Ellos Group - E-Commerce Platform Modernization

Ellos Group • Borås, Sweden

Ellos Group's e-commerce platform was built on a legacy Java-based system with jQuery frontend, creating significant technical debt and limiting the ability to deliver modern user experiences. The platform served millions of customers across Sweden and Germany, making a complete rewrite risky. The team needed to modernize while maintaining business continuity and serving customers without disruption.

Industry

E-Commerce / Fashion Retail

Services

Full-Stack Development + 1 more

Timeline

24 months

Team Size

15 specialists

The Challenge

Key Pain Points:

•
Migrating from legacy Java platform with spaghetti jQuery code while maintaining business continuity
•
Creating a GraphQL API layer to unify disparate Java and C# backend services
•
Implementing a robust CI/CD pipeline to support continuous deployment
•
Coordinating work across a large development team while delivering incremental improvements
•
Managing parallel operation of old and new systems during migration
•
Ensuring performance improvements while maintaining feature parity

Business Impact

The legacy platform limited feature development speed, created maintenance burden, and prevented delivery of modern user experiences expected by customers. Without modernization, Ellos risked falling behind competitors and losing market share in the competitive Nordic e-commerce market.

Our Solution

Led a comprehensive platform modernization transforming the legacy Java/jQuery stack into a modern Vue.js frontend with GraphQL API abstraction layer. The solution bridged existing Java and C# backend systems, established robust CI/CD pipelines, and implemented an incremental migration strategy enabling parallel operation while delivering continuous improvements.

Our Approach

Architecture Design & Planning (Months 1-3)

Analyzed legacy system architecture, designed modern Vue.js storefront architecture, and planned GraphQL API layer to unify Java and C# backends. Created incremental migration strategy allowing parallel operation of old and new systems.

GraphQL API Development (Months 4-8)

Built comprehensive GraphQL API serving as abstraction layer over legacy Java and C# backend services. Implemented efficient data fetching, caching strategies, and error handling ensuring seamless integration with existing systems.

Vue.js Storefront Development (Months 6-12)

Developed modern Vue.js storefront with improved performance and user experience. Implemented component-based architecture, optimized rendering, and ensured responsive design across all devices serving millions of customers.

CI/CD Pipeline Implementation (Months 9-15)

Established Jenkins-based CI/CD pipeline with automated testing, code quality checks, and deployment automation. Enabled continuous deployment supporting rapid feature delivery while maintaining platform stability.

Incremental Migration & Optimization (Months 16-24)

Executed incremental migration strategy, gradually moving traffic from legacy to modern platform. Monitored performance, optimized bottlenecks, and ensured feature parity while delivering continuous improvements.

Technical Highlights

✓

Modern Vue.js storefront replacing legacy jQuery frontend

✓

Comprehensive GraphQL API unifying Java and C# backend services

✓

Jenkins-based CI/CD pipeline enabling continuous deployment

✓

Incremental migration strategy maintaining business continuity

✓

Component-based architecture improving maintainability

✓

Performance optimizations reducing load times and improving UX

✓

Responsive design serving millions across Sweden and Germany

✓

Automated testing ensuring platform reliability

The Results

Successfully modernized Ellos Group's large-scale e-commerce platform, transforming a legacy Java/jQuery system into a modern Vue.js architecture with GraphQL API. The modernization enabled faster feature development, improved user experience, and established a foundation for continued platform evolution while serving millions of customers across Sweden and Germany without disruption.

Complete

Platform Modernization

Legacy Java/jQuery to Vue.js/GraphQL migration

Millions

Customer Impact

Served across Sweden and Germany markets

Faster

Development Speed

Modern architecture enabling rapid feature delivery

GraphQL

API Unification

Unified Java and C# backend services

Continuous

Deployment Frequency

Jenkins CI/CD pipeline enabling frequent releases

Incremental

Migration Strategy

Parallel operation maintaining business continuity

Large team

Team Coordination

Coordinated across 15+ specialists

Modern

Platform Foundation

Established foundation for continued evolution

Business Impact

Successfully modernized large-scale Nordic e-commerce platform serving millions of customers

Reduced feature development time through modern Vue.js architecture

Improved platform maintainability with GraphQL API abstraction layer

Enabled continuous deployment through robust Jenkins CI/CD pipeline

Set foundation for continued platform evolution and market expansion

Return on Investment

Investment:

2-year modernization project

Additional annual revenue:

Platform serving millions of customers

ROI:

Faster feature development

Return in first year:

Modern platform foundation for growth

Investment → Revenue Growth

"The modernization transformed our platform capabilities. The Vue.js frontend and GraphQL API layer enabled us to deliver features faster while maintaining the reliability our millions of customers expect. The incremental migration strategy ensured zero disruption during the transition."