Context and Challenge
While many companies opt for platform-based development, our client wanted a custom solution tailored to their audience’s needs. Their choice was justified, as platform-based development comes with several weaknesses:
- Limited customization: Rigid templates and restrictive features would hinder the client’s vision for a unique, tailored experience.
- Uncertain performance: Shared hosting and platform limits could make the site slow and unable to handle high traffic or growing demand.
- Compromised control: When choosing a platform-based development, HFN would be forced to follow the platform’s rules. Prices could change at any time, and important features could be limited or removed, meaning HFN’s business would depend heavily on third-party service providers.
- Restricted marketing and SEO: The limited SEO capabilities of e-commerce platforms could make page optimization more difficult for HFN. This would be particularly risky during peak sales periods that generate a big part of yearly revenue.
Because of these challenges, HFN chose custom development, ensuring complete control over their solutions and driving a unique shopping experience for their customers.
Client’s Objectives
HFN turned to Forbytes to achieve the following goals:
- Develop 4 custom webshops to increase their online e-commerce presence
- Optimize these webshops to ensure scalability and handle traffic spikes
- Add user engagement features to drive conversion and increase sales
How We Approached the Project
From the start of our collaboration with HFN, we knew an agile and adaptive development approach was a must. Here’s how we tackled it, step by step:
- Understanding requirements: We began by working closely with HFN to learn about their business, audience, and goals. By understanding their needs, we made sure to set clear goals from the beginning, so each webshop would be unique, functional, and ready to work well.
- Ensuring scalability: We knew the webshops had to handle lots of visitors, especially during busy times like Black Friday. So, we made sure each site was fast and could handle traffic spikes. We also added a CDN to make the sites load quickly and stay reliable.
- Agile & adaptive development: We used an agile approach, so HFN could continually enhance their webshops to meet evolving customer needs. This helped us quickly add new features, fix problems fast, and connect with third-party services, keeping the webshops up-to-date and responsive.
Solution Overview
We’ve built unique online stores that work perfectly on the web, mobile, and tablets. These webshops are fast, visually appealing, and equipped with the following advanced features:
- Product stress factor alerts: We added pop-up notifications to alert customers when the stock was low or prices were about to change. This encouraged quicker purchase decisions and boosted conversions.
- AR visualization: Since online shopping can feel uncertain without seeing a product up close, we integrated augmented reality into the stores, allowing customers to view products in 3D before buying.
- SEO optimization: Unlimited SEO capabilities of custom development helped the webshops rank higher in search results, attracting more visitors and increasing organic traffic.
- Third-party integrations: By integrating Salesforce and Voyado, we streamlined sales management and customer interactions. So, HFN could track leads, personalize customer experiences, and drive more sales, all from one place.
- Gift cards & promo codes: We gave customers more reasons to return to HFN’s webshops by adding easy-to-use discounts, gift cards, and promo codes.
- Easy-peasy insurance: HFN previously faced challenges with damaged product deliveries. We introduced flexible insurance options, offering customers peace of mind and building trust in the brand.
- Delivery service integration: Real-time order updates improved the shopping experience by keeping customers informed and reducing uncertainty.
- Black Friday campaign optimization: We helped HFN prepare for Black Friday. From dynamic product updates and targeted discounts to eye-catching banners, 3D product previews, and video ads, we optimized webshops to handle traffic spikes and maximize sales.
With these custom features, HFN’s webshops weren’t just another set of online stores, they became engaging, high-performing websites that customers love to shop on.
Detailed Execution Timeline
With a team of 15 developers, we streamlined the development process to deliver 4 fully functional webshops. To ensure efficiency, we structured the development into several key phases:
- Discovery & planning
- Infrastructure setup
- Product data management
- Vendor & stock data integration
- Pricing & promotions
- Third-party integrations
- User access & permissions
- Performance & scalability optimization
- Quality assurance & testing
Result and Impact
Qualitative results:
- Seamless e-commerce development: We successfully built and launched 4 webshops on time and within budget, helping HFN expand its online presence.
- Smart data management: Webshop data syncs smoothly with HFN’s CRM, making tracking customer interactions and sales performance easier.
- Frictionless payments: By integrating multiple payment gateways, we created a secure and effortless checkout experience for clients.
- A personalized shopping experience: Custom, user-centric designs make it simple for customers to navigate, find products, and enjoy shopping.
Key Takeaways and Lessons Learnt
Success factors:
- Close collaboration with the client: We teamed up with HFN to deeply study their challenges and goals. This helped us design webshops that solved real issues and met their customers’ needs.
- Continuous improvements: We worked in short cycles and made changes as needed to keep the project on track and make sure every website worked well.
- Strong partnership: Our long-term relationship with HFN helped us understand their business. This trust made it easier to work together and bring the best project results.
- E-commerce know-how: With our experience in e-commerce, we knew how to create a solution that outperformed competitors and solved common industry problems.
- A flexible, custom solution: Instead of using a ready-made platform, we built a solution just for HFN. This gave them full control, room to grow, and the ability to change as their business expanded.
Challenges overcome:
- Difficulty in reaching a broader audience: Expanding your customer base isn’t easy. With multiple webshops, HFN can target different markets and reach more customers instead of relying on a single online store.
- Traffic spikes: Handling high traffic with one online store is difficult, especially during peak times. With 4 webshops, HFN processes many orders efficiently without performance drops.
- Lack of customization: Rigid templates and restrictive features limit the shopping experience. With custom webshops, HFN offers a unique buying adventure for different customer groups.
- Low customer engagement: Without built-in marketing features, customers may lose interest in the company’s products. We designed webshops to make shopping easier and more engaging, helping customers find products quickly and complete their purchases without frustration.
- Inability to scale up: If solutions are rigid, improving them is difficult. We created custom webshops that grow alongside customers’ needs.
- Poor online visibility: Standing out online is challenging. That’s why we optimized webshops for SEO and marketing, helping HFN attract more customers and improve search engine visibility.
By building 4 webshops with advanced features, we overcame all these challenges and created a basis for HFN’s further growth and innovation.
