iDeal: a headless online store for the largest Apple Premium Reseller in the Baltics and the Nordics

The challenge

iDeal's Magento 1 store had reached the end of its life. The design needed updating to meet Apple's brand guidelines, and the move could not cost the store its search engine rankings.

Because of its business model, iDeal also needed to connect one backend to several different frontends. A constantly growing product range and large data volumes set high demands on indexing and speed.

What we did

The original plan was to move the store from Magento 1 to Magento 2 and refresh the design. During analysis we chose a more efficient path: Magento 2 stays as the backend, and we built the frontend with React.

• Headless architecture. One Magento 2 backend serves several frontends, which fits iDeal's structure and business model.
• Prototyping in React. Every component was first built as a prototype, which the client reviewed and approved before it moved into the development pipeline. This avoided misunderstandings and costly extra rounds, and shortened the time to market.
• A page-by-page approach. On some pages React only handles the styling; on others we use its full potential. This kept a balance between speed, SEO and maintainability.
• Preserving SEO through the migration. We built the Magento and React combination at a time when almost nobody had tried it. Keeping the search rankings required dedicated solutions, which the team found.
• Automation and integrations. We set up new automations and integrations that reduce manual work in running the store.

“At every step, we kept the store's core needs in mind: speed, SEO, design and easy management.” – Tanel Särgava, Project Manager, Opus

The result

Preparing for a new iPhone launch took about a week in the old store; in the new store it takes ten times less time.

• Much less manual work. Magento 2 product management and the new automations drastically reduced the amount of manual work for iDeal's store staff.
• A better shopping experience. A faster, more modern and more reliable store that follows Apple's design guidelines.
• Faster and cheaper changes. The store's design and functionality can be updated noticeably faster and more cost-effectively than before.
• Easier to find developers. Magento frontend skills are rare on the market, while the unusual use of React attracts experienced developers.