and other settings. Then, configure the API endpoints in Sulu to enable seamless communication with Sylius, allowing content delivery to the Sylius front end.
- Customize templates and content types: Adjust Sulu’s templates and content types to match the design and layout of the Sylius store for a consistent user experience across both platforms.
- Set up content synchronization: Implement synchronization between Sulu and Sylius to keep product information, content updates, and other data current and consistent across both systems.
- Create and optimize content: Use Sulu’s admin interface to create your first pages or articles. Familiarize yourself with the content creation tools and optimize the site for performance, SEO, and user experience before launch.
For more information, see the plugin’s documentation.
Use cases for Sulu and Sylius integration
Integrating Sulu and Sylius can benefit various types of eCommerce businesses, including:
- Content-driven online stores: For businesses that rely heavily on content marketing, integrating Sulu with Sylius allows for a seamless blend of rich content and eCommerce functionalities. This integration can enhance the shopping experience by providing informative articles, videos, and guides alongside product listings.
- Multibrand eCommerce platforms: Companies managing multiple brands can use Sulu’s multisite capabilities to manage content for each brand from a single interface while leveraging Sylius for consistent eCommerce functionalities across all brands.
- Global eCommerce businesses: Businesses operating in multiple regions can benefit from Sulu’s multilingual capabilities, allowing them to manage content in various languages while using Sylius to handle region-specific pricing, shipping, and payment options.
Examples of projects using Sulu and Sylius
Groothandel Solar
Another result of combining these systems is the Groothandel Solar website, which specializes in distributing solar panels and related equipment. By leveraging Sylius and Sulu CMS, the company’s website loads quickly and is easy to navigate despite the number of products offered. Also, it provides customers with great functionalities like a package configurator, which allows customers to create a solar panel configuration project with step-by-step instructions.
Mofakult
The last example of combining Symfony-based technologies is Mofakult, a store that sells parts for two-stroke mopeds. Founded in 2010 as a hobby project, the company has grown significantly over the years, expanding the team to over 40 people. Mofakult utilized the combination of Sylius and Sulu CMS to offer a lightning-fast website with high-quality content and a seamless customer experience from the first click.
Brille24
Moving on, Brille24’s website is another example of combining these technologies. The company is one of the leading online opticians in Europe, offering a wide range of glasses from well-known brands like Ray-Ban or Gucci to more niche manufacturers, including their own line called Circular. By leveraging Sylius and Sulu CMS, the online store offers a large number of products and their variations in a clear and organized way, allowing users to navigate the website content with ease while advanced processes work in the background.
BMZ
BMZ is a German company renowned for manufacturing and distributing high-performance battery systems that are used, for example, on electronic bikes. BMZ is a large company that has production facilities in China, Poland, and the USA, as well as branches in Japan, the UK, and France, hiring over 2300 highly qualified specialists. By utilizing the trio of Sylius, Sulu, and Pimcore, the online website(s) is complex and well-designed, and the number of products is always up-to-date, which translates into the best shopping experience for B2B and B2C customers who visit the website.
The summary of Sulu
Sulu CMS offers a powerful and flexible solution for managing digital content in an eCommerce environment. Its advanced features, such as flexible content structure, multisite and multilingual capabilities, headless CMS functionality, and seamless integration with eCommerce platforms like Sylius, make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to enhance their content management capabilities. By leveraging Sulu CMS, businesses can deliver personalized, engaging, and optimized content across multiple channels, driving customer engagement and boosting conversions.
SyliusCMSPlugin vs. SyliusSuluPlugin – comparison
When choosing a CMS solution for your Sylius-based eCommerce platform, it’s essential to understand the key differences between available plugins. Below is a comparison of the SyliusCMSPlugin and the SyliusSuluPlugin. This table has been prepared to help you understand the key differences between the two CMS systems described and to make it easier to decide which plugin best suits your business needs.
Enhancing your store with Product Information Management (PIM)
While the BitBag Sylius CMS and Sylius Sulu Plugin provide powerful content management features, managing product information is equally important for an eCommerce business. This is where Product Information Management (PIM) comes into play.
What is PIM?
Product Information Management (PIM) is the process of managing all the information required to market and sell products across various distribution channels. It includes managing product names, variants, descriptions, attributes, prices, images, and other relevant data. A PIM system ensures that product information is accurate, consistent, and up-to-date across all platforms.
PIM features in Sylius
Sylius includes basic PIM functionalities as part of its core offering, which allows you to manage product details effectively. Here are some key features:
Product attributes and variants
Manage various product attributes such as size, color, material, and more. Based on these attributes, you can create different product variants, providing a rich shopping experience for your customers.
Taxonomy management
Organize products into categories and subcategories using taxonomies. This feature helps in structuring the product catalog and makes it easier for customers to find what they are looking for.
Multi-channel management
Sylius supports multiple channels, allowing you to manage product information across various storefronts, regions, or customer groups from a single interface.
Advanced pricing options
Set different pricing strategies, including discounts, promotions, and customer-specific pricing. This flexibility allows you to cater to different market segments and maximize revenue.
Integrating external PIM systems
For advanced PIM capabilities, Sylius can be integrated with external PIM systems such as Akeneo, Pimcore, or Ergonode. These systems offer comprehensive tools for managing large volumes of product data and distributing it across multiple channels.
- Akeneo: An open-source PIM that focuses on providing a user-friendly interface and powerful data management tools. It allows for easy integration with eCommerce platforms and other business systems.
- Pimcore: Offers a combination of PIM, DAM (Digital Asset Management), CMS, and eCommerce functionalities. Pimcore is suitable for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution for managing product data and digital assets.
- Ergonode: A modern PIM system designed with a user-centric approach. It offers intuitive tools for managing product content and is highly customizable to meet specific business needs.
Combining CMS and PIM for effective content and product management
Combining CMS and PIM functionalities in Sylius allows for a unified approach to managing both content and product information. This integration streamlines operations, reduces errors, and enhances the overall customer experience.
Unified management approach
Using the BitBag Sylius CMS plugin or Sylius Sulu Plugin alongside Sylius’ PIM features provides a comprehensive solution for managing all aspects of your online store. You can easily create and manage content while ensuring that product information is accurate and up-to-date across all channels. By using both tools, you can ensure that the product pages are informative, engaging and optimised for search engines. This approach not only improves customer satisfaction but also boosts your store’s visibility and sales.
Korzystając z obu narzędzi, możesz zapewnić, że strony produktów są informacyjne, angażujące i zoptymalizowane pod kątem wyszukiwarek. Takie podejście nie tylko poprawia zadowolenie klientów, ale także zwiększa widoczność i sprzedaż Twojego sklepu.
Case study: Enhancing customer engagement and sales
Imagine an online fashion store using Sylius with the BitBag CMS Plugin and Akeneo PIM. The retailer uses the CMS plugin to create engaging blog posts about fashion trends, styling tips, and customer stories, while Akeneo manages the detailed product descriptions, attributes, and high-quality images. This combination allows the retailer to provide valuable content that drives traffic to their product pages, which are enriched with detailed, consistent, and up-to-date product information.
The result? Increased customer engagement, higher conversion rates, and a boost in SEO rankings. By providing both valuable content and detailed product information, the retailer can create a cohesive brand experience that resonates with customers.
Best practices for content and product management
To get the most out of your Sylius store, follow these best practices:
- Maintain Consistency: Ensure that your content and product information are consistent across all channels and pages. This consistency helps build trust with customers and improves the overall user experience.
- Optimize for SEO: Use the SEO tools provided by the CMS plugin to optimize your content and product pages for search engines. This includes managing metadata, using relevant keywords, and ensuring fast page load times.
- Use High-Quality Media: Incorporate high-quality images and videos to enhance the visual appeal of your content. Ensure that all media are optimized for web use to maintain fast loading speeds.
- Regularly Update Content: Keep your site dynamic by regularly updating your content, whether it’s blog posts, product descriptions, or promotional banners. Frequent updates help keep your site relevant and engaging for visitors.
Summary
In this article, we took a look at how to manage content in Sylius using the BitBag CMS plugin and the built-in PIM features. We covered the installation and configuration process, discussed the key features of the plugin, and explained how to integrate and use external PIM systems for more advanced product management.
By combining the power of a CMS and PIM, you can create a more dynamic and engaging online store that offers both rich content and accurate product information. This approach not only improves the customer experience but also boosts your store’s performance in search engines.
If you have any questions about Sylius, CMS/PIM systems, or our plugins, please contact us; we will be happy to answer your questions!
