Define the commerce problem
Are you launching, replatforming or trying to fix an existing purchasing journey? A straightforward D2C store and a B2B operation with contract pricing and ERP links call for very different delivery teams.
Platform decisions need a business case
Ask candidates to explain the trade-offs between Shopify, WooCommerce and other architectures. Compare licensing, flexibility, maintenance, multi-market operations and exit costs. Complexity should earn its place in the plan.
Make integrations visible in the scope
List catalogues, variants, inventory, payment, fulfilment, returns, customer groups, promotions and dependencies on CRM, PIM and ERP. Specify who owns data mapping and internal decisions.
Three buying scenarios
A new D2C store should prioritise a reliable checkout and manageable operation. B2B wholesale may require custom ordering and account-level pricing. A migration needs testing, redirects, validated data and a safe cutover strategy.
Compare the real cost
Separate discovery, UX, development, data migration, QA, hosting and ongoing improvement. Ask for third-party licences, apps and integration effort to be priced and excluded explicitly.
Questions for your shortlist
Who tests checkout performance? How do you handle inventory synchronisation failures? What is the accessibility process? Who plans SEO redirects? Who owns source code, accounts and handover documentation? Ask for relevant technical examples.
Warning signs
Avoid unsupported revenue guarantees, inaccessible accounts, unclear subcontracting and plans without acceptance testing. Use the RFP template for comparable bids.
