Prestashop is a benchmark in the world of online stores because it’s particularly easy to set up.
In just a few minutes and a few clicks, you can have an e-commerce site up and running, albeit a little empty.
It works pretty well as long as you stick to the default options.
However, when you want to customize the site, whether in terms of display with a specific theme, or functionality with modules, the situation becomes more complicated.
This is where thePrestashop integrator comes in. 
The role of the Prestashop integrator
The role of the Prestashop integrator is particularly important in the process of setting up an e-commerce site.
It’s the integrator’s work that will make the site unique, reflecting exactly the brand it represents.
This involves adapting the theme to define the site’s appearance, or integrating functionalities using the appropriate Prestashop modules.
Integrating an existing theme
The theme is what makes it possible to create an adapted graphical interface on a Prestashop site.
The solution comes with a default theme.
Its relatively neutral tones enable you to quickly set up any type of e-commerce site.
While the default theme is practical and easy to get to grips with, it remains limited.
If you stick with the default theme, you’ll end up with a classic, not to say generic, site.
It’s unlikely to help your site stand out from the crowd.
It is of course possible to modify the fonts, the colors used… but perhaps this won’t be enough to stick to the image you want to give.
Fortunately, there’s an extensive library of Prestashop themes.
These ready-to-use graphic themes are classified into different categories: fashion, high tech, health, home, toys, art, gifts… Most are also available in several languages.
While some themes are totally free, the most advanced are not, and cost from a few dozen to a few hundred euros.
Once you’ve selected a theme, whether free or paid, the integrator will apply it to your site, configuring and adapting it as required.
In this way, the graphic appearance of the site will correspond exactly to the brand’s image.
Creating a custom theme
If no existing theme really fits the site’s needs, or if a very specific interface is required (in terms of form, layout of elements, responsive and accessibility aspects…), the creation of a complete Prestashop theme may be the solution.
The Prestashop integrator will also be able to create the theme from scratch.
The need may arise from the use of a particular graphic charter.
Having a unique theme also allows you to communicate your brand’s visual identity and develop exactly what you want.
Sometimes it’s better to start from scratch by creating your own theme, rather than modifying an existing one.
Even if all themes respect a certain common architecture and organization, not all can be easily modified.
Module integration
When a functionality is not natively present in Prestashop, the first reflex should be to check whether a module allows it to be integrated.
If such a module exists, the integrator is often asked to install and configure it on the Prestashop site.
Of course, the integrator’s role doesn’t stop with installing the module.
In some cases, it may be necessary to adapt the store theme to enable the module to be used.
In this case, just as when creating or modifying a theme, the integrator will have to make the necessary changes to ensure that the final rendering of the pages corresponds to the request. 
The skills of a Prestashop integrator
The skills of a Prestashop integrator cover several areas.
Knowledge of Prestashop
An integrator naturally needs to be able to install and configure Prestashop.
While almost anyone can install a bare Prestashop site, proper configuration requires a little more advanced knowledge.
You’ll also need to be able to install and configure modules, and ensure that they are compatible so that they work together.
Prestashop theme architecture
A good knowledge of the architecture on which Prestashop themes are based is essential.
Prestashop integrators need to know where to find the various files making up a theme, so they can modify and adapt it, and find their way around the various directories.
In this way, they can easily modify a theme’s templates, styles and images.
Proficiency in HTML, CSS and JavaScript
When it comes to the web, you naturally need to know HTML (to structure a page), CSS (for formatting) and JavaScript (for interactivity in particular).
The same applies toPrestashop theme integration.
PHP skills
Prestashop is written in PHP.
Basically, knowledge of the programming language is not essential to use the solution.
However, integrators will quickly be limited in what they can do if they don’t know PHP.
They will have to make do with the functionalities available to them, and will not be able to introduce new ones.
It will also be difficult to create a new theme.
A Prestashop integrator must therefore not only know PHP well, but also master object-oriented programming (OOP). 
Other essential tools
Prestashop integrators should also be familiar with the operation and use of MySQL database servers.
This will enable them to control the data used and better understand how a theme will retrieve and display information.
Other tools to be familiar with include Smarty, Twig, Boostrap, Sass and WebPack.
Smarty and Twig are two template engines.
They allow you to define the way the theme will display information on a page and provide additional functionalities (variable manipulation, data transformation, etc.).
Smarty is a little older and contains additional functions added by Prestashop.
Twig is more modern and provides, among other things, a template overload mechanism.
Bootstrap will provide “turnkey” template models that can then be customized.
Sass will extend the possibilities offered by CSS, introducing the use of variables and features for optimizing style sheets.
Finally, WebPack allows JavaScript modules to be grouped together, facilitating the management of dependencies between them.
To conclude about the Prestashop integrator
The Prestashop integrator plays a particularly important role, since it’s his or her work that will ultimately be visible on the website.
They know Prestashop well, how it works and its architecture, as well as the main web development languages HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and PHP.
He also masters various tools and extensions enabling him to customize a Prestashop theme and optimize its source code.
Looking for a freelance Prestashop integrator?
Contact me now!
With over 12 years’ experience in this field, I’ll be happy to help you with your Prestashop project.
