E-commerce
E-commerce Migration & Replatforming
Most replatforming projects are sold on the new storefront and lost on the details behind it — the URLs nobody mapped, the order history that did not come across, the integration that was rebuilt from a screenshot. Those are the parts we plan first, because they are the parts that decide whether the migration was worth doing.
What a migration actually involves
Deciding whether to move at all
The first honest question is whether the platform is the problem. Stores that feel slow and fragile are often carrying years of plugins, an unindexed database and hosting picked on price — none of which a new platform fixes, and all of which follow you. We audit before recommending a replatform, and we say so when staying put is the better spend.
Protecting the search rankings you already have
The single most common way a migration destroys value: the new platform generates different URLs, the old ones start returning 404s, and every ranking attached to them is thrown away. We inventory every existing URL, map each to a destination, and verify the redirects resolve — before launch and again afterwards.
Moving the data, not just the design
Products, variants, categories, customers and historical orders, including the awkward parts — custom fields, non-standard attributes, and the data someone has been maintaining in a spreadsheet since 2019. Password hashing differs between platforms, so we plan the customer reset communication rather than letting it become a launch-day surprise.
Rebuilding the integrations
ERP and inventory, POS, freight carriers and rate logic, payment gateways, subscriptions, marketing and CRM. These are usually the real timeline driver, and the reason a migration quoted on catalogue size alone runs over.
Cutover and the weeks after
A launch plan with a rollback position, then active monitoring of search performance, redirects and conversion once traffic is on the new store. Migrations are judged on the month after go-live, not the day of it.
The proof
Work we have shipped, not a capability deck.
- Aelia Duty FreeTaking over an Adobe Commerce platform that was underperforming under a previous arrangement — stabilising it first, then improving it. Multi-currency, multi-location, and duty and tax rules that leave no room for approximation.Read the case study
- MUK HaircareAn established Australian retail brand rebuilt on custom WordPress, with the internal team running content and campaigns afterwards.Read the case study
Common questions
Will we lose our Google rankings when we replatform?
Not if URLs are treated as a deliverable rather than an afterthought. Most traffic losses after a replatform come from one cause: the new platform generates different URLs, the old ones return 404s, and every ranking attached to them is discarded. The fix is unglamorous — inventory every existing URL, map each to its destination, and verify the redirects resolve before launch and again after. We hold ourselves to that too: this site was migrated off WordPress with an automated check that fails the build unless 100% of the old URLs still resolve or redirect.
How long does an e-commerce migration take?
For a straightforward catalogue with standard integrations, usually weeks rather than months. What extends it is rarely the storefront — it is data quality, custom functionality that has to be rebuilt rather than carried across, and integrations with ERP, POS or fulfilment systems. We would rather scope those three honestly up front than discover them mid-migration.
Can you migrate our order history and customer accounts?
Yes. Products, variants, categories, customers and historical orders can all move; what varies is how cleanly, depending on the source platform and how much custom data lives in non-standard fields. Passwords are the usual exception — hashing differs between platforms, so customers normally need one password reset. Planning that communication is part of the migration, not a surprise on launch day.
Should we migrate at all, or fix what we have?
Often the second one. A store that feels slow or fragile is frequently carrying accumulated plugins, an unindexed database or hosting chosen on price — none of which a new platform fixes, and all of which follow you if the underlying discipline does not change. We audit before recommending a replatform, and we will tell you when staying put is the better spend.
Which platform should we move to?
It depends on who maintains it. Shopify if you would rather not think about hosting, security or upgrades. WooCommerce if you want to own the store outright and run content and commerce from one WordPress install. Adobe Commerce when catalogue rules, B2B pricing, multi-store or ERP integration would fight a hosted platform. We are not tied to any of them.
Do you work with retailers outside Sydney?
Our head office is in Sydney and we work with clients across Australia — Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and regional NSW included. Delivery has been remote-first for years, so a project runs the same way whether you are ten minutes away or in another state: scheduled calls, a shared board you can see at any time, and one named point of contact. We are happy to meet in person in Sydney.
Engagement models
How we work
Four straightforward ways to engage us. Pick the one that fits, or mix them as your needs change.
Staff Augmentation
Add experienced Shakewell developers, designers or specialists directly to your own team. Engagements typically run three to twelve months, but can be as short or long as you need — you get the skills without the commitment and cost of hiring full-time.
About staff augmentationFixed-Scope Projects
Have a defined outcome in mind? We scope it, price it and deliver it as a project — a clear timeline, agreed milestones and a single point of accountability from kickoff to handover.
Embedded Delivery Teams
For larger or longer-running work, a cross-functional Shakewell team — development, design and delivery management — plugs in as your delivery arm, working to your priorities and your reporting cadence.
Support & Maintenance
Already live? We keep websites, stores and apps secure, updated and performing through ongoing retainers — business-hours support as standard, with 24/7 coverage available for critical issues.
About support & maintenance