Our collaborative journey towards an award-winning Ecommerce platform: What sets Zachej apart?
The ecommerce platform and publishing house Zachej.sk focuses on the distribution of Christian literature and related accessories. Despite catering to a very niche clientele, the company has consistently distinguished itself through its exceptional sales strategy. This approach has garnered recognition, resulting in eight nominations for the prestigious Shop of the Year award, with three notable wins to its name.
Industry:
Retail
HQ:
Žilina, Slovakia
Start of cooperation:
2013 - present
Core technologies:
PHP, React, Next.js
Expertise:
User testing, UI/UX design, Software development, Mobile development, Search engine optimization (SEO)
Zachej.sk was established as an online store in 2012. A year later, the client approached us to improve user experience and redesign the interface.
Our initial analysis revealed that the PHP based ecommerce site has accumulated significant technological debt, which would complicate both the planned redesign and the development of new features. Before starting any work, it was crucial to design a new, sustainable technological solution that addresses the emerging demands for speed, availability, and future growth of the project.
During the initial stage of our collaboration, we focused on integrating the store with the React framework to address the technological debt, followed by the creation of our own API. This solution was considered the most efficient way to enhance the online store’s speed and availability at the time, and it remained effective until 2019. However, as the Next framework began to surpass React's capabilities, we initiated discussions with the client and scheduled another technological update.
We gradually replaced outdated technologies, page by page. We began with simple static pages like Contacts and the Loyalty Program, then moved on to more complex components, ultimately finishing with the cart—the key part of any ecommerce website.
After rewriting, each page or feature was initially deployed on the beta server. Following rigorous testing, the original content was seamlessly replaced, ensuring the e-store remained fully accessible at all times. This process led to significant improvements in critical page metrics, including faster loading times and optimized display compatibility across various browsers.
Technological advancements focused solely on improving page loading speed or resource usage often go unnoticed by customers. To address this, we needed to enhance the design and introduce innovative features in addition to updating the framework.
A comprehensive revamp of the online store was undertaken with the primary objective of enhancing the user experience (UX). This was a gradual process that involved consultation with both the client and a select group of users. Each component was rigorously tested and deployed only after receiving approval. We placed particular emphasis on optimizing the mobile version, recognizing that a significant proportion of customers accessed the online store via mobile devices.
Alongside the redesign, we are progressively rolling out a range of new features, including smart product recommendations, complimentary gifts with purchases, and an expanded selection of e-books, audiobooks, and gift vouchers. Additionally, we've added the option for international delivery as well.
Such remarkable development and continuous growth wouldn't be possible without a stable, dedicated, and cohesive team. That's why two full-stack developers are fully dedicated to the Zachej.sk project, bringing their expertise and commitment to ensure the platform's continuous improvement and alignment with user needs.
Tasks are carefully planned and executed in two-week sprints. Both the client and the development team have access to the backlog, allowing the client to track progress in real-time. Work is categorized into high-priority sprint pillars - essential tasks for the client - and smaller, less critical tasks, which are addressed once the main priorities are accomplished. Each day, developers update task statuses and planned activities, adjusting priorities as needed. Any necessary changes are communicated promptly through chat.
The client's IT expertise is pivotal to the project's success, as they directly assign tasks and set priorities with a deep understanding of technological processes. This knowledge allows them to propose valuable improvements and optimizations, which the development team rigorously evaluates to ensure practical and efficient solutions. When custom solutions prove impractical—whether due to budget constraints, time limitations, or added complexity—the team explores effective third-party alternatives to achieve the project's goals.
The client's commitment to continuous improvement and their effective communication with the development team have resulted in a project that truly stands out in the ecommerce landscape. Together, we've pushed the boundaries of this online store with cutting-edge technology, striking design, and unique functionalities.
It results in an unparalleled shopping experience, leading to repeat purchases and enthusiastic positive reviews. This unfaltering dedication to exceptional customer satisfaction continuously earns the e-store nominations for the prestigious Shop of the Year Award, year after year.
Since 2009, HeurekaGroup has organized the Shop of the Year competition, initially including department stores but later focusing exclusively on the online domain. Today, ecommerce businesses can compete for four distinct types of awards across 13 categories, based on their product offerings.
Among these awards, the Quality Award is the most prestigious. Heureka automatically considers all online stores using the Heureka Customer Verified service—a recognized mark of quality. Criteria for this award include customer satisfaction as measured by surveys, the proportion of customers who recommend the store, the number of reviews, and the total number of products. In this area, Zachej.sk has consistently excelled, being shortlisted as a finalist an impressive eight times.
The ecommerce outlet's success is driven by its focus on user experience, built on four key pillars:
The e-store proactively seeks and carefully analyzes customer feedback. This invaluable input serves as a guiding force during product development and expansion efforts, informing decisions and driving continuous improvement.
Furthermore, the store presents both verbal and star ratings for each product, providing customers with a quick overview of user feedback. Additionally, their in-house team of writers publishes more detailed reviews on the store's blog. These comprehensive reviews offer expert insights and recommendations, empowering customers to make informed purchasing choices
Since this online retailer specializes in specific content, each employee receives in-depth comprehensive training. This ensures that customers receive highly relevant assistance and tailored product recommendations aligned with their needs and preferences.
Shoppers have multiple options to reach customer support. During business hours, they can make discounted calls to the call center. Alternatively, outside of business hours, they can utilize the live chat feature, contact form, or send an email to communicate with support representatives.
E-store administrators respond to every single user query in the shortest possible time.
With the aim of making product selection easier for customers, the online store team dedicates itself to crafting unique content tailored to each product. Take books, for example. They capture multiple photos from various angles, allowing customers to visualize the binding type, thickness, and format. Additionally, they provide a link to a partial preview of the publication, including annotations or a portion of the text itself. For audiobooks, a preview to listen to is generally offered, helping customers decide whether the audiobook suits their preferences.
To ensure swift and efficient order distribution, the online store has strategically partnered with a renowned distribution company known for its quick delivery capabilities, even with large order volumes. The store's system is directly linked to the distributor's warehouse, providing real-time updates on stock levels. The distribution company regularly updates warehouse status, while the store promptly relays information about the quantity of products reserved in recent orders. This synergy facilitates streamlined inventory management and efficient order fulfillment.
Each of these pillars is supported by numerous functionalities designed to maximize the customer's shopping experience. Additionally, we understand the importance of browsing speed and the store's continuous availability, which is why we prioritize integrating cutting-edge technologies and regularly updating our systems.
Each of these pillars is based on a number of functionalities that help to improve the customer shopping experience to the maximum. In addition, there's also an emphasis on browsing speed and constant availability of the eshop. That's why in our development, we pay attention to technological up-to-dateness and at the same time to the constant implementation of new elements.
From the beginning of our collaboration, Zachej.sk has witnessed an extraordinary surge in its customer base and sales performance. The cornerstone of its success lies in ensuring customer satisfaction, fostering repeated visits, and nurturing positive feedback. Notably, the e-store boasts over 9,000 reviews on the Heureka comparison platform, with an astonishing 99.8% of them being positive. This exceptional track record is a testament to the store’s unwavering commitment to delivering a superior shopping experience.
Due to its success, the online store received repeated nominations for the Shop of the Year award, which enhanced its visibility and attracted a wider customer base.
Zachej.sk aims to expand its catalog by adding new book titles and related products to enrich the user's online experience. Simultaneously, strategic investments in technological advancements will be made to ensure unparalleled service accessibility and promptness, solidifying Zachej.sk's commitment to delivering an exceptional customer journey.
I'm glad that I made the decision to entrust the development of the Zachej.sk eshop to Bart in 2013. Over the years, I haven't once regretted my decision. Their team of developers is always available to me and even in case of problems over the weekend, they were able to respond immediately. Everyone at Bart is a person in the right place and I can rely on them from both the professional and personal point of view. I believe that we'll continue to be able to fulfill the visions that are ahead of us together. In conclusion, I'd summarize it all in the answer I recently wrote to our main developer Bianka, asking how satisfied I am with the cooperation: „I'm completely satisfied“.
