7 indicators you may need to replatform

I’ve recently been speaking with businesses considering replatforming but feeling uncertain about whether it’s the right move—or if they have the resources to make it happen. With tight budgets, many hesitate to seek third-party assessments, leaving them stuck in a cycle of doubt.

Drawing from my experience leading three major website replatforming projects (Prestashop to Custom, Magento to Shopify, and Shopify to Magento), I know these discussions can be challenging. To help, I’ve outlined key signs that your business might need to reassess its current platform.

1. Falling Behind on Updates Neglecting to keep your platform updated often feels like a way to save money, but it’s a false economy. Over time, you’ll likely spend more on workarounds and fixes just to maintain functionality. Outdated platforms can lead to: Slower website performance. Poor user experiences due to aging features. Increasing maintenance costs as legacy systems require more manual intervention. For example, older versions of platforms often become unsupported, forcing developers to implement code "workarounds" that degrade performance and lead to "spaghettified" codebases—difficult to maintain and costly to fix.

2. Rising Costs Without Returns When your platform starts costing more but delivering less, it’s time to evaluate its capabilities. Signs of diminishing returns include: Poor user experience (UX): Frequent bugs, negative feedback, or outdated features impacting conversion rates. Funnel drop-offs and cart abandonment due to limited platform functionality or poor performance. Older systems typically lack modern UX improvements, which customers now expect. If your platform can’t keep up, your business risks falling behind competitors.

3. Struggling to Keep Up with Emerging Tech Your platform should enable your business to adapt quickly to new technology and trends. If integrating new software or tools requires extensive rewrites or lengthy timelines, your growth could stall. Examples from my experience: A 12-month delay implementing a PayPal integration due to fragmented web architecture and inadequate backend support. A client using outdated BTFresca architecture faced excessive costs for minor updates. They ultimately moved to Magento, writing off their existing contract to gain scalability and functionality. If your platform’s outdated infrastructure prevents quick integrations or modern security protocols, it’s a sign to reassess your tech stack.

4. Limited Scalability Growth should be seamless, but legacy platforms can make scaling challenging. Key issues include: Inability to support increased traffic, inventory, or new market expansion. Lack of tools like Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) to manage larger data volumes effectively. For businesses with high interaction rates (e.g., gaming platforms or stock exchanges), even microseconds of delay can impact performance. If scaling up reveals limitations in your platform’s capabilities, it’s time to look for alternatives.

5. External Triggers for Change Several external factors can also necessitate replatforming, such as: New leadership or a shift in strategy. Moving from in-house management to outsourced teams. Expanding into new channels (e.g., B2B, B2C) or markets. Integration needs (ERP, PIM) to support growth. If your current platform can’t align with these changes, replatforming might be essential for long-term success.

6. Diminished Longevity Legacy platforms eventually reach end-of-life, with providers prioritizing newer versions for support and innovation. Examples include Magento 1.x, Fresca, and Venda. Upgrading older systems can be costly and limiting, making replatforming the more viable option.

7. Customization Challenges Customization is crucial for businesses to create unique user experiences and meet specific needs. Legacy platforms often lack flexibility, hindering growth and innovation. While platforms like Shopify excel in ease of use, Magento offers unmatched customization. The right choice depends on how much customization your business requires. If basic customizations become difficult, it’s worth assessing whether your platform can meet your long-term needs.

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