Mastering commercetools: Choose the learning method that best fits your schedule

Learning commercetools technology has never been more accessible, but selecting the right approach for your journey can be challenging. So, how to choose a learning path that makes sense for you? Our tip: It’s all about how much time you’ve got! In this article, discover the learning options commercetools has in store that fit your schedule. 

The way we learn has changed significantly: Gone are the days of traditional classrooms filled with students memorizing facts. No matter where we look, today’s learning environments are dynamic, featuring interactive technology and encouraging collaboration. Online courses are booming — and so is AI — which empowers us to access, analyze and apply information more efficiently. 

As learning methods continue to evolve, we at commercetools remain committed to providing you with a wealth of learning options to boost your composable commerce knowledge. To achieve your goals, from elevating your learning and refreshing your knowledge to preparing for exams, we offer three main learning approaches: 

• Open, publicly available documentation
• Self-learning modules and learning paths
• Instructor-led training

With so many options, however, it may be tricky to decide which learning path makes the most sense for you. Our suggestion is simple: Ask yourself how much time you have to acquire the skills necessary for the task at hand. After all, the time required for each approach varies significantly, so make your time commitment the deciding factor. 

After all, as the renowned artist Michelangelo once said, “There is no greater harm than that of time wasted.” 

Exploring the learning options available at commercetools

Once you’ve assessed the time you have available for your commercetools learning experience, consider other factors, including your current knowledge level, as well as associated costs, such as fees for online courses or participation in instructor-led training. Each option offers unique advantages, depending on your learning preferences and goals. 

Here are three scenarios to consider: 

1. You’re experienced, but need extra guidance for specific tasks 
   If you’re already knowledgeable in commercetools Composable Commerce for B2C or B2B and are looking for guidance on specific tasks, such as finding a way to store a customer's favorite shipping address, the best option is to search our documentation. Booking training or exploring our self-learning paths and modules might not be the most time-efficient or cost-effective choice in this case.
   
2. You worked with a commercetools implementation and need to replace certain components 
   If you’ve worked on a commercetools project where your code contributed to the success of a composable commerce implementation, and now all you need is to replace components with commercetools Connect, this is the perfect opportunity to take our self-learning modules. 
   
   As an expert in the area, you can take control of your learning journey: You can quickly grasp the concepts, skip over the material you already know and avoid getting bogged down by minor details since you already have the bigger picture. 
   
3. You’re facing a tight timeline to complete your certification 
   If you’re aiming to complete your commercetools certification, consider enrolling in a training course. While the cost of the course might seem like the primary deciding factor, consider that self-learning materials require a longer time commitment, often demanding three to four times more time to reach certification readiness. 
   
   Furthermore, choosing a self-learning path for a commercetools certification may take even longer, especially if you’re new to commercetools Composable Commerce, lack supportive colleagues or don’t have the opportunity to work on your learning without interruptions. Our experience shows that many professionals continue to postpone their scheduled exam prep courses because they still feel unprepared. 
   
   Hence, hyper-focusing on training costs is usually a misleading deciding factor. Ultimately, the time spent on self-learning can far exceed the cost of a training course, making the course fee a worthwhile investment.

commercetools refresher courses for experts and the revival of onsite instructor-led training

Since last year, commercetools has switched to a yearly renewal cycle for certifications. This change aims to help our community stay updated on feature releases and simplify the certification renewal process. 

To support this initiative, we developed learning materials focused on the latest technological advancements. Considering our audience — commercetools experts who have already obtained certification — we recognized that the best way to deliver this content was through self-learning refresher modules, tailored to build on their existing knowledge.

On the other hand, after three years without classroom experiences due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re now seeing a resurgence in requests for onsite instructor-led training. Our customers and partners are increasingly adopting a blended approach: Some team members participate in instructor-led training, while others begin with self-study before joining our exam prep courses. 

To support this shift, our training classes are designed to foster a personal connection, with trainers engaging with you throughout the session. At the end of the class, you’ll receive tailored recommendations on how to continue your learning journey, master our technologies and, if desired, prepare for a certification exam.

At commercetools, we value your time — make sure you do, too! 

Start your learning journey with commercetools! Grow your commercetools knowledge with our free modules and learning paths, instructor-led training and more.