Customizing a Hyvä Theme for a B2B Magento Store

Project Overview

The client, a B2B wholesale business, faced challenges with their old Magento theme, including slow performance, complex workflows, and poor scalability. They needed a more efficient, flexible, and user-friendly solution. By customizing the Hyvä Theme, we aimed to improve site speed, optimize product catalog management, and integrate better with their ERP and PIM systems.

Challenge:

The primary challenge faced by the B2B client was a lack of flexibility and scalability within their existing Magento store. Their old theme wasn’t optimized for performance or user experience, especially for their B2B customers who required a seamless, professional experience. This not only caused frustration but also impacted conversions. The client needed a faster, more robust platform that could handle the demands of B2B transactions, including custom pricing, complex product catalogs, and unique workflows.

By migrating to the Hyvä theme and customizing it for their business, we aimed to provide them with a flexible, fast, and scalable e-commerce platform that would enhance their store’s performance while ensuring an optimized, user-friendly experience for their customers.

Industry:

The client operates in the B2B wholesale sector, serving businesses with large product inventories, bulk pricing, and customized purchasing experiences.

Platform or Technology Used:

• Magento 2
• Hyvä Theme
• PHP, JavaScript
• Elasticsearch for improved search functionality

Technical Assessment

We performed a detailed audit of the existing system and identified key areas for improvement. The solution involved customizing the Hyvä Theme to improve speed, streamline B2B workflows (like tiered pricing and bulk ordering), and integrate Elasticsearch for better search functionality. We worked closely with the client’s ERP team to ensure seamless integration.

Approach:

We began by thoroughly assessing the client’s existing Magento store, identifying key performance issues and areas where their workflow was not optimized. A major focus was ensuring that the store was capable of scaling to meet growing demands while being responsive to B2B needs, such as bulk ordering and customized product offerings.

The client needed a theme that could provide:

• Speed optimization (important for B2B clients who may have large product catalogs)
• A clean and modern user interface, with a focus on ease of navigation
• Seamless integration with their existing ERP and PIM systems for real-time inventory management and order processing

We performed a detailed technical audit and held discussions with key stakeholders to ensure we understood their needs and expectations fully.

Proposed Solution:

Our solution was to implement the Hyvä Theme, known for its light-weight and high-performance benefits over traditional Magento themes. We tailored the theme to meet the specific needs of the B2B client by adding several customizations:

• Custom Pricing & Catalog Management: We built out advanced functionalities for tiered pricing, which dynamically adjusts based on the customer’s order volume, account type, and other factors.
• Custom Workflows for Orders: We streamlined workflows for large bulk orders, enabling faster processing and better data synchronization with the client’s ERP system.
• Speed Optimization: Hyvä’s lean architecture helped in reducing page load times significantly, improving both front-end user experience and SEO performance.
• Enhanced Search Features: Elasticsearch was integrated to improve the product search capabilities for a better browsing experience, especially for clients working with large product catalogs.
• Mobile Optimization: We ensured the theme was mobile-friendly, as many B2B buyers now prefer purchasing on mobile devices during meetings or while on the go.

Implementation Setup:

• Timeline: The entire project took approximately 8 weeks, including planning, development, testing, and deployment.
• Team:
  • 1 Magento Developer
  • 1 Front-End Developer
  • 1 Project Manager
  • 1 QA Engineer
  • 1 ERP Integration Specialist

We followed an agile methodology, allowing for flexibility in adjustments based on feedback during the development process.

Results of the Implementation

After implementation, the results were evident:

• Improved Store Speed: The client saw a 30% reduction in load times, resulting in a smoother user experience, especially for those navigating large product catalogs.
• Enhanced User Experience: With a more intuitive, modern design, B2B clients found it easier to navigate the catalog, find the products they needed, and make bulk purchases.
• Better Performance & Scalability: The new theme architecture provided the client with the necessary scalability, allowing them to add new product lines, categories, and handle larger volumes of traffic without performance dips.
• Streamlined ERP Integration: Real-time syncing of data between Magento, ERP, and PIM systems allowed for accurate inventory tracking, smoother order fulfillment, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Next Steps:

The next phase for the client involves:

• Continuous Optimization: Keeping an eye on performance metrics and user feedback to ensure the platform evolves with their business.
• Expanding Custom Features: The client plans to add additional features like multi-currency support and advanced reporting tools.
• Ongoing ERP Enhancements: As the client continues to grow, deeper integrations with their ERP and PIM systems will be needed to enhance automation and operational efficiency.

Lessons Learned:

Throughout the project, we learned that clear communication with the client’s internal teams, especially those handling ERP and PIM systems, is critical for a seamless integration. There were a few challenges around aligning the client’s existing workflows with Magento’s capabilities, but through iterative testing and feedback, we were able to refine the process and ensure optimal results.

Additionally, ensuring that the store’s mobile optimization was prioritized early on in the project helped meet the growing demand for mobile commerce, especially in B2B contexts. This project has reaffirmed the value of using Hyvä’s lightweight, flexible structure, and we’ve seen firsthand how it can transform a Magento store into a high-performance, scalable platform for B2B businesses.

At Frontlevels, we specialize in customizing Magento Hyvä themes and integrating advanced e-commerce solutions that drive results. Let’s turn your e-commerce platform into a high-performance powerhouse. Book a free consultation today and discover how we can help your business scale seamlessly.