IFOLOR

MODERNIZATION OF THE WEBSHOP WITH SHOPWARE

ABOUT IFOLOR

ifolor is a leading provider of photo products based in Switzerland. The company operates in Germany, Austria, Sweden, and Finland and employs around 210 people. With an annual revenue of approximately 100 million CHF, ifolor is the Swiss market leader, offering a wide range of customizable photo products.

AT A GLANCE

CLIENT: ifolor
INDUSTRYY: Photo products
PROJECT: Development of a new Shopware-based webshop to replace the legacy system
SOLUTIONS: Shopware-based webshop, integration with the existing photo product configurator
TECHNOLOGIES: Shopware

RESULT IN BRIEF

Shopware-based e-commerce solution replacing the existing, maintenance-intensive system
Phased implementation: Sequential rollout of new features, traffic-based transition, and country-specific deployment
Close collaboration between ifolor’s development team and our team, ensuring an ideal knowledge transfer

THE CHALLENGE

ifolor’s existing e-commerce system was a custom-built solution that had become increasingly maintenance-intensive over time. Managing the old system was cumbersome and error-prone for administrators, particularly in content management and back-office modifications. Additionally, usability for the ifolor team was a significant challenge.

A key requirement for ifolor was transitioning to a standardized, easily maintainable solution that would reduce the effort required for upkeep and further development. After an in-depth analysis of requirements and market options, ifolor selected Shopware as the preferred e-commerce solution. To facilitate this transition, ifolor sought a der bei der Evaluierung und Implementierung unterstützen konnte.development partner specializing in Shopware implementation and evaluation.

As a first step, a prototype was developed for the French market and tested online for several weeks. This pilot project provided ifolor with critical insights, ultimately leading to the decision to implement Shopware on a larger scale across multiple countries.

THE SOLUTION

Using an agile project approach and close collaboration with ifolor, we successfully introduced a Shopware-based e-commerce solution to replace the existing, maintenance-intensive system. From the outset, the project was defined in close alignment with ifolor’s objectives: a standardized yet flexible solution that meets the demands of an international photo product provider.

Building on the insights from the French prototype, the project was scaled to additional countries and continuously optimized. The new solution is fully integrated with ifolor’s existing photo product configurator, allowing customers to create and order personalized products seamlessly.

The implementation followed a phased rollout strategy to minimize risks and optimize performance:

Feature-based deployment: New functions, such as the checkout process, were gradually introduced to test and optimize conversion rates compared to the legacy system.
Country-based rollout: The deployment began in Austria, followed by Germany and Switzerland. Sweden and Finland will follow next.
Traffic-based transition: A/B testing was used to gradually reroute traffic from the old shop to the new Shopware system, ensuring a controlled and data-driven rollout.

One of the key benefits for ifolor was the improved content management capabilities. Shopware provides an intuitive user interface that allows the ifolor team to manage product descriptions, images, and SEO settings independently, without relying on external developers.

With the new Shopware-based e-commerce system, ifolor now benefits from a scalable, future-proof platform, capable of adapting to the company’s evolving needs while significantly reducing maintenance effort.