What is Akeneo connector for Adobe Commerce?

Summary

Integration apps main jobs

Akeneo prioritizes several key factors, that are common expectations for integration solutions, as primary drivers for enhancements:

Category Content
Connector main jobs: ensuring data transfer Filtering, mapping, transformation when needed, synchronization (Load and monitor)
Feature compliancy PIM Features compatibility, Adobe Commerce compatibility
Technical expectations Performance and scalability, security, flexibility (customization possibilities for Adobe connector)

Adobe Commerce Connector's main information

The Adobe Commerce Connector, developed by Akeneo, is installed and maintained on the customer's eCommerce platform. This connector serves as a bridge between Akeneo and the customer's eCommerce system, facilitating the exchange of data and streamlining operations.

  • Overview: Akeneo Connector for Adobe Commerce is a module for Adobe Commerce. The connector is therefore installed on Adobe Commerce side and communicates with Akeneo PIM via its API. The connector is an unidirectional system: it imports PIM data to Adobe Commerce. No Adobe Commerce (Magento) data is sent back to the PIM. The PIM is considered as the master tool for product data, it should not be handled in Adobe Commerce.
  • Connector main jobs: Adobe connector for Adobe Commerce handles all the main expectations of an integration app stated in the paragraph above.Please read the documentation for more information.
  • Installation:  Adobe Commerce Connector is compatible with both Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source. Check the compatibility and pre-requisite article. You can find detailed installation instructions in the dedicated installation section. Please note the installation and configuration is a technical process.
  • Maintenance: maintenance of the connector is the responsibility of the integrator, primarily performed on the eCommerce platform. The presence of an SSH key facilitates the maintenance process. Refer to the setting up section for additional insights on maintenance.
  • Customization: The Adobe Commerce Connector provides the flexibility for customization to align with your unique requirements. For guidance on adapting the connector to your specific needs, please consult the customization advice section. 
    It's important to note that while customization is available, the quality and impact of these customizations are beyond our control. To ensure the reliability of the connector, our support team rigorously tests it against a standard, unaltered (vanilla) version. If a bug is replicated in this vanilla version, the issue is within the core code of the connector. However, if the bug does not reoccur, it is likely associated with the customization or customer-specific settings. Please be aware that Akeneo does not provide support for customization itself, but we are committed to offering guidance and assistance to our customers to the best of our abilities. Refer to the support section for more information.
  • Data Transfer: Data transfer is facilitated through the use of an API to XML format, ensuring seamless communication between systems. Performance and scalability are crucial for integrations. Different factors can impact those: catalog volume, complexity and systems limitations. There are several ways to optimize performance: partial import, filters, asset media link, direct mapping… For more insight on how to preserve and optimize performance and scalability please refer to the synchronizing data section for more information. For filtering, please refer to the setup section.
  • Table Engine MyISAM: In the development of the connector, the choice was made to utilize the MyISAM Engine, as opposed to InnoDB, for improved performance in data reading and writing. With MyISAM, the connector can store Akeneo data in temporary tables, limited to 1250 columns. In contrast, InnoDB restricts this to only 160 columns. Each column is dedicated to a scopable or localizable attribute. For example, an attribute available in three languages would have three corresponding columns in the table.

Enterprise and Community versions

The Akeneo connector for Adobe Commerce is offered in two versions: Enterprise and Community editions. It's crucial to note that these connector editions are not tied to Adobe Commerce compatibility. Instead, they are standalone offerings. 

Here are the key distinctions to keep in mind when evaluating the connector or community edition: 

  Enterprise Community
Access to support: corrective maintenance Yes No
Evolutive maintenance Yes No
Access and participation to roadmap  Yes No
Akeneo PIM Feature coverage Enterprise feature coverage (assets, reference entities,…) Basic feature coverage
Process to access the version Contact your Customer Success Manager or request more information Download on Adobe Commerce marketplace

Please go to the app store for more information.

Ensuring the success of my integration

You should test the Connector as early as possible in the integration process. By doing so, you will challenge the data model and ensure the efficiency of the mapping.

Please note that evaluating the core connector version to know if it fits your needs belongs to your technical team or your integrator. This is why the earlier you start testing, the earlier you are confident in the connector compatibility and its adoption.

You should ask yourself:

  1. Are Akeneo PIM and/or the eCommerce platform customized in any way? If they are, that should raise a warning.
  2. Are all the project actors aware of their responsibilities? If there are any doubts, make sure everyone attends the Akeneo Akademy Training.
  3. Does the system integrator (or the IT team in charge of the integration) know that:
    • every quarter in 2023, there will be a new evolutive version of Akeneo Connector and they will have to update their Connector accordingly (with or without customizations)? That bug fixes can happen several time in a month?
    • if there is a customization, the related support (level 1 to 3) and maintenance fall with the team that has developed this customization.
  4. The bigger the catalog, the sooner the Connector has to be tested, especially in terms of performance and synchro data policy definition.
  5. The more complex the catalog, the sooner the connector mapping has to be considered. Waiting until the end of the project would take a lot more time which might lead to delaying the go-live date and create frustration.
  6. Be brave, don't worry about trying out new things. Benefit from this opportunity to challenge your existing data model and to get rid of all the complexity inherited from a legacy solution. Our advice here is that this is better to modify an existing data model slightly on the eCommerce side to be able to efficiently map and smoothly import your data rather than recreating a legacy complexity in the PIM.
  7. An Akeneo Connector will do what it is created for: to plug any standard PIM into a standard version of Adobe Commerce, by maintaining the highest performance and scalability for all its users. If Akeneo Connectors tests are not up to your performance standards, then there are two options for you:
    • Not using the Akeneo Connector at all and creating yours from scratch (and we are totally fine with that)
    • Creating customizations to enhance performances according to your performance standard.

Adobe Connector configuration panels

Connector configuration page

  1. Open Adobe Commerce STORES menu
  2. Then go to Settings : Configuration
  3. On the right menu of this Configuration page, open the CATALOG menu
  4. Then click on Akeneo Connector

You will find on this page all Akeneo Connector for Adobe Commerce parameters

Connector synchronization pages

The import panel for the Adobe Connector in Akeneo is typically located within the "System" section of the Akeneo interface. System < Akeneo connector < Jobs or Logs.

These sections are essential for managing the import processes and reviewing detailed logs to monitor and troubleshoot your integration with Adobe Commerce.