5 signs to migrate your ecommerce platform: Lessons from BrewDog
Your ecommerce platform should be one of the most significant tools driving your growth - and never something that gets in its way.
But when it starts slowing your team down, frustrating your customers, and eating into more and more of your budget, it’s definitely time to rethink your setup.
BrewDog faced this challenge head-on when their Magento platform started restricting their online growth. They knew it was time for change - and migrating to Shopify was what they needed to transform their ecommerce operation.
Here are five signs your platform might be holding you back too, and why making the switch could be the smartest move for your brand.
1. You’re saying no more than yes
If you’re spending more time keeping your ecommerce platform afloat than you are improving it, something's got to give.
For BrewDog, maintaining their old system was a constant drain on resources. Endless firefighting meant they had to say “no” to new initiatives, meaning they missed opportunities to grow, adapt and meet their customers’ evolving needs.
Your platform should free up your team to innovate and improve, not hold them back. If it’s keeping you in survival mode, it’s time for a change.
2. Your team can’t work quickly
Speed is everything in ecommerce. When your platform is clunky and time-consuming, it slows everything down. Whether it’s updating product pages or making site-wide changes, your team should be able to act fast, without relying on developers.
This is something that drew BrewDog to Shopify. The platform’s ease of use allows their team to make updates quickly and independently, cutting out frustrating delays and keeping things moving.
If you feel like you’re stuck in a tech bottleneck, it’s a clear sign your platform isn’t designed for agility.
3. Customer experience is suffering
When your platform can’t keep up with customer expectations, the cracks show quickly. A poor user experience drives shoppers away - whether it’s a complicated checkout, slow load times or confusing navigation.
BrewDog’s previous checkout was a prime example, with its glitches and inefficiencies frustrating customers and impacting conversions.
Your platform should give you the tools to deliver an exceptional customer journey and adapt quickly to changing needs. If it doesn’t, it’s not doing its job.
4. Platform costs are spiralling
Running an outdated or overly-customised platform often means sky-high costs for maintenance, upgrades and firefighting issues.
For BrewDog, reducing their total cost of ownership was a key factor in their decision to move away from Magento. The expense of keeping the platform running left little room to invest in initiatives that actually grew the business.
If your platform is eating up your budget, it’s worth considering a switch to one that frees up resources for growth.
5. Scaling is a constant struggle
A platform that can’t scale with your ambitions will eventually hold you back. If every step toward growth feels like a struggle - whether it’s adapting to new opportunities or evolving your strategy - it’s a sign your platform isn’t fit for the future.
For BrewDog, Shopify offered the flexibility to shift their energy toward growth and innovation, leaving behind the limitations of their old system.
When your platform can't keep up with your growth ambitions, it's a clear sign it's time to move on.
Is it time to make the move?
BrewDog knew it was time to move on from their old platform when it became clear that it was restricting their online growth. By switching to Shopify, they unlocked agility, innovation and a better experience for their customers and team.
If you’re noticing these signs on your own platform, don’t wait. The cost of staying put could be far greater than making a move, and investing in a future-proof platform might just be exactly what your business needs to thrive.
The first step? Just start a conversation.