"Building with native capabilities allows us to create an optimised experience. It reduces dependency on third-party apps, ensuring better performance and flexibility to adapt as business needs evolve. This approach empowers us to maintain control over the user experience and make dynamic changes without being constrained by external limitations."

Michael Klim, Co-founder & CTO at Commerce-UI.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:

What drives a business to replatform varies; from current platform constraints, to changing business operational needs and onerous running costs. Project complexity also varies, depending on the size of business, systems architecture, business processes and geographical spread.

However, all projects share common challenges, including the need to unearth how a business really works and build a solution that delivers on functional and operational needs whilst being usable and fixing known issues, all within an acceptable cost model. To achieve this clarity is required, and businesses and their agency partners need to make compromises to deliver the project within agreed guardrails.

This podcast explores how Commerce UI took a brief from Lupine's CEO to rebuild everything, unify everything & rebrand everything across a hybrid DTC and B2B business, and collaborated with the client to build a viable solution based on detailed analysis of the wider business needs for ecommerce.

We focus on the process Commerce UI and Lupine went through to achieve project goals, not the platform they chose.

What you can expect:

• Replatforming challenges: every project is unique, with different technology decisions and complexities. Common challenges include change management and making compromises for optimal outcomes.
• Discovery process: a thorough discovery process is crucial, involving understanding branding, digital UI/UX and operational improvements. This helps align the technical solution with the brand's vision.
• Front-end decision-making: choosing between headless and theme-based solutions depends on team composition, future plans and specific project needs. A theme was chosen for its B2B advantages and design flexibility.
• B2B Capabilities: Shopify is evolving in the B2B space, offering open APIs and tools like Shopify Flow for custom logic, though it doesn't yet match enterprise-grade solutions.
• UI/UX Considerations: balancing the needs of D2C and B2B users requires distinct approaches, as each group has different intents and requirements.
• Product Configuration: Using native tools like metaobjects allows for flexible and scalable product configurations, reducing dependency on third-party apps.
• Change management: successful projects require managing client-side change, as new systems alter team operations and expectations.

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What you'll learn:

• The evolution of Salesforce Commerce Cloud and the drive to rediscover its competitive edge.
• How AI is enhancing user experience and agility.
• Strategic priorities and future directions for enterprise commerce.

Summary:Salesforce Commerce Cloud has long been considered a heavyweight in the enterprise ecommerce space, but has lost many SME clients to platforms like Shopify with more compelling roadmaps. As it ramps up investment in the platform, we explore what type of business it is relevant to now, and why.In this episode, Rob Smith, SVP of Commerce at OSF Digital, pulls back the curtain on the platform’s evolution, and what it really takes to compete with newer, leaner solutions like Shopify and Centra.You’ll discover how Salesforce’s focus on multi-country, multi-language management keeps it in the upper right of Gartner’s Magic Quadrant = suitable for large, complex brands.Rob answers common challenges:

• What common refrains are still applicable?
• Has recent investment in AI, React-based architecture and agentic merchandising made it more agile and user-friendly, especially for fast-paced replatforming projects?
• What's the minimum GMV a retailer needs to make platform investment viable?

We break down the real costs, implementation speed and much criticised admin experience, plus what’s coming next.We explore the strategic priorities Salesforce is doubling down on, from AI-enhanced search and recommendations to scalable infrastructure that’s built for trust and uptime. Rob shares candid insights into how the platform is balancing between enterprise needs and simplifying the admin experience without sacrificing power. Whether you’re considering a Salesforce project or just want to understand its future trajectory, this episode provides a nuanced, honest view of what to watch for.Hit play now to explore whether Salesforce Commerce Cloud can keep pace with your next big growth move, and how its latest innovations are tailored to enterprise commerce.Chapters:[01:00] Salesforce Commerce Cloud market segmentation, target business size & recent evolution.[05:45] Challenges related to admin complexity and platform usability.[07:00] Salesforce's maturity for multi-country, multi-language, multi-currency setups.[09:25] The new Salesforce reference application built on React and Tailwind.[10:40] AI-driven front-end development and automation in replatforming projects.[12:10] Suitability of Salesforce for different business sizes and use cases.[13:30] Speed to market and platform deployment times.[16:15] AI and agentic tools integration for marketing and content management.[17:30] Licensing fees and cost flexibility for enterprise clients.[19:45] Admin UI improvements and UX enhancements.[21:15] Strategic focus areas including search & recommendations.[26:20] Handling complex enterprise requirements versus mid-market needs.[27:45] Balancing feature richness with partner ecosystem and third-party integrations.[34:35] Salesforce's strategic direction towards integrated data, marketing and commerce tools.[39:00] Practical limitations and user experience gaps in current platforms like Shopify.[42:15] The shifting landscape of legacy enterprise platforms and Salesforce’s position.

"Brands don't know what they don't know. A consultant makes teams think about things in detail. It's an education piece."

Francesca Raggio, Ecommerce Consultant, Vervaunt

This podcast features experts discussing the critical role of consultants in ecommerce website migrations. We share insights on project management, stakeholder engagement, technical discovery and how to avoid common pitfalls in replatforming projects.

The episode pools the replatforming experience of James Gurd with senior consultants from Vervaunt, Shamoli Miah (Operations Director) and Francesca Raggio (Ecommerce Specialist).

Having worked on a wide range of projects, they understand the real challenge isn’t about the tech; it’s the clarity, co-ordination and governance that enables multiple teams to function coherently together and handle the stresses that come with technology projects.

Some of the biggest surprises come from content audits and data structure planning - things that many teams underestimate and leave until it’s too late. When you try to migrate thousands of products or reimagine your digital experience without proper planning, the results can be costly.

Consultants are essential not just for technical expertise but for guiding teams through chaotic complexities: setting expectations, managing stakeholder alignment and ensuring you’re not flying blind.

The value lies in thorough pre-discovery, continuous education, and the ability to challenge assumptions with honest, evidence-based insights.

This isn’t about adding layers of bureaucracy; it’s about making the whole process smoother, more predictable and ultimately more successful.

Tune in for an objective view of what the role of an external consultant should be, and how to know whether you need to add one to your project team.

Chapters

[00:35] Introduction to Ecommerce Consulting and Migrations

[03:10] Understanding Replatforming Approaches

[06:15] The Importance of Pre-Discovery in Projects

[09:15] Common Challenges in Ecommerce Migrations

[12:15] The Role of Governance in Project Management

[15:10] Stakeholder Management and Accountability

[17:40] Content and Data Migration Challenges

[20:35] Planning for Successful Ecommerce Projects

[30:35] Navigating Technical Discovery

[40:00] Understanding User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

[49:05] Consultant Skills for Ecommerce Success