November 2, 2023
The ultimate Shopify Plus replatforming roadmap
The demand for robust, scalable, and efficient ecommerce platforms is at an all-time high.
As industries mature and businesses grow, the quest for a platform that caters to evolving needs becomes paramount. Against this back-drop, Shopify Plus is rapidly gaining traction as the platform of choice for many medium to enterprise-level businesses, eager to transition and replatform.
While the allure of replatforming can be tempting, it’s pivotal to delve deeper into the nuances of this change and comprehend the full spectrum of advantages Shopify Plus brings to the table, as well as knowing what exactly is necessary to consider, before jumping into the hosting platform.
A Deep Dive into Shopify Plus: the Future-Ready ecommerce Solution
Shopify’s reputation in the digital arena is built upon a foundation of user-centricity and scalability. However, Shopify Plus elevates this legacy, curating an experience specifically designed for businesses that aspire for more – those that seek a platform unencumbered by the constraints they’ve previously encountered.
To appreciate the magnitude of Shopify Plus’s offerings, let’s dissect its core attributes:
Unparalleled Customisation
One size rarely fits all in the ecommerce domain. Recognising this, Shopify Plus offers enhanced customisation capabilities. Businesses can craft unique customer journeys, modify their storefronts, and ensure their online presence is a true reflection of their brand ethos. Whether it’s creating bespoke landing pages for specific campaigns or introducing innovative features to enhance user experience, the freedom to innovate is boundless.
Robust Scalability
The digital marketplace is dynamic, with sales often experiencing unprecedented surges. With Shopify Plus, these fluctuations aren’t daunting. The platform boasts the capability to process over 10,000 transactions per minute.
This ensures that whether it’s Black Friday, a flash sale, or an unexpected viral product moment, businesses can operate with the confidence they need to remain resilient against peak traffic.
Fortified Security
In an age where data breaches and cyber threats are on the rise, security is not just a feature but a necessity. Shopify Plus prioritises this by offering Level 1 PCI compliance, ensuring that sensitive customer data and transactional information are safeguarded. Complementing this is a dedicated SSL certificate, which not only encrypts data but also enhances customer trust by displaying that coveted padlock symbol next to your URL.
Comprehensive Integrations
The power of an ecommerce platform is often magnified by its ability to seamlessly integrate with other tools and systems.
Shopify Plus shines in this domain, offering holistic integrations spanning from Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to dynamic social media selling platforms. The result? A cohesive ecosystem where data flows smoothly, and businesses can harness the power of multiple tools in a unified environment.
But to really get the most out of replatforming to Shopify Plus, there are some key considerations. These can be applied to any replatform project, not just to Shopify Plus:
1. What are your goals for replatforming?
Every enterprise has its trajectory. Are you aiming for global expansion, improving user experience, or focusing on mobile commerce? Aligning your goals with Shopify Plus’s capabilities ensures that you get the most out of your investment.
2. What are your biggest pain points with your current eCommerce platform?
Often, businesses outgrow platforms that can’t scale as they evolve, leading to inefficiencies or reduced capabilities. Understand what’s holding you back currently—be it the lack of features, slow loading times, or security vulnerabilities. Shopify Plus is designed to alleviate many of these pain points.
3. What do you love about your current platform?
Preserving what works is as important as improving what doesn’t. Knowing the strengths of your current platform helps in ensuring a smooth transition and retaining features that your team and customers value.
4. What features are you missing that would make your life easier?
Ecommerce leaders need tools that streamline operations. Whether it’s automation, better analytics, or integrated marketing tools, identifying these missing links can help you leverage Shopify Plus more effectively.
5. What do your customers say they like/dislike about your current site?
The voice of the customer is paramount. Feedback can provide insights into UI/UX improvements, checkout process enhancements, and more. After all, an upgrade should resonate with both internal teams and the end consumers.
6. How easy is it for you to make changes/updates to your site?
Agility is a defining characteristic of successful e-businesses. If updating products, banners, or promotions is a Herculean task on your current platform, it’s time to seek the ease and flexibility Shopify Plus offers.
7. How robust is your product data? Do you have good-quality product images and descriptions?
Transitioning to a new platform offers an opportunity to refine product data, ensuring SEO optimization and a better customer experience. Shopify Plus supports rich media, high-quality imagery, and detailed descriptions to showcase your products in the best light.
Project management, ensuring a successful migration to Shopify
Once your ducks are in order, and you’ve considered all that you need, it’s time to plan out your re-platforming project, here are our main 4 elements to nail during this process.
1. Data Migration: The Heartbeat of Customer Experience
Data is the lifeblood of your eCommerce operations. Any discrepancy in its migration can critically impact the experience of your valued customers.
Customer Account Details: At its core, every piece of customer data, from email addresses to saved addresses, should find its way to the new system. Passwords, however, are an exception. These should be reset to maintain the highest level of security. As you transition, keeping your customers in the loop about enhanced features, or upgrades like faster delivery services, can foster trust and excitement.
Customer Order Histories: An archive of past purchases isn’t just a record; it’s a treasure trove of insights. If your marketing or loyalty schemes lean on this data, its migration isn’t just recommended; it’s paramount. Without this, manual management of returns or exchanges might become the interim solution, potentially slowing down processes.
2. SEO: Safeguarding Your Digital Presence
Organic sessions, for many retailers, are the pillars supporting their online revenue structures. As you replatform, ensuring that this pillar remains unshaken is vital.
Beyond the “SEO-friendly” Pitch: It’s not uncommon to hear vendors tout their platform as ‘SEO friendly.’ But in reality, this claim requires a foundation of manual adjustments and customised efforts. If organic revenue is your lifeline, collaborate closely with your provider to outline and address every SEO consideration.
URLs and Redirect Strategy: The migration might alter your URLs, and here, a comprehensive redirect plan becomes your shield. This strategy should not just accommodate new changes, but also preserve any existing redirects.
Meta Content Review: Replatforming is a strategic juncture to refine meta content, aligning it with the new or migrated information. Understanding how product data drives meta content can ensure optimization tailored for search engines.
3. Crafting a Unified Ecosystem
Today’s customer doesn’t just interact with your business; they engage across varied touchpoints. Thus, seamless integration emerges as the keystone of modern eCommerce.
Your eCommerce platform should be the nexus of your data – from customer profiles to inventory metrics. This centralised view ensures that data-driven decisions, pivotal for revenue growth, are precise and impactful.
During replatforming, a visual representation of your business’s data flow can be invaluable. It guarantees that every fragment of data, whether from in-store interactions, your primary website, or third-party platforms, seamlessly integrates, ensuring a smooth shopping experience for your customers.
Replatforming to Shopify Plus in 2023 and 2024
Embarking on a replatforming journey is monumental, no doubt, but with a rigorous and meticulously planned approach, the course becomes navigable. While each project is distinct, this blended guide offers a holistic compass, ensuring that as you press the ignition on your major implementation project, you’re not just anticipating the future, but sculpting it.