Ecommerce Platforms and Order Management Systems:Considerations and Tactics
Arthur McManusSenior Vice President
Rodney WoodruffVP Engineering
It’s Complicated!
How Do You Know?
47.2%
Source: Internet Retailer 2016 Ecommerce Survey
Nearly half of the retailers surveyed want to re-platform
52.8%
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 2
Should you upgrade your technology?
AGENDA
• Ecommerce Platform and Order Management Systems Evaluations
• Replatforming Requirements for Selection
• Running Successful Implementations
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 3
FitForCommerceSpecialized consultancy founded to help businesses accelerate growth by leveraging digital.
Trusted advisor to hundreds of retailers.
Digital Diligence™Our philosophy and methodology based on an investment and due diligence mindset for decision-making to ensure success.
We are the help.
Curated digital innovation tracking and applied market advice to businesses in a CDO-on-demand service.
Benchmarking ofTop 120 Retailers for Web, Mobile, Storecapabilities
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 4IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Ecommerce Platforms (ECP) and Order Management Systems (OMS) Evaluations
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 5
STRATEGIC DILIGENCE & KNOWLEDGE GATHERING
eCommerceSite Evaluation
Strategic Analysis
Market Landscape& Assessment
REQUIREMENTS DILIGENCE SELECTION DILIGENCE IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW
RequirementsDefinition
WorkflowDefinition
Optional:Design Wireframes
RFP Development & Long List Creation
RFP Distribution, Response & Analysis
Provider(s) Selection
Optional:Contract(s) Assistance
ImplementationCoaching
Project/SelectionReview
FeedbackProject MgmtAssistance
LAUNCH !
Site Metrics Summary Document
RequirementsDefinition Grid
RequirementsDefinition Summary
System ContextDiagram
Site WorkflowDocument
RFP(s)
Long List ofTargeted Providers
Short List ofTargeted Providers
RFP(s)Tracking
RFP(s) ComparativeAnalysis
Finalists &Recommendations
Client SMEs/Functional Owners
Consultants eCommerce IndustryBest Practices
eCommerce Technology/Services
Providers
Chosen eCommerceProvider(s)
NewWebstore
Site Eval
Strategic DiligenceDocuments
Strategy Selection Implementation
Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 6IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop
Evaluation Process
• 3 year strategy to achieve targeted online growth
• Formalize RFP to vendors
• Compare apples to apples
Self Assessment and Gap Analysis
Market AssessmentBenchmark
• Define Functional Requirements in Detail
Commerce Strategy
Competitive Analysis and Corporate Strategy
Requirements
Knowledge Gathering:Commerce Ecosystem Landscape
ECOMMERCE PLATFORM (ECP) Replacement
• Local landscape - Market sizing
//
Selection
Technologies Services Providers (SIs) Delivery Models
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 7
Time for a Change?
Market Assessment and Commerce Strategy:
Falling behind the competition and retail partners
▪ Don’t have the tools?
Missing benchmarks and/or not exhibiting best practices
▪ Desire to expand Omni-Channel capabilities – BOPUS, Endless Isle, Ship from store etc.
▪ Increased B2B needs
▪ Growing internationally
▪ Mobile first approach
▪ Desire to offer more “flash sales” business model
▪ Potential acquisition strategy
Evolving Go-To-Market Strategy
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 8
What’s Your North Star?
Mobile First Omnichannel
•Clienteling / CRM
•Integration with POS
•Order Management
•Enterprise Fulfillment
•360 view of the customer for marketing and customer service
User Experience
•Personalization
•Merchandising
•Enhanced Search
•Engaging and Useful Content
Content Management
•User Generated
•Content Management Systems (CMS)
•Product Information Mgmt (PIM)
Social Media Integration
Enhanced Customer Service
•Customer-Managed Tasks
International B2B, B2B2C
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 9
• 3 year strategy to achieve targeted online growth
• Formalize RFP to vendors
• Compare apples to apples
Self Assessment and Gap Analysis
Market AssessmentBenchmark
• Define Functional Requirements in Detail
Commerce Strategy
Competitive Analysis and Corporate Strategy
Requirements
Knowledge Gathering:Commerce Ecosystem Landscape
ECOMMERCE PLATFORM (ECP) Replacement
• Local landscape - Market sizing
//
Selection
Technologies Services Providers (SIs) Delivery Models
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 10
Time for a Change?
Self Assessment:
Limited Scalability - inability to handle increased demand
▪ Can’t support Omni-Channel Strategy?
Non existing OMS capabilities
▪ Can’t do what you want? – Difficult to maintain
▪ Poor user experience tools
▪ Requires IT support for business user enhancements
▪ Poor business administration/user tools
Growing platform deficiencies
▪ Too expensive? Low ROI?
Increasing internal costs
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 11
• 3 year strategy to achieve targeted online growth
Self Assessment and Gap Analysis
Market AssessmentBenchmark
Commerce Strategy
Competitive Analysis and Corporate Strategy
Requirements
Knowledge Gathering:Commerce Ecosystem Landscape
ECOMMERCE PLATFORM (ECP) Replacement
• Local landscape - Market sizing
//
Selection
Technologies Services Providers (SIs) Delivery Models
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 12
Technologies
ECP
Merchandising PIM
ERPMarketing
OMS
CRM WMS
Customer Service CMS
Mobile/Social In-store/POS
Platforms
Point SolutionsBest-of-breed
Micro Services
Home Grown
Service Providers
TypesCategoriesSystems Integrators
Digital Agencies
End-to-end Providers
Delivery Models
SaaS/PaaS
Licensed/On Premise
Licensed/Hosted
Headless
Hybrid
Custom Development
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 13
Knowledge Gathering: Commerce Ecosystem Landscape
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 14
ECP OMS
WMS
CRM
Site Search
Ratings & Reviews
Merchandising
Marketing
SEO/SEM
CSEs
Affiliate
Social
Mobile
Data/Analytics
Personalization
ContentLoyalty
Bundling
Assortment
Searchandising
Recommendations
Payments
CMS
Customer Care
Call Center
CRMCustomer Satisfaction
MeasurementGifting
Security Fraud
Hosting
Logistics
FulfillmentReturns
Inventory
Chat
CDNPerformance
Customer Insights
Digital Galaxy
MCP
Omnichannel
Global
Data WH
ERP
Display Advertising
PIMDAM
Instagram YouTube
UGC
SnapchatRetargeting
Chatbots
AI/Machine Learning
Payments
Stores
Clienteling
BOPIS BORIS
ROPIS
Video
Voice
Same-Day
AR/VR Marketplaces
Size & Fit
Feed Mgmt. AdvertisingAttribution
Predictive AnalysisBI
Localization
Campaign Mgmt.
Dropship
Amazon
Retailer-Operated
Configurator
Influencer
Cross-Border
Tax
GDPRPCI
Major Technology Components and Integrations
CustomerCRM
Marketing
Webstore(ECP / CMS)
Order Mgmt(OMS)
FulfillmentWMS
ERP
CustomerService
Customers/ordersInventory
Shipping info
Tracking info
SalesTracking
info
Inventory
Price/Stock Qty.
MerchandisingCatalog
Pricing
Content
Images
Traffic
Retail(POS)
Mobile store(MCP)
Catalog
Product InfoMgmt (PIM)
Cust/Order
© FitForCommerce
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 15
SMB EnterpriseMid Market Large
$0 $30 MM $75 MM $200 MM $1 Billion
Customer Tiers Annual Online Revenue
SMB: $0 – 30 SMB, Mid-Market: $25 – 75 MM, Large $60 – 200 MM, Enterprise $200 MM +
ECP Landscape by Market Focus
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 16
**Not a complete list**
SMB EnterpriseMid Market Large
$0 $30 MM $75 MM $200 MM $1 Billion
Customer Tiers Annual Online Revenue
SMB: $0 – 30 SMB, Mid-Market: $25 – 75 MM, Large $60 – 200 MM, Enterprise $200 MM +
OMS Landscape by Market Focus
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 17
**Not a complete list**
Understanding Service Providers Ecosystem
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 18
•Experience
•Fill your capabilities gaps
•Repeatable process
•Hosting and/or ongoing services support
Why to Use
•Implement new platform and related technology
•Integrate with internal and third-party systems
•Serve as an extension of your internal teams
Roles They Play
•Experience with both new and existing technology
•Number of developers certified in new technology
•Strong project management
•Methodology that is compatible with internal teams
Skillsets to Consider
•Location
•Company size
•Industry experience
•On-shore/off-shore development teams
•Satisfied clients
Other Considerations
• Implementation, integration and migration services• UI/UX design• Information architecture design• Hosting services• Post-implementation support
• Same as SIs PLUS• Branding• Creative design• Digital marketing functions
Ideal for companies with strong creative, merchandising and marketing teams
• Cover the breadth of the ecommerce ecosystem from product photography to fulfillment
• Includes everything listed under SIs and Digital Agencies• Condense time-to-market
Ideal for companies wishing to completely outsource, shorten time-to-market or in need of a major overhaul
Ideal for companies with a need to outsource creative and marketing functions
Source: FitForCommerce Digital Commerce Services Report, January 2018
SMB EnterpriseMid Market Large
$0 $30 MM $75 MM $200 MM $1 Billion
Customer Tiers Annual Online Revenue
SMB: $0 – 30 SMB, Mid-Market: $25 – 75 MM, Large $60 – 200 MM, Enterprise $200 MM +
SI/Digital Agency Landscape by Market Focus
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 19
**Not a complete list**
Technology and Delivery Models
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 20
Compare – Gap Analysis
Moment of Truth
Future Needs – Current Systems = GAP
It’s Easy, Right?
Take your strategy and objectives and map them to your systems
and processes
✓ Is the gap big enough to warrant a new platform? ✓ Is an additional point solution needed? ✓ Can the current platform be modified?✓ Is it worth it?
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 21
22
Uh-oh…. I Need to Re-platform
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 22
Manage and Run the RFP Process
Make sure you have the time to devote to a comprehensive RFP process
Based on a sampling of FitForCommerce engagements
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 23
25%
35%
40%
Ecom Selection Level of Effort
Strategy
Requirements
Selection
Brand/Retailer
•Executive management
•Ecommerce
•Marketing
•Merchandising
•Fulfillment
•Customer Service
• IT
•…
Provider
•ECP/OMS
•Solution Architect
•Client Engagement Mgr.
•Partner Mgr.
•SI/Digital Agency
•Project Mgr.
• Integration Architect
Consultant
•Technical Lead
•PMO
•SME/Functional expert(s)
•Vertical industry expert(s)
Typical Resources Required
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 24
Company Type, Size, Complexity
• Wholesaler, distributer, pureplay retailer, etc.
• Number of subsidiaries, BUs, internal stakeholders
• IT Complexity
• B2C, B2B, B2B2C, etc.
• …
Project Scope
• Number of Systems in Selection
• OMS
• CMS
• CRM
• …
• SI/Digital Agency selection
• ...
Integrations
• Supply chain
• ERP
• Legacy systems
• Payment systems
• Fulfillment
• Customer Service
• CRM
• MarTech
• …
Global Footprint
• Multiple currencies
• Multiple languages
• Local customs
• Privacy laws
• …
ECP/OMS Complication Drivers
STRATEGIC DILIGENCE & KNOWLEDGE GATHERING
eCommerceSite Evaluation
Strategic Analysis
Market Landscape& Assessment
REQUIREMENTS DILIGENCE SELECTION DILIGENCE IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW
RequirementsDefinition
WorkflowDefinition
Optional:Design Wireframes
RFP Development & Long List Creation
RFP Distribution, Response & Analysis
Provider(s) Selection
Optional:Contract(s) Assistance
ImplementationCoaching
Project/SelectionReview
FeedbackProject MgmtAssistance
LAUNCH !
Site Metrics Summary Document
RequirementsDefinition Grid
RequirementsDefinition Summary
System ContextDiagram
Site WorkflowDocument
RFP(s)
Long List ofTargeted Providers
Short List ofTargeted Providers
RFP(s)Tracking
RFP(s) ComparativeAnalysis
Finalists &Recommendations
Client SMEs/Functional Owners
Consultants eCommerce IndustryBest Practices
eCommerce Technology/Services
Providers
Chosen eCommerceProvider(s)
NewWebstore
Site Eval
Strategic DiligenceDocuments
Strategy Selection Implementation
Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 25IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop
Evaluation Process
Replatforming Requirements for Selection
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 26
Determine, define, and rank your needs✓ Consider short- and long-term strategies
✓ Ensure all stakeholders are involved in requirements gathering
✓ Rank them (500+) in order of priority; classify by need, want, or nice to have.
✓ Identify requirements for managing the site.
✓ Include systems, such as order management, data and processes your eCommerce system will integrate within the back end.
✓ Choose the best solution approach and/or model.
Requirements-Based Selection
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 27
Run the Process!
Perform the RFP process like a funnel with many steps
• Nice long list of providers at the top
• Narrow down based on RFP responses – compare
• Narrow down based on your interactions with providers (presentations, onsite meetings, etc.)
• Narrow down based on finalist meetings
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 28
Building Requirements
Long List
Request for Proposal
Comparative Results
Short List
Finalist Selection
Make Your Decision
Functional
✓Which platform most closely matches my requirements▪ Lower customizations means less risk (schedule / scope / budget)
✓ Look at the provider’s roadmap▪ Does it align with your vision?
Financial
✓ Is the 3-5 yr TCO within your budget?
Cultural
✓Do you have rapport?✓Does the team seem eager, are they engaged?✓Do they respond quickly?
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 29
✓ How the vendor’s implementation team guides the process.
✓ What didn’t go as expected?✓ What was the timing promised for
implementation? What was the actual time for implementation?
✓ If it took longer than expected… Why?✓ Was the provider on budget?✓ Understand that every IT project has its
challenges; ask about how the vendor approached these situations
Check References!!
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 30
• Add budget… and prepare to negotiate
• Align SLAs to expectations
• Consider penalty clauses for missed milestones
• Ensure provider identifies specific implementation team for your project
• Document project milestone payment terms
• Engage expert software & services legal counsel
• Look at both upfront and long-term annual costs
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 31
Prepare to Negotiate
• Most retailers & brands update ecommerce platforms and/or OMS every 3-4 years
• Costs to re-platform can range as high as $4 million+ for large, complex enterprises taking up to 12-24 months
• Costs of smaller projects often range $400K -$1M and can be implemented in 6-12 months
• Replatform Impacts KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) such as conversion, AOV, SEO, etc.
• Ensure you minimize the replatforming impact to KPIs
Re-platforming Can Be Disruptive
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 32
33
Implementation
Keys to Successful Implementations
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 33
STRATEGIC DILIGENCE & KNOWLEDGE GATHERING
eCommerceSite Evaluation
Strategic Analysis
Market Landscape& Assessment
REQUIREMENTS DILIGENCE SELECTION DILIGENCE IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW
RequirementsDefinition
WorkflowDefinition
Optional:Design Wireframes
RFP Development & Long List Creation
RFP Distribution, Response & Analysis
Provider(s) Selection
Optional:Contract(s) Assistance
ImplementationCoaching
Project/SelectionReview
FeedbackProject MgmtAssistance
LAUNCH !
Site Metrics Summary Document
RequirementsDefinition Grid
RequirementsDefinition Summary
System ContextDiagram
Site WorkflowDocument
RFP(s)
Long List ofTargeted Providers
Short List ofTargeted Providers
RFP(s)Tracking
RFP(s) ComparativeAnalysis
Finalists &Recommendations
Client SMEs/Functional Owners
Consultants eCommerce IndustryBest Practices
eCommerce Technology/Services
Providers
Chosen eCommerceProvider(s)
NewWebstore
Site Eval
Strategic DiligenceDocuments
Strategy Selection Implementation
Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 34IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop
Evaluation Process
Running Successful Implementations
1. Management Doesn’t Know Tech
2. Build Your Crew
3. Somethings Old, Somethings New
4. You Aren’t Going to Need It
5. You Site Is Already Too Slow
6. It’s In the Box, You Have to Get It Out
35IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Management
Doesn’t Know
Tech
But, they better care about what is being built.
1. Upper Management should kick off this project with the whole
team to show their complete buy-in.
2. Management should also show confidence in the eCommerce
Project Team.
3. You should communicate to management early, in detailed
fashion, and often with statuses as the project progresses and
not just at milestones. Don’t just share the good stuff. Give
management a chance to help.
4. They won’t always care about the tech but should care about the
team morale and pay careful attention to Features, Change
Requests and whether what is being delivered is on-brand and
focused on the consumer.
36IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Team Members should include someone from …Build
Your
Crew(s)Marketing
Human
Resource
s
Product
ManagementFinance
Engineering
Project
Management
Analytics
User
Experience
Retail
Operations
37IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Build
Your
Crew(s)
cont’d …
Make sure you have people who …
1. Know how the eCommerce system will interact with all other systems. They
need to understand the eCommerce system from the frontend all the way to
fulfillment across all channels.
2. Are experts in their specific domain and how that domain operates within the
company.
3. Are focused on delivering the new platform and not several other jobs.
4. Have been empowered to make decisions without unnecessary red tape.
5. Get along, empower each other and can receive constructive criticism.
6. Feel responsible for the project’s budget.
38IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Build
Your
Crew(s)
cont’d …
Your crew(s) should also include:
1. Store Personnel
2. Warehouse Personnel
3. Traditional IT
4. Customer Service
5. Consultants and Freelancers to fill any gaps or holes in team
knowledge and skills
Also, be aware that:
1. In some companies, marketing, product management and
analytics are all the same person or team.
2. Many organizations still rely on “Traditional IT” to implement all
tech projects.
39IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Build
Your
Crew(s)
cont’d …
Lastly, don’t forget …
The Employee you just remembered actually still works at your
company. 😀
40IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Somethings
Old,
Somethings
New
Avoid chasing new technologies or the latest trend. Instead, …
1. Take inventory of your existing systems.
2. Determine how those systems interact today.
3. Determine how those systems need to be modified to support the
new eCommerce or Omni/Multichannel initiative.
4. Remember that all systems don’t need to be replaced or modified.
5. Remember that your existing systems, as outdated as they may
be, helped the company be as successful as it today.
Online
Content Management
System
(CMS)
eCommerce
Analytics
Personalization
Offline
Point of Sale
(POS)
Traffic Counters
Payment
Loss Prevention
Somethings Old …
Enterprise
ERP
Customer Relationship Management
(CRM)
Product Information Management (PIM)
Customer Service
Order Management System (OMS)
Warehouse Management System (WMS)
Merchandise Planning Systems (MPS)
42IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Somethings
New
“Somethings New” is more about the “How” and less about the
“What”
A. Best project management process
B. Best software architectures
C. Best deployment architectures
43IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Somethings
New
Best
Project
Management
Process
SCRUM – Agile Project Management
From Kamos: http://bit.ly/2rLUsgA
Somethings
New
Best
Software
Architectures
Headless/API Commerce and Microservices
From: Fit For Commerce, Demystifying Microservices, http://bit.ly/2jZjBRk
1. Separates the content presentation layer (content and experience management systems) from
the business logic and functional layer (existing ecommerce stack, integration, and commerce
management).
2. Allows companies to ”turn on” only the components that they need.
3. Microservices go one step further, by separating every element within each layer, enabling even
more flexibility, customization, shoppable experiences, and freedom for innovation.
4. Microservices, because they are deployed individually, allows services to scale independent of
the other services.
45IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Somethings
New
Best
Software
Architectures
I’m sad because my
eCommerce platform is
monolithic!
That’s ok because …
1. You can take advantage of key components of
Headless Commerce strategies.
2. You can implement an API Layer over time to
expose key functionality from the monolithic
system.
3. New ”pure play” API first eCommerce
Platforms are emerging.
46IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Somethings
New
Best
Deployment
Architectures
Deployment architectures continue to evolve …
From: http://bit.ly/2k9bxxC
47IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Somethings
New
Best
Deployment
Architectures
The end goal is Microservices …
From: http://bit.ly/2Gsm2Vs
Old New
48IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Somethings
New
Platforms
On
A
Scale
eCommerce Platforms on a Scale
On-Premise/Private Cloud
Broadleaf
Hybris
Magento
Platform/Software as a Service (PaaS/SaaS)
Demandware
Oracle Commerce Cloud
Headless/API Commerce
Commerce Tools
Skava
49IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Somethings
New
Platforms
On
A
Scale
eCommerce Platforms on a Scale
50IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
You
Aren’t
Gonna
Need
It
From: http://bit.ly/2rVdpyn
51IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
You
Aren’t
Gonna
Need
It
YAGNI: “You Aren’t Gonna Need It” is a principle of extreme
programming (XP) that states a programmer should not add
functionality until deemed necessary. Basically, “Always implement
things when you actually need them, never when you just foresee
that you need them.” (Wikipedia)
1. Be religious about only implementing what you really need to get
to a Minimum Loveable Product.
2. Talk to developers every day. They will always stray and
implement stuff that isn’t really needed. Repetition will trigger an
innate developer efficiency algorithm. “This is the 2nd time I have
done this manually. So, I am going to build something real quick
…”
3. Make sure project team members know how features become
requirements.
52IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Your
Site
Is
Already
Too
Slow0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Automotive Business Classifieds Finance Media Retail Technology Travel
2018 Website Average Load TimesSource: https://www.machmetrics.com/speed-blog/average-page-load-times-websites-2018
United States United Kingdom Germany Japan
This chart is from this year …
53IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Your
Site
Is
Already
Too
Slow ,
cont’d
So, focus on site performance from day one and allow the
engineering team to actually invest in the performance. Some
techniques and technologies to consider:
1. Progressive Enhancement
2. Single Page Application (SPA)
3. Responsive Web Design (RWD)
4. Adaptive Web Design (AWD)
5. Content Distribution Network (CDN)
6. Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)
7. Extremely capable and competent Engineers and Technical
Leads
54IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
It’s
In the
Box,
You
Have to
Get It
Out
NOTHING COMES “OUT OF THE BOX”. PERIOD, FULL STOP!!!!!
ANYONE WHO SAYS THIS IS IMMEDIATELY SUSPICIOUS!
From: http://bit.ly/2rRIHpF
Your engineering team will have to work to expose the functionality for
actual use. This is where much of the time and costs will be incurred.
55IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
It’s
In the
Box,
You
Have to
Get It
Out
Some eCommerce
Platforms try to be
everything:
Some eCommerce
Platforms try to be:
They include everything that
is required. You just add
people and servers.
You have to partner with 3rd
parties and other tech to
deliver the final solution.
56IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Some
Final
Points
1. Content is Queen. Remember the SEO!
2. Change Requests (CRs) cost money!
3. Be See-through.
4. If you build it, they will hack it.
5. Remember to build tools for the folks who do the work.
6. You still need to talk to your customers.
7. Be the opposite of pennywise and pound foolish.
8. Slow down to move fast.
9. Middleware is your friend.
57IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics
Q&A
Arthur McManus
Senior Vice President, FitForCommerce
Rodney Woodruff
VP Engineering, Weight Watchers
For additional questions:
IRCE 2018- Ecom Tech Workshop Ecommerce Platforms Considerations and Tactics 58