Why so many companies are modernizing their eCommerce

In recent months, we have seen a clear change: many companies are reviewing their digital architecture because their current platforms are no longer keeping up with the pace of business.

The pressure to integrate AI, improve the shopping experience and launch new features quickly has put teams before a strategic decision: to continue to patch what exists or to make the leap to a Modern eCommerce.

In a recent Commercetools studio, a compelling fact came to light: 88% of companies plan to modernize their commerce platform in the next 12 months. It's not a fad. It's a sign that the legacy model has fallen short.

In this article we explain to you What does it really mean modernize your eCommerce and why this movement is becoming a competitive advantage for any company with digital ambition.

What does it mean to switch to a modern eCommerce

Modernizing is not “changing platforms”, but rather changing the technological base so that your business can grow without friction. A modern eCommerce It translates to:

• Composable or headless architecture, which allows you to evolve in parts without redoing everything.
• Fast integrations of your technology stack thanks to open APIs.
• Launch speed, with continuous improvements instead of large projects that take months.
• Un faster and more flexible front to provide the experience that the B2B buyer expects.
• Una AI-ready base, both in customization and in automation and operational efficiency.

Why take the leap now

Companies that have already modernized report clear improvements: more agility, lower maintenance costs and better performance.

But the most relevant thing is that a modern platform Open the door to new opportunities: B2B self-service, complex catalogs, product configurators, personalized experiences and a scalable structure.

Today the question is no longer whether you should modernize your eCommerce, but When and how to do it so as not to be left behind in a market where technology sets the pace

What differentiates a modern eCommerce from a traditional one

Before deciding if you need to modernize your platform, it's key to understand why the gap between a traditional and a modern eCommerce has become so evident. It's not just about technology: it affects the speed at which you can improve your website, how you respond to customer expectations and the real cost of maintaining your digital operation.

A traditional or legacy eCommerce was born for a very different context from the current one. It was designed for simpler catalogs, fewer integrations, and a much slower rate of change. Today, that type of platform falls short of needs such as personalization, AI, omnichannel or rapid integrations with key systems.

Instead, a modern eCommerce is built for environments where Evolution is constant, digital channels are multiplying and the customer experience makes a difference.

A legacy system is usually:

• Rigid,
• slow to scale,
• difficult to integrate,
• expensive to maintain,
• limited to AI,
• dependent on the provider.

A modern eCommerce is:

• Modular,
• fast to evolve,
• connected through APIs,
• ready for AI,
• efficient and scalable,
• adaptable to new business models.

In short: Legacy forces you to react; modern allows you to anticipate.

How to know if your eCommerce needs a change

It's not always obvious that a platform has fallen short.

Everyday life normalizes certain frictions until they begin to affect growth. These signs usually indicate that the time has come to consider a change:

• Improvements take too long because each new functionality involves lengthy developments or technical dependencies.
• The website performs below expectations, with irregular loading times or failures at times of high demand.
• Integrating new systems is complicated, expensive or causes instability in other components.
• Customization is limited, depends on patches or cannot be applied in real time.
• The data is scattered, duplicated or out of date between eCommerce, ERP, CRM and other systems.
• The team spends more effort maintaining than evolving, which reduces the capacity to innovate.
• AI doesn't fit the current platform, either due to architecture, lack of APIs or unstructured data.

If several of these situations sound familiar to you, it's likely that your eCommerce needs an upgrade to remain competitive.

How to approach a modernization project

Modernize an eCommerce it's not about replacing one platform with another.

It is a structured process that must reduce risks, ensure operational continuity and generate impact from the first weeks. These are the key phases:

Phase 1 — Diagnosis

Analysis of the current situation from three angles:

• Technician: architecture, performance, integrations.
• Operational: internal processes, data flows, dependencies.
• Customer Experience: navigation, conversion, self-service and friction points.

The objective is to identify real limitations and opportunities.

Phase 2 — Roadmap

Definition of the modernization plan:

• What to migrate first,
• What to keep temporarily,
• What to eliminate,
• Where are the Quick Wins that provide immediate value.

La waybill sets priorities and aligns business, technology and marketing.

Phase 3 — Architecture

Selecting the most suitable model: composable, Headless or hybrid.

The choice depends on the level of digital maturity, the budget, the structure of the catalog and the capacity of the team.

This defines the ecosystem that will sustain eCommerce for the coming years.

Phase 4 — Integrations

Connecting key systems to ensure data consistency and operational efficiency: PIM, DAM, ERP, CRM or CPQ and other industry-specific components.

The objective is to create an environment where information flows without duplication or friction.

Phase 5 — Customer Experience

Redesign of the critical points of the Digital Journey:

• Navigation,
• search engine,
• product sheets,
• personalization,
• self-service,
• order tracking.

Modern architecture only makes sense if it enhances the buyer experience.

Phase 6 — Activation

Controlled start-up of the new ecosystem:

• Deployment,
• functional tests,
• review of integrations,
• performance settings.

From here, the continuous phase of optimization and evolution begins.

Towards an eCommerce ready for today's market

The modernization of eCommerce it's not a technological whim.

It's a direct response to a market that requires speed, flexibility and real capacity to integrate AI.

Companies that are already taking this step do so because they know that a modern platform not only improves performance, but also opens the door to new business models and a more competitive customer experience.

At Novicell we are experts in the implementation of B2B eCommerce and to accompany companies that need to take this leap with security and results. If you want to review your situation or explore a modernization roadmap, Talk to our specialists.