How Mavlers transformed messy legacy Shopify site into a scalable store, without downtime
Industry: Energy solutions
About the client
The end client is an Australian company delivering tailored power, motion, and energy storage solutions. They offer both off-the-shelf products and custom-engineered systems, backed by deep Shopify expertise, innovation, and a commitment to powering progress.
Understanding the client's vision
A partner agency approached us on behalf of their client, facing a daunting challenge: breathing new life into a legacy website built on outdated, unstructured code. Their Shopify site lacked modern functionality, was difficult to maintain, and offered a static, non-dynamic user experience.
Their goals were clear:
Improve usability and navigation for a better customer experience.
Build a foundation for easy future updates.
Enhance performance and stability without a complete rebuild.
Work within a task-based point system to maintain cost efficiency and prioritize high-impact changes.
The client wanted to start with incremental improvements before committing to broader development, a strategic, risk-free approach that Mavlers was well-equipped to deliver.
Key challenges we tackled
After the initial agreed-upon tasks were delivered to the agency's utmost satisfaction, we were given an extensive 1,500-point backlog (BH list) consisting of bug fixes, enhancements, and feature requests.
But there was more to the task than what meets the eye! There were layers to it, much like an onion waiting to be peeled to perfection.
Here's a sneak peek into what we faced behind the scenes:
Interdependent issues
The site's unstructured codebase meant that resolving one problem often triggered unexpected regressions elsewhere.
Poor code foundation
Outdated coding practices and a lack of component separation increased risks.
Scope creep
Continuous additions significantly expanded the original agreement.
Extended feedback loop
Hidden dependencies caused repeated rework cycles.
Delving into the razor-sharp strategies that delivered results
To bring structure and stability to a complex project, we deployed a strategic, phased plan:
Clear prioritization
We categorized the backlog into three tiers: urgent, high-impact, and nice-to-have, ensuring that immediate fixes didn't delay core enhancements.
Rigorous testing framework
We implemented rolling QA and regression testing after each release batch, minimizing risks of new issues disrupting the live site.
Transparent communication & cost tracking
With weekly progress updates, impact reports, and clear cost reporting, the agency had complete visibility into the work being delivered and its value.
Incremental releases for stability
By deploying incremental updates rather than bulk changes, we maintained website uptime and user access throughout the project.
Delivering what was promised and beyond!
The proof of the pudding lies in the eating; here's a quick insight into the results delivered.
Functional enhancements improved visual presentation, content structure, and user interaction.
All backlog items were addressed, although the process required extended timelines due to interdependencies.
The website remained operational without critical downtime.
All additional work was approved and compensated, ensuring transparency in costs.
We ensured that the agency and the end client in question got their dollar's worth, peace of mind, and ultimate cost transparency.
"Mavlers didn't just solve problems, they provided a roadmap for stability and growth. Their expertise and proactive communication gave us the confidence to make informed decisions at every stage."
Project Lead
Agency Partner
Learnings & key takeaways
Learning is a two-way street, a never-ending process, and something that we at Mavlers are committed to.
In a nutshell, this is what we learned from the partnership:
Conduct a full code audit before task-based agreements to reveal fragility.- Define clear boundaries early to reduce scope creep.
- Provide proactive Shopify specific technical guidance to prevent regression loops.
- Implement structured testing and deployment from the start.
We gathered that working on a legacy website without a technical assessment introduces hidden risks. It is recommended to start with a comprehensive audit, recommend rebuilds or refactors when necessary, and set clear scope boundaries to avoid extended development cycles.