DAKA’s Headless Webshop
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Project Details
Client:
DAKAProject:
DAKA Headless digital transitionSolution:
The migration of DAKA’s e-commerce platform to a headless architectureImproved customer experience and efficiency through DAKA's new Headless Webshop
The digital landscape for retailers is changing at lightning speed; customers are placing ever higher demands on their online shopping experience. To stay ahead as a sports retailer, DAKA decided to overhaul their e-commerce infrastructure by adopting a composable set-up. We are happy to share the strategic considerations, the chosen architecture, and the expected benefits of this digital transformation.
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The Approach
DAKA was using a monolithic e-commerce platform. This brought significant challenges in terms of manageability, flexibility, and dependence on the existing Magento Commerce implementation.
By transitioning to a composable set-up, these challenges have become far more manageable. To achieve this, it was necessary to split the monolithic platform into a separate front end and back end, creating a direct connection between the front end and back-end services (such as DAKA’s ERP or PIM), which previously operated through Magento.
The main goals in this process were:
Reducing dependence on Magento Commerce.
Delivering an improved front-end experience for the customer.
Building a scalable and modular architecture that makes future innovations easier.
The Solution
By implementing a headless architecture, these goals could be realized. For this, we decoupled the front end (what the end-user sees) from the back end (logic and data). The back end was migrated from Magento Commerce to Magento Open Source, while the new front end is being developed with, among others, a CMS component from Storyblok and the advanced search & merchandising tool from Algolia. Within a composable set-up, the best components from various tech partners are selected and implemented.
DAKA’s composable set-up consists of the following components:
A new front end with a wide range of features, including a redesigned header and footer, an expanded “My Account” section, and optimized landing pages.
CMS integration through the implementation of Storyblok for flexible content management.
Search & Merchandising integration with Algolia for advanced search and filter functionalities, including guided selling via Qonfi and intelligent product recommendations.
Back-end migration to Magento Open Source for greater flexibility and cost control.
A streamlined checkout with PostNL integration, Adyen payment module, and personalized offers.
Thanks to the headless architecture, DAKA can innovate more quickly, since independent development of front-end features no longer impacts the back end. Furthermore, by migrating to Magento Open Source and choosing specialized, best-in-class tools, DAKA reduces dependence on a single vendor.
Conclusion
By choosing a composable set-up, DAKA lays the foundation for a flexible, scalable, and future-proof e-commerce platform.
The key benefits are:
Improved performance (faster-loading pages and seamless navigation for the customer).
Increased conversion (optimized user experience and personalized product recommendations).
Greater efficiency (more flexibility in platform development and management).
Future-proof (the architecture makes it easier to integrate new technologies and functionalities).
Thanks to the composable set-up, we are able to accelerate our growth. In addition, we can organize our content and marketing campaigns in smarter ways, allowing us to move faster and more efficiently.
About DAKA
The family-owned company DAKA Sport & Lifestyle, founded in 1965, is a Dutch sports retail chain with 17 stores. It distinguishes itself with a wide range of top brands for various sports and a strong focus on expert advice. The company aims to inspire athletes of all levels and provide them with the best equipment and service.