HCL Commerce

HCL Commerce (formerly known as WebSphere Commerce and WCS (WebSphere Commerce Suite)) is a software platform framework for e-commerce, including marketing, sales, customer and order processing functionality in a tailorable, integrated package. It is a single, unified platform which offers the ability to do business directly with consumers (B2C), with businesses (B2B), indirectly through channel partners (indirect business models), or all of these simultaneously. WebSphere Commerce is a customizable, scalable and high availability solution built on the Java - Java EE platform using open standards, such as XML, and Web services. Formerly a product of IBM, the product was sold to HCL Technologies in July 2019.
WebSphere Commerce is sometimes referred to as WCS, however this abbreviation was originally used as a reference to the platform when it was named WebSphere Commerce Suite. Use of the abbreviation continued with users and solution implementers after the platform was renamed to WebSphere Commerce with the announcement of WebSphere Commerce V5.4.
Versions.
1. The first version of the platform was introduced in 1996, during the emergence of e-commerce with a product called Net.Commerce (V1.0 and subsequently V2.0, V3.1, and V3.2) that was first deployed to sell event ticket and merchandise for the 1996 Olympic Games. In 2001 Net.Commerce was renamed to WebSphere Commerce Suite, releasing versions V4.1 and V5.1. In 2002 WebSphere Commerce V5.4 was released, followed by V5.5 in 2003, V5.6 in 2004 and V5.6.1 in 2005. The latest major release versions are:
There are three editions of WebSphere Commerce software. Each edition provides an increasing set of functionality in comparison:
WebSphere Commerce is designed as a highly customizable solution and IBM provides an integrated development environment that is used to build and test customizations including changing the design of storefronts, extending business logic, and creating new business logic to meet business requirements. The developer platform used for customizing and implementing the solution is called IBM WebSphere Commerce Developer for which there are also 3 editions that pair with their runtime environments (i.e. WebSphere Commerce Developer Express, WebSphere Commerce Developer Professional, and WebSphere Commerce Developer Enterprise).
As with other customizable IBM products, the WebSphere Commerce Developer toolkit runs within IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software (RAD) as the foundation Java IDE, and RAD extends the Eclipse environment with visual and other development features.
A specific WebSphere Commerce version uses a specific version of RAD, for example:
Migration.
Migrating to a new version of WebSphere Commerce is done by WebSphere Commerce Migration Wizard, an interactive wizard that guides the user through each phase of the migration process, performing various tasks.
Primary components of the software platform.
As with most Web applications, WebSphere Commerce has 3 main components:
Databases which are supported with WebSphere Commerce V7 are:
Application server which is supported with WebSphere Commerce is IBM WebSphere Application Server, is also provided with the product.
Supported Web servers are:
Operating Systems.
The following operating systems are supported for WebSphere Commerce V7:
WebSphere Commerce Developer V7 supported operating systems:
WebSphere Commerce Developer v9 not limited to Windows. However, Accelerator, Org Admin Console and WCS Admin Console still require Internet Explorer. Rational Application Developer will now run natively on IOS and Linux environments. https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSZLC2_9.0.0/com.ibm.commerce.install.doc/refs/rigdevprereqclh.htm
Enhancements (new features).
Additional features are continuously provided through Enhancements using agile methods on a quarterly basis. This continuous deployment model puts new features and enhancements in the hands of WebSphere Commerce customers quicker and with less disruption to ongoing business operations.
Some of the WebSphere Commerce V8 Enhancements include the following and are described in detail in HCL Commerce knowledge center.
Prior to version 8 Additional features were released through Feature Packs on an annual or semi-annual basis. These enhancements were delivered as installable packages, sample reference applications or documented solutions.
WebSphere Commerce Feature Packs include new features (so called enhancements). These enhancements add some new functionality or features to the base product. Feature Pack differs from a fix pack, which is a set of correction fixes to the base code. Fix Packs and Feature Packs within a certain release are cumulative.
A Feature Pack contains multiple features that are installed as one package, and can be enabled individually. A feature provides a functional extension to the existing base product functionality.
WebSphere Commerce V7 enhancements at a glance.
WebSphere Commerce V7.0 Feature Pack 8.0 is cumulative, and it consolidates capabilities of Feature Pack 7.0, 6.0, 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0 and 1.0 in addition to some new capabilities.
WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 8: 
WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 7: 
WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 6: 
WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 5: 
WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 4: 
WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 3: 
WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 2: 
WebSphere Commerce V7 Feature Pack 1:
See also these pages for some Further information:
WebSphere Commerce V6 enhancements at a glance.
Customer empowerment (Feature Pack 1, Feature Pack 2 and Feature Pack 5)
WebSphere Commerce V6 Feature Pack 1
WebSphere Commerce V6 Feature Pack 2
WebSphere Commerce V6 Feature Pack 5
Web 2.0 starter store with a streamlined purchasing process (note: this starter store replaces the Feature Pack 2 Web 2.0 store).
Cross-channel support by using Distributed Order Management (DOM) solution integration.
Front-office integration (Feature Pack 2)
IBM Management Center for WebSphere Commerce (Feature Pack 3, 3.0.1, and 4)
Back-office integration using SOA enhancements (Feature Pack 1)
Paymentech plug-in for WebSphere Commerce (Feature Pack 2)
Solutions.
IBM Watson Commerce offers a number of digital commerce and marketing solutions and has numerous partners, which are building further customizations 