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Open Source Web Design Agency
Specialist open source web design & development agency
Open source is more than just free; it’s the technology behind many of the world’s best-performing websites - and the good news is, it’s available to everybody!
In 2008, Opace were one of Birmingham's first agencies to dedicate our technical services to open source web design and development. Whilst other web design companies were trying to sell expensive bespoke and proprietary solutions that forced customers into nasty contracts, Opace took a different approach. With a background in providing consultancy for public sector and government organisations, the business owner and founder understood the demand and desire for more flexible solutions like open source.
For this reason, Opace was created, with the vision of bringing high-quality websites and eCommerce solutions to businesses at a fraction of the price and risk.
SOME OF THE PLATFORMS WE SPECIALISE IN
Our web design work
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SOME OF OUR CERTIFICATIONS
We make sure our web designers and eCommerce developers are always up to speed. From IBM to HubSpot and The Linux Foundation, we've completed many of the major certifications available and we're a certified Google Partner.
Open Source Web Development Services
WHY OPACE FOR YOUR OPEN SOURCE WEBSITE OR ECOMMERCE STORE?
For over 15 years, we have built up a wealth of experience designing and developing websites and eCommerce solutions using the following open source platforms:
Our focus has been to develop open source websites that allow our clients to benefit from flexible, cost-effective solutions, without compromising on quality or originality.
Sadly, it’s a myth that open source equates to a one-size-fits-all style of web development. Instead, it provides a set of building blocks, reusable modules and a community of support allowing businesses to grow and expand their digital presence more effectively. Open source websites are easy to manage, adapt and grow in line with ever-changing business operations and industry trends.
Below are some of the top reasons why you should choose an open source web design:
Global community
Each open source web design project can be supported by a worldwide network of developers. The core product is free, but Companies can be used to configure, implement and extend the core software.
Designed to be extensible
By design, open source websites are “open” to extension. Products like Joomla, WordPress and Magento have a large community of developers who create extensions and plugins.
Often free to use & update
Developments are carried out by a global community and made available for the public to use for free. Many of these extensions are also free of charge; however some do cost money.
Great for websites
Open source web design therefore involves using and extending these existing platforms to create websites that look attractive, offer great functionality and perform to the highest industry standards.
Great for eCommerce
Products like Joomla (with Virtuemart), WordPress (with WooCommerce extension) and Magento are all open source and can be used for cutting-edge eCommerce projects.
WHY CHOOSE OPACE TO DEVELOP YOUR OPEN SOURCE WEBSITE?
Why choose Opace for your open source web development? Whilst open source technology is highly beneficial, you may need a little help from the experts to get set up. Here’s why you should choose us:
No lengthy contracts
We’re all about being here for clients when they need us, not tying them into unwanted lengthy contracts. We’ll educate you on how to run your open source site but you can always come back if you need a little extra guidance.
Social media marketing support
Our experts are well equipped to support you in integrating your open source website with new media and social media marketing tools.
Custom templates and development
Opace’s open source web developers will create a bespoke template and custom features that reflects your unique identity and branding.
Bespoke integrations
We’ll take the time to get to know your business and find out what you really need to succeed. Our bespoke integrations with third-party systems and apps will allow you to get the most value from your open source website.
eCommerce integration
We can transform your CMS into a fully-fledged eCommerce site where you can sell your products and benefit from marketing integration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why choose an open source website rather than a bespoke one?
Many people get a little confused when it comes to web design and development so to clear things up, open source web development uses a tried and tested system, whereas, with bespoke web design, you start completely from scratch. Bespoke web design is therefore a much bigger, more complex and more expensive job. You’ll often find that whilst some web design agencies claim to offer bespoke web designs, they actually use open source software anyway!
So keep this in mind when deciding on the right service for you. Here at Opace, we prefer using open source web development platforms for obvious reasons - cost-effectiveness, adaptability, scalability, and flexibility. Why reinvent the wheel when the tools already exist... platforms like Joomla, WordPress, Umbraco and Magento are already used to power millions of websites, eCommerce shops and blogs, so you can have the peace of mind that you’re investing in a high-quality solution.
Are there really free designs available?
There are already thousands of open source themes and templates (essentially designs) available that can be downloaded within minutes – some of them are even free! These can be customised by one of our web designers, shortening the web development process and resulting in a lower cost for you.
How does open source reduce web development costs?
Open source platforms are free to use, helping to reduce your development costs. You can also use some of the free or low-cost plugins, modules and themes available, which allow you to extend the functionality of your website, without spending any money. The only thing you’ll need to pay for is any third party services you use.
Isn't open source more complicated?
Open source technology tends to be very user friendly, so it won’t take long for you to get the hang of it. Being able to upload, edit and remove content yourself will reduce your reliance on your web design agency and in turn your expenses. We can train you on how to use your open source solution.
Won't my SEO suffer as a result of re-using code?
Open source platforms also happen to be very SEO friendly due to the vast amount of SEO support and expertise that have gone into building them. Most platforms are architected from the ground up to be optimised for SEO, but there are also masses of great SEO plugins and modules available for further fine-tuning, some examples being SEO plugins for WordPress, Joomla SEO modules or Magento (Adobe Commerce) SEO extensions. As long as your website is configured properly, you will stand a good chance at ranking well on search engines like Google. Most code on the web has been re-used in one form or another, so don't worry about that.
Surely if open source is free this means poor quality?
Open source technology follows industry standards and best practice, so you can be rest assured that you’re investing in a high quality solution. Not only that but it’s supported by a global community of developers, so there’ll always be someone that can give you a helping hand, including the team here at Opace!
Why should we choose Opace?
Opace are a leading Birmingham web design agency, with years of experience working with open source technology like Magento, WordPress and Joomla. Our aim is to show our clients the advantages of open source web design and help them make the most of this fantastic technology.
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