What Replatforming Really Means
Replatforming is the process of migrating from one ecommerce platform to another -say, from Adobe Commerce to Shopify Plus, or from a legacy monolith to a composable stack. It’s a major technical and operational project that affects everything from frontend UX to backend systems.
It’s not about “going international.” It’s about building a better ecommerce foundation – and doing it without disrupting what’s already working, especially globally.
Why International Stability Matters During a Replatform
If your brand already operates internationally, you’ve got a delicate balance to maintain. Cross-border checkouts, localised experiences, tax and compliance – all of these must continue functioning during and after the replatform.
That’s not the platform’s job. That’s the job of your international commerce infrastructure and the partners who support it.
ESW’s Role: Seamless Continuity During Change
ESW is platform-agnostic by design. That means whether you’re on Adobe Commerce or moving to a headless setup, we continue to power your international ecommerce layer without interruption.
While your systems integrator handles the replatform, ESW ensures that all international capabilities remain operational:
- Checkout experiences remain localised and compliant
- Duty and tax engines continue to function
- Logistics flows stay aligned with cross-border expectations
- Shopper experiences stay consistent across markets
5 Ways to Protect Your International Business During Replatforming
1. Map Your International Dependencies Early
Before any code is touched, create a detailed map of what powers your international stack – payments, compliance, fraud, logistics, customer service. Understand which systems are decoupled from your ecommerce platform and which require reintegration.
2. Treat Global Continuity as a Requirement, Not an Add-On
Your SI will focus on the core platform migration. It’s your job to make sure international operations are scoped as non-negotiable from day one. Downtime in international checkout or compliance isn’t just costly – it’s brand-damaging.
3. Choose Platform-Compatible, API-Ready Partners
Make sure all your global solutions -ESW included- are API-first and proven to integrate seamlessly with your target platform. This removes the risk of expensive workarounds or last-minute delays.
4. Phase the Rollout with Cross-Border in Mind
Stagger your replatform by regions or capabilities if needed. Prioritise markets with stable integrations, then expand. Work with your SI and global partners to define a phased go-live plan that aligns technical readiness with business priorities.
5. Lean on Global Experts to Reduce Risk
ESW isn’t your systems integrator but we do provide strategic input and implementation support to ensure your global operations stay intact. We coordinate with your SI to ensure the ESW layer is migrated cleanly and tested thoroughly.
What Success Looks Like
A successful replatform doesn’t just launch on time and on budget – it launches without disrupting revenue, operations, or customer experience. Especially across borders.
By keeping your global stack intact and working closely with partners like ESW, your brand can migrate to a better ecommerce platform without losing momentum in international markets.
ESW’s Role: Seamless Continuity During Change
When you replatform, your systems integrator (SI) is focused on moving the core ecommerce platform. ESW’s job is different – we make sure your international commerce layer stays live, stable, and fully functional before, during, and after the cutover.
Because ESW is platform-agnostic, you can migrate to any leading enterprise platform or a custom headless build without worrying that your global operations will break. Our international markets solution is designed to work across all major ecommerce stacks with zero downtime.
Here’s how we protect your global business during replatforming:
- Localised checkout continues to run seamlessly in every market we support.
- Duties, tax, and compliance engines remain operational – with no disruption to calculation, display, or payment flows.
- International logistics and returns keep moving on schedule, aligned to each market’s expectations.
- Customer service operations remain intact across platforms – no gaps in order visibility or service capabilities.
- Key order data syncs back to your OMS for accurate reconciliation, even after the platform switch.
- Historical checkout and order data stays accessible, so you can pull old reports at any time.
- Phased migrations are supported: we can run some markets on your old platform and others on your new one under a single ESW tenant, ensuring a smooth transition.
- Full technical integration support from ESW’s team – we own configuration, testing, and validation of the ESW-managed markets on your new platform, so your team can focus on domestic readiness.
In short: while your SI delivers the new platform, ESW keeps your international revenue flowing. We ensure every market is tested, stable, and ready to go live – without interrupting the customer experience.
Replatforming soon?
Talk to ESW about protecting your international commerce infrastructure during your next platform migration.
