Client's Testimonial

"Before we hired Developers.dev, our site's bounce rate was through the roof. Their performance optimization team was like a special ops force. They identified and fixed issues we didn't even know we had. Our page load speed is down by 70%, and our mobile conversion rate has doubled. It's been a phenomenal return on investment."

Ben Carter, Head of Digital

Client Overview

An Australian fashion retailer with a custom-built Codeigniter website. While functionally rich, the site was plagued by slow load times, especially on mobile, which was hurting their conversion rates and SEO rankings.

Problem

The client's website took over 8 seconds to load on average, and the mobile experience was frustrating for users. This led to a high bounce rate, low conversion rates, and poor Core Web Vitals scores, which negatively impacted their Google rankings.

Key Challenges

Identifying Root Causes

Identifying the root causes of the performance issues in a complex, custom codebase.

Live Operations Optimization

Optimizing the site without disrupting live sales operations.

End-to-End Performance

Improving performance across the board: server response time, image loading, and client-side rendering.

Maintaining Custom Features

Ensuring any changes didn't break the site's complex custom features.

Our Solution

We assigned our "Lightning Page‑Speed Overhaul" sprint team to tackle the problem systematically.

Comprehensive Performance Audit

We used tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, and New Relic to perform a deep analysis of both the frontend and backend performance.

Backend Optimization

We discovered and optimized dozens of inefficient database queries. We also implemented a Redis caching layer for frequently accessed data.

Frontend Overhaul

We minified all CSS and JavaScript files, implemented lazy loading for images, and optimized the image formats to WebP.

Infrastructure Tuning

We worked with their hosting provider to upgrade their PHP version and fine-tune their server configuration for Codeigniter.

Implementation and Execution

Staged Development

All optimization work was first performed on a staging server to ensure stability.

Incremental Deployment

We deployed changes in small, incremental batches to monitor the impact and mitigate risk.

A/B Testing Validation

A/B testing was used to validate that performance improvements led to higher conversion rates.

Detailed Reporting

We provided the client with detailed before-and-after performance reports.

Rapid Sprint Completion

The entire optimization project was completed in a three-week sprint.

Best Practices Handover

We also provided their team with a "performance best practices" guide to prevent future issues.

Positive Outcome

70% Reduction in Page Load Time

Average page load time dropped from 8.2 seconds to 2.5 seconds.

100% Increase in Mobile Conversion Rate

The improved mobile experience led to a doubling of sales from mobile users.

Improved SEO Rankings

The site's ranking for key commercial terms jumped to the first page of Google within two months.

45% Decrease in Bounce Rate

Users were more engaged and visited more pages per session.

Why Choose Us

Deep Performance Expertise

Leveraging specialized knowledge to diagnose and resolve complex performance bottlenecks.

Codeigniter-Specific Knowledge

In-depth understanding of the Codeigniter framework for targeted optimization.

Data-Driven Approach

Using analytics and real-world data to guide optimization strategies and validate results.

E-commerce Experience

Proven track record in optimizing online retail platforms for maximum sales and user experience.

Focus on Business Metrics

Prioritizing improvements that directly impact key KPIs like conversion rates and revenue.

Rapid Sprint-Based Delivery

Efficient project execution through focused, time-boxed agile sprints.

Safe, Staged Deployment Process

Minimizing risks by implementing changes incrementally on staging environments.

Collaborative Partnership

Working closely with client teams as an extension of their internal capabilities.

Clear, Actionable Reporting

Providing transparent and easy-to-understand reports on progress and impact.

Conclusion

This project highlights that our value extends beyond just building new applications. We are experts at diagnosing and solving critical business problems in existing systems, delivering measurable ROI by directly improving key performance indicators like speed, conversions, and revenue.

E-commerce Performance Overhaul: Rescuing a Retailer's Slow Website

Industry E-commerce / Retail