Improving e-commerce platform performance with a migration to microservices

The Client
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A leading fashion retail group with presence in 19 markets and a portfolio of e-commerce platforms.

Industry
  • Ecommerce
Technology
  • REST API
  • Kubernetes
  • PostgreSQL
  • Kafka
  • JIRA
  • Confluence
  • PHP
  • MySQL Database
Timeline
Since October 2022

The client is an innovative Polish capital group operating in fashion retail. They offer a wide range of clothing and footwear brands across multiple websites.

Over several years of operation, the company has established a presence in 19 countries and is still growing. The business expansion is fueled by its sophisticated online platforms and applications, which facilitate a seamless shopping experience, integrating online purchases with an extensive network of unique physical stores.

The web service of the group is their key revenue source. The websites must handle a lot of traffic and multiple functionalities, from loyalty programs, through ‘try before you buy’ orders, to purchases.

Planning a legacy system modernization

As the client’s business expands, their service has to adjust to the changing customer base. Currently, the primary objective is to enhance functionality of the e-commerce ecosystem, ensure system stability, and maintain an uninterrupted revenue stream.

As a first step, transitioning from a monolithic to a distributed architecture for the stock and order management system was identified as critical to support growth and improve service across the company’s portfolio of e-commerce platforms.

To navigate the process, the organization turned to us for support. Our team of PHP engineers integrated seamlessly with the client’s staff, focusing on the development of robust microservices using PHP Symfony and Kubernetes. Our engagement focuses on:

  • Migrating to a microservice architecture to support platform scalability and functionality.
  • Ensuring consistent stock levels across diverse e-commerce platforms.
  • Streamlining order processing to enhance customer satisfaction.

Upgrading to a high-performance e-commerce architecture

In our journey to modernize the legacy system, we emphasize collaboration and technical excellence. Working closely with the client’s team, we are transitioning to a PHP-based microservice architecture. Given the platforms’ vast user base, which includes millions of users, and the capability to process up to 4,000 requests per second, enhancing the reliability of the solution is paramount.

Maintaining stock level consistency

Our cooperative effort extends to several critical modules, including one specifically focused on stock levels and pricing management. This module serves both internal clients, such as e-commerce platforms, and end users by providing real-time information on stock availability and pricing. Ensuring accurate and reliable data flow for this service is crucial, as it directly impacts customer satisfaction and trust.

Improving backend data flow

We are also addressing the challenges associated with data transfer to the backend system, which plays a vital role in managing payments, orders, and collection points within the mobile applications available on iOS and Android. Our task is to ensure seamless synchronization of this data across the platform’s backend systems, allowing for an integrated and efficient operation that enhances user experience.

Effective communication is the foundation of our success. Despite working in a remote setting, daily interactions and the use of proven project management tools keep all stakeholders well-informed.

a mockup of an ecommerce store on a laptop screen

Enhanced performance and reduced order cancellations

These coordinated efforts have already streamlined the modernization process, leading to enhancements in system performance and reliability. The key achievements so far include:

  • A noticeable reduction in order cancellations.
  • Accelerated order processing times, enhancing the overall customer experience.
  • Significantly shorter recovery times following system downtimes.

This project has not only solidified our collaborative relationship with the client but is also setting the stage for future initiatives aimed at further refining and enhancing the platform. This ensures the company’s continued growth and innovation in a competitive market.

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