Magento 2 is a popular e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create powerful and customizable online stores. It offers a wide range of features, including customizable themes, robust product management tools, powerful SEO capabilities, and various product types. If you’re new to Magento 2, it’s important to take advantage of the following Magento guide which provides a comprehensive overview about Magento and its features.
In this article we will get into different Magento 2 product types. By understanding them in detail, you can better manage your products and offer a better shopping experience to your customers.
There are six main product types in Magento 2:
- Simple products
- Configurable products
- Grouped products
- Virtual products
- Bundle products
- Downloadable products
Each product type has its own unique features and uses, which are designed to cater to different customer requirements.
- Simple Products
In Magento 2, simple products are individual, standalone products with a single SKU (Stock Keeping Unit). They are commonly used in Magento 2 for selling individual items with no variations or options, for example, a household item, a bag or glasses, etc. In addition, simple products can have their own inventory management, pricing, and shipping options, making them versatile and customizable for different business needs.
Magento 2 Simple Product
Source: Adobe Commerce
Simple products can also be associated with configurable, grouped, or bundle products to create more complex product offerings. They can also be used to create product bundles or kits, where multiple simple products are combined to create a package deal. For example, a store could sell a simple product consisting of a t-shirt, a pair of shorts, and a hat bundled together as a summer outfit.
- Configurable Products
Configurable products are products that offer customers different variations or options to choose from, such as color, size, or material. Configurable products are made up of simple products with a unique SKU, which makes it possible to track inventory for each product variation. When a customer selects a variation or option, the corresponding simple product is added to the cart. You could achieve a similar effect by using a simple product with custom options, but without the ability to track inventory for each variation.
Magento 2 Configurable Product
Source: Adobe Commerce
Configurable products are commonly used in Magento 2 for offering customers for selling products with multiple variations or options, such as clothing, shoes, or furniture. They allow customers to easily select the variation or option that best suits their needs, without having to navigate through multiple product listings. Configurable products are also useful for managing inventory, as each simple product can have its own stock level.
- Grouped Products
Grouped products are products that consist of multiple simple products that are sold together as a group. Unlike configurable products, grouped products do not have variations or options to choose from. Instead, customers can purchase the entire group of products or select individual products from the group. Being presented as a group, each product in the group can be purchased as a separate item with any number of each item, and are shown in the shopping cart as an individual product.
Magento 2 Grouped Product
Source: Adobe Commerce
Grouped products are commonly used in Magento 2 to sell products that are commonly used together or are part of a larger set, such as kitchen utensils, makeup sets, or tool sets. Grouped products allow customers to easily purchase multiple products at once without having to navigate through multiple product listings. Grouped products are also useful for managing inventory, as each simple product can have its own stock level.
- Virtual Products
Virtual products in Magento 2 are products that do not have a physical form and are delivered electronically. They are usually services, subscriptions, or downloadable products such as e-books, music, or software. Virtual products do not require shipping or handling, and they do not have a weight or inventory quantity. Instead, they can be delivered through a download link or email.
Magento 2 Virtual Product
Source: Adobe Commerce
Virtual products are commonly used in Magento 2 for offering customers digital products, such as software, music, or e-books, or services like consulting that can be delivered electronically. They can be sold individually or included in Grouped, Configurable, or Bundle products.
- Bundle Products
Bundle product is a customizable, build your own product that can consist of Simple or Virtual Products. Unlike grouped products, bundle products have customizable options that allow customers to select which products exactly and with what options they want to include in the bundle and in what quantity.
Magento 2 Bundle Product
Source: Adobe Commerce
Customizable options appear when a customer clicks Customize or Add to Cart button. Products that are selected in the bundle may vary, so the SKU, Price, and Weight can be set to a dynamic or fixed value of your choice.
Magento 2 Bundle Product Customization
Source: Adobe Commerce
Bundle products are ideal for businesses that sell products that can be combined in different ways, such as computer components or sports equipment. They allow customers to easily select the products they want to include in the bundle and in what quantity, and they can often save money by purchasing the bundle instead of the individual products. Bundle products are also useful for managing inventory, as each simple product can have its own stock level.
- Downloadable Products
Downloadable products is a type of virtual product that can be downloaded by the customer after purchase. They are usually digital products such as software, music, e-books, or other files. Downloadable products do not require shipping or handling, and they do not have a weight or inventory quantity. Instead, they can be delivered through a download link that is provided to the customer after purchase.
Magento 2 Downloadable Product
Source: Adobe Commerce
They are ideal to sell such products as software, music, e-books, or other files. You can sell a music album or each song individually. As downloadable products are not available until the purchase, it is useful to offer customers a sample, like an excerpt from a book or song.
Gift Cards
There is another product type available in Magento 2, but only in Magento Commerce, called Gift Card. It allows customers to purchase a card with a specific value, which can be redeemed by the recipient towards purchases on your Magento 2 store. The Gift Cards can be physical or virtual, and they can be sold on your website or in your physical store.
Magento 2 Gift Card
Source: Adobe Commerce
Magento 2 Gift Cards can be customized to include a personalized message, design, and expiration date. They can also be set up with multiple price options and can be sold individually or in bulk.
Once a customer purchases a Gift Card, they can choose to either print or email the Gift Card to the recipient, who can then redeem the Gift Card on your Magento 2 store. When the recipient makes a purchase, they can enter the Gift Card code at checkout, and the value of the Gift Card will be deducted from the total amount due.
Gift Cards in Magento 2 are a useful way to increase sales and customer loyalty. They allow customers to purchase a gift for someone without having to know the specific item they want to buy, and they also encourage recipients to visit your store and make a purchase.
In addition, Gift Cards in Magento 2 can be tracked and managed in the admin panel, allowing you to see which Gift Cards have been sold, redeemed, and expired. You can also set up email reminders to remind customers and recipients of their Gift Card balance and expiration date.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, knowing the various product types available in Magento 2 is crucial for businesses to successfully manage their online stores and offer a seamless shopping experience to their customers. Whether it’s simple products, configurable products, grouped products, bundle products, virtual products, or downloadable products, each product type has unique features and attributes that can be leveraged to effectively showcase products and drive sales.
If you’re a business owner looking to create an online store using Magento 2,we encourage you to explore the different product types available to determine which ones are most suitable for your business needs. By understanding the different product types, you can choose the ones that align with your business model and products, and optimize your online store for success. As Magento 2 continues to evolve, it’s important for businesses to stay up-to-date with new product types and features to ensure they’re always providing the best possible customer experience.
