Prestashop is undoubtedly one of the most popular solutions when it comes to easily creating an e-commerce site.
However, for an online store to become and remain a commercial success, it must be efficient, secure and always accessible.
This is the main aim of Prestashop site maintenance: to ensure that it is always available to customers, that it performs well and that there are no security flaws.
This is how we build trust with our customers. 
Why maintain your Prestashop site?
Prestashop site maintenance involves a number of actions designed to maintain and improve the site’s functionality.
Some need to be carried out on a regular basis, others on an ad hoc basis, to meet a particular need at a given moment.
Operational maintenance of a Prestashop site ensures its longevity.
Preventing malfunctions
Bugs, errors or security flaws can degrade the site’s user experience, tarnishing its image.
A site that displays errors to users, or with unavailable functionality, will damage its reputation and ultimately lead to a drop in orders and sales.
Fixing one-off problems
Even if preventive measures are in place, a bug can still occur that affects the site’s operation.
In such cases, you need to react quickly and effectively.
The anomaly must be corrected as quickly as possible to limit the negative consequences.
Prestashop site evolution
Prestashop updates are released regularly.
These may include new features, themes or content, as well as bug fixes.
Installing Prestashop updates on a regular basis ensures that you have the latest version of features and all newly-integrated fixes.
Prestashop preventive maintenance
The aim of preventive maintenance is to avoid malfunctions.
This means carrying out operations before a breakdown occurs, so as to avoid it, or at least limit its consequences.
The following operations are part of preventive maintenance for a Prestashop site:
- Backing up the site: files and databases must be backed up regularly on a medium external to the site (disk, cloud…).
You should also regularly check that the backup is valid and that it is possible to restore the site in the event of a problem.
You can make a daily backup, but if it’s not usable, it won’t do you much good the day you need it. - Regular updates: Prestashop core, modules and installed themes need to be updated to take advantage of the latest features, bug fixes and security vulnerabilities.
- Check that everything is working properly: it’s important to check regularly, by adopting the posture of a customer for example, that everything is working normally on the site: display speed, forms, links, images…
- Traffic monitoring: number of visits, user behavior, performance, security… Monitoring and analysis tools are generally a great help.
- Site audit: a site audit should be carried out regularly.
It will address both the technical and ergonomic aspects of the site.
The aim is to identify the strong points to be consolidated and the weak points to be improved.
Prestashop corrective maintenance
The aim of corrective maintenance is to implement punctual actions to quickly resolve a problem when it arises.
The following operations are part of corrective maintenance for a Prestashop site:
- Detection of anomalies using tools (probes, automatic alerts, etc.).
- Rapid resolution of detected anomalies.
- Communication with users to inform them of problems encountered and solutions implemented.
- Rigorous documentation of incidents and related operations.
Prestashop upgrade maintenance
The aim of evolutionary maintenance is to continue improving the site by regularly adding new functionalities.
The various evolutions put in place enable us to keep pace with market needs and customer requests, while taking advantage of the latest technological innovations.
The following operations form part of the evolutionary maintenance of a Prestashop site:
- Add or modify functionalities using modules or themes.
- Site optimization: design, ergonomics, performance, referencing.
- Migration to a major new version of Prestashop.
- Migration to a new hosting offering for advanced capabilities.
Advantages and disadvantages of Prestashop site maintenance
While there are many advantages to setting up maintenance for a Prestashop site, there are also a few disadvantages to consider.
The benefits
- The site performs better: page load times are reduced, server resources are optimized and hosting costs are reduced.
- The site is more secure: reduced risk of piracy and data theft.
This boosts customer confidence. - The site is more scalable: it’s easier to add new features, respond to customer requests and keep up with the latest technological innovations.
- Improved user experience: the use of the latest technologies and enhanced performance have a positive impact on the user experience.
In concrete terms, this can translate into increased traffic, higher conversion rates and higher average basket prices. - The site is better indexed in search engines: search engines take into account the site’s performance and accessibility.
A well-maintained site has every chance of being better indexed.
Disadvantages
- Maintenance takes time: effective maintenance requires time, resources and technical expertise.
Particular attention must be paid to possible incompatibilities between different versions and modules. - Maintenance necessarily entails additional costs.
- Corrections and updates may require temporary service interruptions.
The site will, of course, not be accessible during the heaviest maintenance operations.
It’s important to schedule them at a time when customers will be least numerous or least inconvenienced.
It’s just like a physical store.
You’re not going to close to clean the floors at peak times.
Why use a service provider to maintain your Prestashop site?
Maintaining a Prestashop site is complex and requires solid technical skills.
It requires time and continuous monitoring to detect the slightest problem.
Calling on a qualified and experienced service provider will therefore represent a cost, but has many advantages:
- You’ll benefit from our expertise and skills in e-commerce and Prestashop in particular.
- You can concentrate on your core business, while he takes care of all the technical aspects for which you have neither the skills nor the time to devote.
- You can rest assured that your site complies with development and security standards and best practices.
- You’ll benefit from expert advice on site development.
The service provider will be able to propose solutions adapted to your needs.
To conclude on Prestashop maintenance
Effective maintenance of your Prestashop site is essential if you want it to remain high-performance, attractive and secure.
Setting up maintenance for a Prestashop site requires time and a budget.
It also requires technical skills.
Unless you have the necessary time and skills, it’s often best to call on an experienced service provider to maintain your Prestashop site.
With my extensive experience in e-commerce, and with Prestashop in particular, I can help you with your Prestashop project.
Together, we’ll determine the appropriate maintenance solutions for your online store, in line with your needs and budget.
Please do not hesitate to contact me so that we can discuss your Prestashop projects.
