OpenCart is a free, open-source e-commerce solution known for its simplicity, scalability, and powerful features. This course provides learners with hands-on experience in configuring, managing, and customizing OpenCart to create fully functional online stores.
Participants will explore the full lifecycle of setting up and managing an OpenCart store—from installation and configuration to theme customization, product management, and SEO optimization. Through real-world projects, learners will gain the skills needed to launch and maintain successful online businesses.
Understand OpenCart architecture and core functionality
Learn to install, configure, and launch OpenCart-based stores
Manage products, inventory, customers, and orders
Explore theme and module customization
Apply security measures, performance tuning, and SEO strategies
Prepare to deploy and scale professional e-commerce websites
History and purpose of OpenCart
Comparison with other platforms (e.g., WooCommerce, Shopify)
Understanding MVC-L (Model-View-Controller-Language) architecture
System requirements and hosting needs
Manual vs auto-installation methods
Post-installation configuration basics
Localization: languages, currencies, tax settings
User roles, permissions, and security settings
Store settings and operational preferences
Adding and organizing products
Categories, attributes, options, and filters
Managing images, pricing, and inventory levels
Creating and managing customer accounts and groups
Order lifecycle: from cart to completion
Shipping methods and payment gateways setup
Installing and customizing store themes
Managing modules and extensions
Intro to OpenCart custom development and VQMod/OCMod
Best practices for store security
Backup strategies and update cycles
Performance tuning for better speed and stability
On-page SEO: metadata, URLs, and optimization
Discounts, coupons, and newsletter integration
Connecting to Google Analytics and marketing tools
Final testing and pre-launch checklist
SSL, hosting setup, and going live
Long-term maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting
✅ Install and configure OpenCart from scratch
✅ Add and manage products, categories, and inventory
✅ Handle customer accounts and process orders
✅ Customize the look and features of your online store
✅ Improve performance, SEO, and security
✅ Launch and manage a fully functional e-commerce website
Web developers and IT professionals moving into e-commerce
Entrepreneurs and business owners launching online stores
Digital marketers managing e-commerce platforms
Business, marketing, and IT students
Computer with local or cloud-based web server
Latest OpenCart version: https://www.opencart.com
Sample product and order data
Access to OpenCart documentation and community forums
Interactive live lectures and recorded demos
Guided lab exercises and practice store setups
Case studies and real-world troubleshooting
Quizzes, mini-projects, and applied learning tasks
Final capstone: Build, launch, and present a live store
Duration: 7 weeks
Weekly Commitment: 3 hours
1.5 hours lecture
1.5 hours lab/project
Format: Online or hybrid (live + recorded content)
Modules: Weekly learning units with self-assessment tasks
Assessment: Quizzes, assignments, and final capstone project
Support: Instructor Q&A sessions and community discussion forums
Upon completion, learners will be able to:
💼 Build and manage professional OpenCart stores
📦 Organize and maintain product catalogs and customer data
🎨 Customize themes, modules, and site functionality
🔒 Apply performance, security, and SEO best practices
🚀 Deploy and scale e-commerce stores confidently
Engineering office for technology and software services (EOTSS) academy
