In this case study, we explore the process and outcomes behind the successful re-platforming of an e-commerce website. Learn how a strategic migration can boost performance, scalability, and customer satisfaction. Discover the specific steps, challenges, and lessons from a 2025 success story—read on to see how your business might benefit from a similar transformation.
The Re-Platforming Decision: Why Migrate to a New E-commerce Platform?
For many online retailers, growth brings new challenges that legacy platforms can’t meet. In our examined case, the e-commerce company faced sluggish site speeds, limited integrations, complex workflows, and frequent downtime. Switching e-commerce platforms is a major decision—one often triggered by accumulating technical debt and changing customer expectations.
According to a 2025 DIGITAL Retailers’ Survey, 64% of medium and large online businesses planned a re-platforming initiative to improve customer experience and enable business expansion. Migrating to a modern platform makes it easier to:
- Support omnichannel sales and marketing
- Implement new payment and shipping options
- Enhance site speed and SEO performance
- Keep up with compliance and security requirements
The brand in this case study took a data-driven approach, analyzing customer pain points, traffic reports, and operational costs before proceeding.
Planning a Seamless Migration: Technical Strategy and Stakeholder Involvement
Effective website migration planning mitigates risk and maximizes value. In early 2025, the company assembled a cross-functional task force that included IT, marketing, CX, sales, and customer support leaders. Key planning activities included:
- Outlining current site architecture, integrations, and customizations.
- Defining measurable business objectives: 40% faster page loads, 99.95% uptime, improved mobile conversion rates, and easier backend management.
- Scoping must-have features for the new platform, such as headless commerce support, API connectivity, and robust analytics.
- Performing a thorough vendor assessment, considering leading SaaS solutions with scalable infrastructure.
Transparent communication and detailed documentation kept all stakeholders informed and invested, which contributed to a smooth rollout.
Execution: Managing Data Migration, Integrations, and SEO Preservation
Execution was the critical phase of data migration strategy. The tech team collaborated closely with vendors and an experienced migration consultant to ensure data integrity and minimal disruption. Their approach included:
- Incrementally migrating inventory, customer, and order databases to the new platform using automated scripts.
- Maintaining a complete backup and audit trail throughout the transfer process.
- Rebuilding tactical integrations for payment gateways, CRMs, logistics, and marketing automation tools.
- Preserving search equity by mapping old URLs to new structures, implementing 301 redirects, and testing extensively with SEO audits using 2025’s recommended best practices.
They also established a test environment mirroring live site conditions, enabling robust quality assurance before launch. This reduced downtime to under 90 minutes during the final switchover.
User Experience Redesign: Improvements in Conversion and Engagement
The user experience redesign offered a chance to reimagine the digital storefront. Extensive research, including A/B testing and customer interviews, guided the process. By the end of the migration, customers benefited from:
- Simplified navigation and streamlined checkout flows
- Personalized product recommendations powered by AI
- Faster page loads—with a median speed improvement from 5.2s to 1.7s (2025 analytics data)
- Enhanced accessibility and responsive design for mobile shoppers
After three months, the brand measured a 27% lift in average order value and a 19% increase in mobile conversions—demonstrating clear ROI from their investment in enhanced usability.
Overcoming Challenges: Lessons Learned and Best Practices
Even with meticulous planning, re-platforming presented common e-commerce migration challenges. The team encountered several learnings:
- Data Loss Risks: Early test runs revealed missing values and format mismatches. Solution: multiple test migrations and close validation by business users.
- Staff Training: The new backend UI required hands-on training sessions, FAQs, and a quick-reference guide.
- SEO Fluctuation: Temporary ranking losses required ongoing monitoring and outreach to search engines.
- Customer Support Scaling: Anticipating post-migration traffic spikes, call center staffing and live chat availability were increased during the transition window.
The company’s key takeaway? Invest in rigorous testing, communicate proactively with internal and external users, and embed analytics to monitor real-world performance continuously.
Measurable Outcomes: Business Impact After Re-Platforming
The successful business impact of re-platforming was reflected in both technical metrics and bottom-line results. Within six months of launch, highlights included:
- Uptime: Achieved 99.97% site availability (up from 98.8%)
- Site Speed: Homepage load times decreased by nearly 67%
- Conversion Rate: Overall ecommerce conversion improved by 15%
- Customer Satisfaction: NPS scores rose from 38 to 53
- Operational Efficiency: Reduced average admin time per order by 30%
Senior leadership reported increased agility and positive feedback from both customers and staff, confirming the re-platform was a catalyst for sustained growth.
FAQs About E-commerce Website Re-Platforming
- What is re-platforming in e-commerce?
Re-platforming refers to migrating your online store from one technology platform or system to another, often for improved performance, scalability, security, and features. - How long does an e-commerce re-platforming project take?
Typical re-platforming timelines range from 3 to 9 months, depending on site complexity, integrations, data volumes, and available resources. - Will re-platforming affect my SEO rankings?
While temporary dips are possible, careful planning—such as 301 redirects, duplicate content checks, and regular SEO audits—can preserve and eventually improve rankings. - How much does it cost to re-platform an e-commerce store?
Costs vary widely, from $30,000 for simple stores to several hundred thousand for complex sites. The best approach is a detailed needs assessment and vendor RFP. - Is data loss common during migration?
Not if the migration is carefully managed. Multiple test runs, backups, and validation processes minimize data loss risks. - What is the best platform for e-commerce in 2025?
Modern SaaS solutions like Shopify Plus, Magento Open Source, and Salesforce Commerce Cloud continue to lead in 2025, but the right choice depends on your business model and goals.
In summary, this case study proves that a well-planned e-commerce website re-platforming can drive measurable gains in speed, conversions, and customer experience. For businesses seeking growth in 2025, investing in modern infrastructure is not just an upgrade—it’s a strategic advantage.