A few weeks ago, we discussed the signs it is time to replatform your commerce platform (also called a platform migration). Now that your organization has decided to change platforms, how do you ensure your replatform is a success?
The good news is that these 6 tips apply to any platform migration, regardless of if your organization has selected Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Shopify, BigCommerce, or another commerce platform.
Here are the 6 tips we recommend to ensure your migration goes smoothly:
- Discovery is Key to Your Success
Discovery is defined as the time for strategy workshops and ensuring business alignment. With a successful discovery, both your organization and your agency partner will be best aligned on project scope (launch and post-launch), timeline, and budgets.
Read more ➡ - Know Your Data – Value of an Ecosystem Map
For a successful replatform, you’ll want to have an technical ecosystem map that documents your data as it relates to how your e-commerce platform works and functions. An ecosystem map is a living document that visually showcases third-party touchpoint and data flow, allowing both deep technical and less technical people alike to understand how your website works.
Read more ➡ - Challenge the Status Quo
Your organization has been doing things a certain way for a long time. Determine why you do things a certain way and if you have to continue doing it that way. This can be both analyzing your current processes and/or analyzing your feature requirements. What are truly your “requirements” for process and features in your replatform? Just because you’ve “always done things this way,” doesn’t mean it can’t be changed or improved.
Read more ➡ - Build a Strategy for Launch Day
Launch strategy is critical for a successful replatform (or any website project launch)! Make sure you have properly and thoroughly performed UAT, make sure your team has been trained, have a launch checklist and ensure everyone knows their responsibilities, have a launch day call with all involved teams, and ensure you have a hypercare period with your agency partner. With a supportive partner in place and a strong launch-day plan, you should have a smooth launch on the big day!
Read more ➡ - Create Your Roadmap
In your roadmap, determine what should fit in phase 1 for launch. Build your new site. Launch it. Use it. Once you have used your site for a few months, you’ll have a better understanding of what to refine and improve on for phase two onward. With your roadmap, be sure to have realistic timelines that work for your capacity and your team and include features that fit in your budget.
Read more ➡ - Find a Long-Term Partnership
When looking at agency partners, first determine how you want to work with your agency partner. Are you looking for a systems integrator (SI) to direct and augment your team? Or are you looking for an experienced team to provide recommendations, best practice, and be a long-term guide on your commerce journey in building out your roadmap? Ultimately, your vision and roadmap will take years; find a partner that cares about your business to learn, grow, and achieve together.
Read more ➡
Are you interested in learning more about platform migrations at CQL?
