Bespoke, back on the table
Edge-estions / Tech / Suggestions
By David Windell 2 min read
For years the answer to "could we have a…?" was often "yes, but it'll cost you". A product finder, a configurator, a smarter search or a delivery-date scheduler meant weeks of development. So most stores went looking for an app or an extension instead, and lived with whatever it did out of the box.
That sum has changed.
What's different now
AI now lets our developers build bespoke features faster than ever. Not by letting a chatbot write your checkout, but by taking the slow, repetitive parts of the job off our plate: scaffolding a module, writing the tests, checking an edge case, reading through an unfamiliar API.
The thinking, the reviewing and the responsibility stay with the developer. The hours spent typing boilerplate don't.
Why it matters most on Magento
On Magento you own the code. A feature we build for you is yours: it lives in your codebase, follows your rules and doesn't come with a monthly app fee or someone else's roadmap.
That's always been Magento's strength. What held it back was the cost of building. With that cost coming down, the features you've always wanted are back within budget:
- Product finders that ask the questions your best salesperson would ask
- Configurators for products that don't fit a simple dropdown
- Smarter search that understands what your customers actually type
- Delivery scheduling that works the way your warehouse does
We've built all of these before: a virtual ring sizer for Annie Haak, a product finder for Happy Hot Tubs and a delivery-date scheduler for Hedge Rose.
Not an argument against Shopify
Shopify is a great platform, and plenty of our customers are better off on it. Its app ecosystem covers a lot of ground, and if an app does the job well, use the app.
This is about the gap that's left: the feature that makes your store different, which no app offers. If that gap is why you're on Magento, it's a good time to revisit the list of things you shelved.
Where to start
Pick the one feature your customers ask for most, or the one your team keeps working around. Tell us what it needs to do and we'll tell you honestly what it would take to build, and whether it's worth it.
Some ideas to get you going:
