The popularity of ecommerce replatforming accounts for more than half of the ecommerce retail growth. Ecommerce merchants are under significant pressure from several challenges, such as rising competition, technological innovation, and altering consumer preferences. Over time, a current ecommerce platform may require assistance to stay up – or else it becomes sluggish, will lack capabilities, or will be unable to interface with other services.
To respond, merchants are resorting to ecommerce replatforming to swiftly tap into the possibilities of shifting ecommerce platforms. This opens the door to omnichannel commerce, new microservice-based flexibility, and improved scalability. This can be achieved when you partner with an expert software development company for their ecommerce app development or mobile app development solutions.
They will help you hire app developers with seasoned expertise for the same. And powering it all with the help of professional digital marketing services brings more competitiveness and streamlined customer experiences.
This article will lead merchants through the process of replatforming their websites and covering what it means to replatform a website. It will also assure a seamless transition during ecommerce replatforming and all its stages to success. So, let’s help you get started.
Ecommerce Replatforming – Definition
Ecommerce replatforming is the process of upgrading an ecommerce website without entirely rebuilding it. This involves transferring the basic functionality, data, and design from one technology stack or ecommerce platform to another. It is followed by making adjustments to customize, optimize, or add more desirable features with the help of a credible, professional software development company.
When Should You Replatfrom Your Ecommerce Business?
There are numerous crucial indicators to look for to determine whether your existing ecommerce platform is keeping up with your needs. By checking out these aspects you would know when to consider ecommerce replatforming.
1. Starts to Show Performance Issues
Your present website has slow load times or outages and cannot grow to meet peak demand. This can be rectified when you partner with an proficient software development company.
2. When Functionalities are Scarce
It takes a long time to add new features or update existing ones. Patching in ecommerce website/app development is challenging, especially when a tangle of sophisticated integrations gets in the way.
3. Some Features and Integrations Are Not Supported
You are unable to interface with third-party services or add desired functionality. This is good enough to raise a red signal. So then it is time to hire expert app developers for your ecommerce venture.
4. Security
Your platform may require security controls, (for instance, say, access and identity), may fall short of compliance minimums, or may necessitate a significant amount of hands-on labor to achieve minimum security requirements with the help of mobile app development. Excessive patching and intricate interconnections may have caused new security risks.
5. Unsupported Channels/Devices
Your website is not mobile-friendly and/or does not communicate with other (social) channels. You can operate several platforms to support more channels or devices. And this will be an added perk when choosing proven digital marketing services.
6. Poor Customer Satisfaction
You may have problems with load time, navigation, functionality, or service availability. This is also another sign that lets you know the need for ecommerce replatforming, since tracking key ecommerce KPIs is vital for detecting changes in customer experience.
7. Poor Enterprise Capabilities
Your platform may not communicate properly with other corporate systems such as ERP, CRM, and so on. It may also not deliver the data output or analytics required for real-time decision-making, but it can be fixed if you seek the support of a software development company.
8. Different Challenges Confronted by Competitors
Another ecommerce app development need arises when your competitors aren’t having trouble attracting, retaining, or selling to users. This is a major indication that your ecommerce platform is falling behind.
7. Sunset Products
It is time to make a change if an ecommerce platform or crucial services are no longer being upgraded or are being phased out.
8. Costs Are Rising.
High operational costs to maintain a traditional ecommerce platform as well as costly scalability factors is also an indicator that you should hire app developers for ecommerce replatforming.
Effective Methods for Ecommerce Replatforming
While opting for ecommerce app development solutions, the platform you select for your ecommerce business will have a direct influence on the uptime, user experience, scalability, and capacity to make rapid upgrades and tweaks. As per statistics, several factors are responsible for ecommerce retail growth. So, it is important that you follow the below listed measures will help you maximize your replatforming endevours.
1. List the Replatforming Requirements/Business Case
Before you hire app developers, take the time to document the business use case, including the shortcomings of the present system and the wish list for the new system for all stakeholders (IT, marketing, sales, customers, and so on). Prioritize the list of ‘wants’ to communicate options and get executive buy-in and other stakeholders on board. This is to understand what teams require before the project commences.
2. Make A List of Ecommerce Platforms
Make a list of popular platforms for your ecommerce business’s mobile app development. As a result of the replatforming, most firms are shifting away from basic/starter ecommerce solutions like Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce. They will look at more comprehensive, complex, headless solutions like Magento, Sitecore, Shopify Plus, etc.
3. Select an Ecommerce Platform
Weigh your needs against your shortlist, and make sure platform considerations include pricing, integrations, features, and service. This is your opportunity to fully investigate the platform before signing any commitments. Also do ensure the chosen platform will favor you well while adding proficient digital marketing services.
4. Make A Backup Of Your Ecommerce Data
Before moving to an ecommerce site through ecommerce replatforming, make a backup of all data that also includes attachments. All data should be backed up in the proper format and reviewed to guarantee a successful backup. Backup all data storage, including items, customer data, inventory, order history, and so on. Smaller sites may be able to use CSV files, however larger sites will have more sophisticated backup and/or import/migration operations including APIs.
5. Develop A New Ecommerce Website
The purpose of replatforming is not to entirely reinvent the wheel, but rather to take the core of the present ecommerce platform and execute a limited number of modifications to the front-end design to optimize (as determined by the priority list).
6. Data Transfer
Your ecommerce data migration begins with a backup, but it also includes a more detailed review of the data and attachments, as well as a plan for moving that data without loss. When migrating to the new platform with the help of an expert software development company, a data map will assist govern the process. Several ecommerce platforms provide data transfer tools or API support. There are also a number of third-party migration programs available. During this procedure, you should always test and validate.
7. Enhance Your User Experience (UX)
When selecting ecommerce website/app development, make sure the site is responsive, accessible, and adheres to the best UI UX design practices. Ensure that important sales funnel experiences like payments, shopping carts, and checkout have been validated for experience and security, as well as that every page, button, or form has been reviewed. Confirm that its performance fulfills your expectations.
8. Systems Integration
Earlier planning would have resulted in a map of integrations. This would detail which interfaces with internal systems must be maintained and which are planned. This step in ecommerce mobile app/website development will carry out and test the integrations with accomplished software quality assurance services.
9. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Make a plan to keep SEO (search engine optimization) running well during ecommerce migration/replatforming. This will include correct redirect mapping, traffic and KPI monitoring (including pre-migration benchmarks), and a strategy for any problems that arise during migration. For this, it is advised that you go for seasoned digital marketing services.
10. Launch Your Ecommerce Website
When the testing process is completed by your partner software development company, it’s time to launch the new ecommerce site and start making sales! Make it a point to get client input in order to generate buzz and gather vital feedback to guide necessary or future improvements.
Partner With an Expert!
Many obstacles might be related with ecommerce replatforming, but they can be addressed by partnering with an credible software development company. They will provide technical expertise in ecommerce platforms and integrations. Not only that, they possess thorough knowledge of best practices and hands-on experience to safely and securely replatform your website in the most efficient way possible.