Legacy Yii 1 Migration Boosts Performance by 300% and Increases Conversion by 30% for a Mid-Market E-commerce Client
Industry E-commerce & Retail
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$10B+ Client Revenues
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12+ Successful Years
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1000+ IT Ninjas
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5000+ Projects
Client's Testimonial
"The Developers.dev team didn't just migrate our platform; they re-architected it for the future. The performance gains were immediate and staggering. Our conversion rate jumped 30% in the first quarter after launch. Their process was transparent, their expertise was undeniable, and they treated our business like their own. It was a game-changing partnership."
Sarah Jenkins, Head of E-commerce
Client Overview
The client is a US-based, mid-market retailer specializing in niche apparel, with annual online revenues of approximately $25M. Their entire business operation, from inventory management to sales, ran on a custom e-commerce platform built over eight years ago on the Yii 1.1 framework. While it had served them well, the legacy system was becoming a significant liability, suffering from slow performance, security vulnerabilities, and an inability to integrate with modern marketing and analytics tools.
Problem
The client's aging Yii 1.1 platform was hindering growth. Page load times exceeded 8 seconds, leading to high cart abandonment rates. The lack of security updates for the old framework posed a significant risk of a data breach. Furthermore, the monolithic architecture made it nearly impossible to implement new features or integrate with modern APIs, causing them to fall behind competitors.
Key Challenges
Minimizing Downtime
The migration had to be executed with near-zero downtime to avoid disrupting sales.
Data Integrity
Preserving years of customer and order data during the migration was critical.
Complex Business Logic
The old system had extensive, often poorly documented, custom business logic that needed to be perfectly replicated.
Third-Party Integrations
The platform was deeply integrated with a legacy ERP and multiple payment gateways that needed to be reconnected.
Our Solution
Developers.dev proposed a phased migration and modernization project using our dedicated POD model. The goal was not just to migrate but to re-architect the application for performance, security, and future scalability.
🔍 In-Depth Discovery
We began with a comprehensive audit of the existing codebase, database schema, and infrastructure to map out all dependencies and custom logic.
🚀 Re-architecting for Performance
We designed a new architecture on the latest version of Yii, separating concerns, implementing a robust caching layer with Redis, and optimizing the database schema.
🪜 Phased Migration Strategy
We developed a parallel system, migrating data in stages and using feature flags to slowly roll out the new platform to a subset of users, allowing for real-world testing.
🧪 Automated Testing Suite
We built a comprehensive suite of unit, integration, and end-to-end tests to ensure all business logic was correctly replicated and to prevent future regressions.
Implementation and Execution
Modern Frontend & API
The frontend was rebuilt using Vue.js, communicating with the Yii backend via a new RESTful API, creating a faster, more modern user experience.
Cloud-Native Environment on AWS
We established a parallel environment on AWS, leveraging Docker for consistency.
Custom Data Migration Script
A custom data migration script was developed and tested rigorously to ensure zero data loss.
Robust CI/CD Pipeline
CI/CD pipelines were set up using GitLab CI to automate testing and deployment.
Dedicated POD Engagement
A dedicated POD of 5 experts (2 Senior Yii Devs, 1 Frontend Dev, 1 QA, 1 PM) was assigned.
Seamless Zero-Downtime Cutover
The final cutover was performed during a low-traffic window, taking less than 30 minutes of actual downtime.
Positive Outcome
📈 300% Performance Increase
Average page load time dropped from over 8 seconds to under 2 seconds.
💰 30% Conversion Rate Uplift
The faster, more reliable user experience directly led to a significant increase in sales.
🔒 Enhanced Security
The platform was now on a supported framework with modern security practices, eliminating critical vulnerabilities.
⚡ Accelerated Feature Development
The new modular architecture allowed the client to launch new features, like a loyalty program, in weeks instead of months.
Why Choose Us
⚙️ Migration Expertise
Proven experience with complex legacy modernizations.
🛍️ E-commerce Domain Knowledge
Deep understanding of the client's business needs.
🏅 CMMI Level 5 Process
Ensured a high-quality, low-risk migration.
🤝 Dedicated POD Model
Provided a complete, self-sufficient team.
🏎️ Performance Engineering
Focused on business outcomes, not just code.
🤖 Automated Testing
Guaranteed the stability and correctness of the new platform.
🗣️ Transparent Communication
The client was kept informed at every stage.
🛡️ Risk Mitigation
The phased rollout strategy minimized business disruption.
🔮 Future-Proof Architecture
The new system is built to scale and adapt for years to come.
Conclusion
By partnering with Developers.dev, the client transformed a critical business liability into a powerful competitive advantage. The successful migration not only solved their immediate performance and security problems but also provided a stable, scalable foundation for future growth and innovation.