Despite being a relatively young industry, e-commerce follows a development path similar to that of most corporate IT solutions.

Since the emergence of e-commerce, large companies have had limited options for choosing complex enterprise solutions: either develop their solutions or implement products from global enterprise vendors.

Replatforming e-commerce may be the solution to your problem. This is more than just a technical transition; it is a strategic evolution that will breathe new life into online businesses. With platforming, enterprises can adapt to modern standards, ensuring they meet and exceed customer expectations. One beautiful example of conversion is the free OneConvert service.

Five Reasons To Change Platforms

E-commerce has a genuinely high conversion rate of change. Businesses need to be able to implement new solutions quickly. The initial potential of the platform is of decisive importance: most of the functionality is undoubtedly developed for a specific business, but the cost of improvements “from scratch” and the time that will have to be spent on such development will certainly negatively affect such critical indicators as TCO (Total Cost Ownership) and TTV (Time to Value). Here are six clear signs that it’s time to re-platform measurement conversion:

Updates Are Challenging To Implement

The Ponemon Institute (an independent organization specializing in cybersecurity research and data protection) estimates that website downtime can cost between $427 and $9,000 per minute. During periods of peak sales, this figure increases many times. The business loses money conversion if the eComm platform cannot cope with traffic. Additionally, businesses lose money if simple updates and new features take a long time to implement. “Crutch” upgrades may offer a short-term solution but are not a long-term solution and will result in higher costs currency conversion in the future.

Safety Problems

Customers are confident that their personal information is protected when purchasing on the company’s website. However, if a platform is nearing the end of its lifecycle, the business may face security gaps that must be addressed. And since problems with updates already exist, additional investment in improvements will be required, which will temporarily resolve the issue and will not improve the overall security of the entire eComm project.

Bad UX

If your website isn’t responding or you’re getting calls about other problems on the site—like being unable to place an order—it’s time to change platforms. Customers are looking for a positive user experience, and the company must be able to provide it to increase sales and attract new users. Otherwise, customers will quickly begin looking for other, more convenient shopping conditions.

Administering Changes Is Time-Consuming

The company has big plans and a lot of great ideas to improve the site, but for the reasons stated above, it cannot implement them. Publishing content, adding new products, and managing returns takes considerable time. The solution could be CRM, ERP, or PIM, but it cannot be integrated with the current platform.

The e-commerce platform you are using has reached the end of its life cycle.

The life cycle of an e-commerce platform is five to seven years. It becomes useless if a vendor doesn’t keep up with new trends, stops releasing updates, or no longer supports your platform. Ultimately, the above signs lead to cost overruns and lost sales.

Options For Platform Change Strategies

Relocation (or so-called “replatforming”) replaces the functionality of some solutions with the functions of others. When determining a company’s strategy, several essential questions should be answered:

• Is the new solution a complete replacement for the old one, or will the functionality of the replaced platform be distributed among several systems?
• Will the functions in new solutions be recreated “as is” or implemented, considering new approaches?
• Will the transition be carried out simultaneously or in stages?
• Is the company ready to sacrifice some functionality during replatforming?

Depending on the answers to these questions, a company may choose different conversion factor strategies. They all come down to two main options:

• Gradual change of platform.
• One-time platform change.

Gradual Platform Change

The gradual platform change strategy involves selecting one or more services that will be extracted from the current solution and implemented in new services. With this strategy, the old platform continues to function in parallel with the new one.

Ensuring Reliability Of Critical Operations

The transfer is carried out in stages, starting with the most critical functions, for example, payment services. After eliminating the main risks, you can move on to another strategy.

This scenario is relevant if there is a risk of a sudden business stop due to problems in the field of information technology. For example, an increased load is expected before the New Year holidays, which the current platform will not be able to withstand. Another typical case is when a supplier stops providing a service.

Phased Frontend Transfer

A complete front-end migration is a complex task that requires significant time and financial investment. Often, it goes beyond the permissible period for eliminating risks or freezing development.

Transferring the front end of a website or mobile application can be divided into stages and carried out in parts. For example, move the checkout process first, then the catalog, and then the home page.

Complete Frontend Migration

In e-commerce, the website and mobile app are the most change-prone components of the platform. They also typically have the highest user load. Therefore, online conversion a website and mobile application is a common task. This strategy creates a new one next to the existing front end.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cross-platform data conversion in ecommerce, and why does it matter for Shopify stores?

Cross-platform data conversion means transforming and syncing information between different tools or systems, like your Shopify store, inventory software, or marketing platforms. This process matters because clean, unified data helps you avoid costly mistakes, makes your workflows faster, and gives you a clear view of your customers and stock across channels.

How does cross-platform data conversion improve ROI for Shopify merchants?

When your store data moves freely between platforms, you waste less time on manual uploads and avoid expensive errors like overselling or missing orders. With real-time insights, you can spot trends sooner and target your marketing more precisely, directly boosting conversion rates and store profits.

What are some common challenges Shopify founders face with data across platforms?

Many Shopify merchants deal with outdated or inconsistent product data, slow syncing, and manual entry work that leads to shipping delays and unhappy customers. The article highlights that poor data conversion often results in wasted ad spend, stockouts, or inaccurate reporting—issues that hurt growth and trust.

How can Shopify stores get started with cross-platform data conversion without a big tech team?

You don’t need a big budget or IT staff to get started—integrations like Zapier, Shopify Flow, or native app connectors can automate many common sync tasks. Start with a simple audit to map where your data lives and connect two main platforms first, like Shopify and your CRM, to quickly see the benefits.

What is a misconception about syncing data between ecommerce platforms?

A common myth is that syncing data is only a concern for huge, enterprise stores. In reality, even small Shopify shops see big gains in speed and accuracy with basic automation, and early investment in clean data prevents major headaches as you grow.

How does cross-platform data conversion affect customer experience?

When customer data, orders, and inventory sync smoothly, shoppers get real-time updates and accurate stock levels, reducing missed sales or cancellations. The article notes that stores using effective data conversion see fewer support tickets, more repeat purchases, and higher customer satisfaction scores.

What types of data should Shopify merchants focus on when automating conversion?

Focus on syncing core information like product catalogs, order details, inventory counts, and customer profiles. Prioritize data that influences customer touchpoints—like stock availability or personalized offers—since these most directly impact sales and loyalty.

What are best practices for keeping data accurate when bridging multiple platforms?

The article recommends setting up automated checks, using clear naming conventions, and regularly testing data transfers to spot issues quickly. Scheduling nightly syncs and keeping a single “master” data source also help, especially as your integrations multiply over time.

How can cross-platform data conversion drive smarter marketing and sales decisions?

Unified data across Shopify, email, and ad platforms lets you segment customers more effectively, target buyers with tailored offers, and measure what’s really working. For example, syncing purchase data to your email platform means you can run automated win-back campaigns without custom coding or data exports.

What should Shopify founders look for when choosing tools for data conversion?

Look for integration tools with strong Shopify support, reliable automation features, and easy mapping of data fields. The article points out that choosing platforms with transparent pricing and proven support can prevent hidden costs and ensure your conversions keep pace as your store grows.