Opus 15: how a small team became a leading e-commerce developer in Estonia

This year marks a major milestone for the development company Opus – 15 years since it began operations. CEO Margus Eha reflects on the company’s journey and how it grew from a small team into a powerhouse in the Estonian e-commerce landscape.

When Opus launched 15 years ago, the focus was mainly on PHP development and CRM solutions. At the time, the team had just 14 people.

“We actually got into e-commerce a bit by accident,” Eha recalled. “We started building an online store for Rahva Raamat, which turned out to be a success. That opened the door to working with Apotheka, and from there, new clients started coming in through recommendations.”

Today, Opus specialises in building technically complex user interfaces that demand high performance and excellent usability. The company also develops backend solutions using Node.js and Magento, platforms that challenge and satisfy even the most demanding engineers. “All of this has come together into a cohesive e-commerce offering. We’ve got the knowledge, experience, and team to support clients throughout the entire development cycle – from identifying needs to long-term support,” said Eha.

According to Eha, the e-commerce sector is still growing. “There will always be room for strong players in the long term. But as solutions become more complex, experience becomes increasingly important,” he emphasised. “Building and maintaining complex systems that withstand years of use requires skills you can’t pick up overnight.”

Long-term relationships matter

One of Opus’s strengths is consistency, both technically and in client relationships. “The first version of the Estonian Film Database (EFIS) went live over a decade ago, and we’re still supporting it today. We’ve also had long-term development partnerships with Apotheka, Automaailm, and TD Baltic,” Eha noted. “We build software that lasts and that you can rely on five or ten years down the road.”

At the end of 2020, Opus joined the Uptime Group. The move brought strategic clarity and solid support, while allowing the company to retain its culture and autonomy.

“At the same time, we gained access to new expertise and experience,” Eha said. “It’s also opened doors to international projects, which means our developers now work on global solutions that have a significant impact.”

The company now has 28 employees. Teams are kept small and roles clearly defined. “Since joining Uptime, we’ve really optimised our team-based workflows,” he explained. “Roles and responsibilities are well distributed, which means we can back each other up when needed. We also share knowledge and resources with our parent company. It creates a synergy that benefits everyone,” he said.

From mobile apps to artificial intelligence

Over its 15-year history, Opus has seen several waves of change in the tech world – from the rise of mobile apps to today’s AI boom. Eha said the company always takes a pragmatic approach to new trends. “We don’t jump on every bandwagon. We test, analyze, and if it truly delivers value to the client, we adopt it,” he said.

He sees current AI opportunities particularly in search and recommendation systems. “Whereas before users typed keywords, now they describe their problem to ChatGPT. That means online stores need to offer intuitive, context-based search,” he explained. AI can also generate personalised product recommendations based on previous purchases.

“If AI helps clients sell better, manage more efficiently, or scale faster, then it makes sense. But we don’t adopt things just because they’re trendy,” he added.

According to Eha, Opus has a clear direction and still plenty of room to grow. “At the same time, client expectations are rising, and competition is becoming increasingly international,” he said. “Our role is to be the kind of partner who helps build systems that are durable, scalable, and aligned with the client’s business goals.”