Magento 2.4 introduced several significant updates and new features designed to enhance performance, security, and user experience. These improvements are crucial for keeping your e-commerce platform competitive and efficient. Here’s an overview of what’s new in Magento 2.4 and why these updates matter:
1. Security Enhancements
1.1 Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- Description: 2FA is now mandatory for the Magento admin interface, providing an additional layer of security.
- Importance: Protects your store from unauthorized access and enhances overall security.
1.2 CAPTCHA for Place Order
- Description: CAPTCHA functionality is now included on the Place Order page to prevent bots from placing fake orders.
- Importance: Reduces the risk of automated attacks and fraudulent orders.
1.3 Security-Only Patches
- Description: Magento now offers security-only patches for merchants who want to secure their stores without upgrading to the latest full release.
- Importance: Allows for quicker implementation of security fixes without full upgrades, ensuring ongoing protection.
2. Performance Improvements
2.1 Improved Indexing
- Description: Enhanced indexing performance, particularly for large catalogs.
- Importance: Reduces indexing times, allowing for faster updates and better store performance.
2.2 Lazy Loading Images
- Description: Native support for lazy loading of images has been added.
- Importance: Improves page load times and enhances user experience by loading images only when they are needed.
3. Platform Updates
3.1 PHP 7.4 Support
- Description: Magento 2.4 supports PHP 7.4, providing performance improvements and new language features.
- Importance: Ensures compatibility with the latest PHP version, improving speed and security.
3.2 Elasticsearch 7.x as Default Search Engine
- Description: Elasticsearch is now the default catalog search engine for both Magento Open Source and Magento Commerce.
- Importance: Provides enhanced search capabilities, better performance, and more accurate search results.
4. Infrastructure Improvements
4.1 Database Improvements
- Description: Improvements in database scalability and reliability, particularly for large deployments.
- Importance: Ensures that the store can handle larger loads and provides a more stable environment.
4.2 Core Composer and Symfony Updates
- Description: Updates to core dependencies such as Composer and Symfony.
- Importance: Keeps the platform up to date with the latest improvements and security patches in these components.
5. B2B Enhancements
5.1 New B2B Features
- Description: Enhanced features for B2B functionality, including improved order approval workflows and better management of shared catalogs.
- Importance: Provides a more robust B2B experience, catering to the needs of business customers.
6. PWA Studio Enhancements
6.1 Progressive Web Application (PWA) Studio Updates
- Description: Significant updates to PWA Studio, including new components and extensibility improvements.
- Importance: Facilitates the creation of modern, fast, and responsive web applications, enhancing mobile and web experiences.
7. Inventory Management
7.1 Inventory Management Enhancements
- Description: Improvements to the inventory management system, including better support for high-volume inventory operations.
- Importance: Provides more accurate and efficient inventory tracking and management, crucial for large stores.
8. Adobe Stock Integration
8.1 Enhanced Adobe Stock Integration
- Description: Improved integration with Adobe Stock, making it easier to add high-quality images to your product catalog.
- Importance: Enhances the visual appeal of your store and streamlines the process of managing product images.
9. Developer Experience
9.1 Improved GraphQL Coverage
- Description: Expanded GraphQL API coverage to include more store operations and functionalities.
- Importance: Facilitates the development of custom frontend applications and integrations, offering more flexibility to developers.
10. Merchant Tooling
10.1 Media Gallery
- Description: New Media Gallery with a more user-friendly interface and advanced search capabilities.
- Importance: Improves the efficiency of managing media assets, making it easier to find and organize images.
Conclusion
Magento 2.4 brings numerous enhancements that improve security, performance, and overall functionality. These updates are essential for maintaining a competitive and secure e-commerce platform. By upgrading to Magento 2.4, merchants can leverage these new features to provide a better shopping experience, enhance operational efficiency, and protect their store from security threats.
If you have any specific questions about these updates or need guidance on upgrading to Magento 2.4, feel free to ask!
Ready to take your e-commerce business to the next level? We’re here to help you succeed in the digital marketplace. Whether you’re looking to launch a new online store or optimize an existing one, our team at 247Commerce has the expertise and solutions to meet your needs.
Email: hey@247commerce.co.uk
Phone: +44 20 4547 9292
