Intersport Elverys, Ireland’s oldest sports retailer, partnered with StudioForty9 to migrate their ecommerce platform from SAP Hybris to Shopify Plus. The focus was on maintaining brand consistency with INTERSPORT Group’s Universal Design System (UDS) while customising the platform for the Irish market to enhance the user experience.
Background
With 46 stores across Ireland and a significant online presence, Intersport Elverys has a well-established omnichannel retail strategy. As a leader in the INTERSPORT Group, they offer a diverse product range spanning multiple sports categories. The business also supports Irish sports through sponsorships, demonstrating a strong commitment to local communities.
Key Challenges
Intersport Elverys faced several challenges that required bespoke solutions:
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Data Migration: Moving 2.5 million orders and 1 million customer records while ensuring ERP integration with seamless data congruency.
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Cost Reduction: Minimising costs by reducing platform licence fees and external dependencies.
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Adhering to Design Guidelines: Aligning the site with the INTERSPORT Group’s UDS while incorporating Irish-specific elements.
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Simplifying Maintenance: Reducing reliance on custom development by focusing on scalable, out-of-the-box Shopify solutions.
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Enhancing User Experience: Improving product pages, navigation, checkout, and mobile experience for a more engaging customer journey.
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Optimising Omnichannel Services: Streamlining Click & Collect, Click & Reserve, preparing for Ship from Store and other fulfilment options for operational efficiency.
Solutions
StudioForty9 adopted an innovative, collaborative approach to tackle these challenges:
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Customised Design Integration: Collaborating closely with Intersport Elverys, we adapted the UDS to include unique Irish brand elements while maintaining global consistency. Frequent design sessions ensured real-time feedback, leading to a solution that matched the client’s vision.
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Enhanced Product Pages: We prioritised interactive features like 360-degree product views and integrated video content to boost engagement. Custom tags such as “In Demand” helped drive urgency and conversions.
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Advanced Omnichannel Capabilities: Custom solutions support various fulfilment methods, including bespoke Click & Reserve / Click & Collect functionality and bulky item shipping. A Proof of Concept ensured each method functioned smoothly, enhancing flexibility for customers.
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Integrated Filtering System: Implemented Graphene for advanced site search and product recommendations, with a backup using Shopify’s standard search feature for stability and flexibility.
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Boosted Web Traffic & Conversions: Enhanced site performance led to increased web traffic and higher conversion rates
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Operational Cost Savings: The project’s timely delivery allowed Intersport Elverys to avoid costly licence renewals
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On-Time Delivery: The successful, on-schedule launch demonstrated our reliability and project management capabilities
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Improved Staff Efficiency: Simplified systems and intuitive tools empowered the client’s team, improving operational workflows and satisfaction.
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Enhanced User Experience: Positive user feedback and increased engagement confirmed the platform’s success in delivering a superior online shopping experience.
Client Testimonial
Partnering with StudioForty9 to migrate our ecommerce platform to Shopify Plus was a critical decision for Intersport Elverys. From the outset, the StudioForty9 team demonstrated a deep commitment to understanding our vision. The StudioForty9 team played a pivotal role in steering communication throughout this project, from regular team calls to creating a detailed milestone log to track the project's progress.
We worked with the StudioForty9 design team to align our vision with the INTERSPORT Group’s Universal Design System while also ensuring the Irish essence of our brand was maintained. StudioForty9 were proactive in their communication, fostering a collaborative model where feedback was actively encouraged and integrated. This ensured that the project moved forward with continuous momentum, keeping us on track and on budget.
One of the things that set StudioForty9 apart from other agencies we considered was their ability to think outside the box. They offered innovative solutions that not only met our needs but exceeded our expectations, especially in the customisations such as bespoke filtering options and product personalisation that enhanced our product pages and elevated our omnichannel capabilities.
We now have a website that is not only visually stunning but functionally superior, leading to increased engagement, conversion rates, and overall customer satisfaction. We are excited to continue our journey with StudioForty9 and I would highly recommend them for any large-scale ecommerce transformation.
— Liam Lennon, Head of Online at Intersport Elverys
Conclusion
This project demonstrates StudioForty9’s ability to manage and deliver complex, large-scale ecommerce transformations for leading Irish businesses. Our focus on innovation, collaboration, and efficiency ensures a seamless and impactful outcome for our clients, making us a trusted partner for ambitious digital transformations in Ireland’s retail sector.