Delivering Operational Stability for a High-Volume Enterprise

The client relied on a custom middleware system that worked in both directions to synchronize Shopify and local inventory. This middleware ensured:

• Shopify notified the client's local system about store activity (via webhooks).
• Updates made in the client's inventory system were reflected in Shopify in real time.

However, the project faced multiple challenges:

• Minimal handoff: We inherited a system with limited documentation.
• Unstable infrastructure: The middleware operated in a Shopify Pod that was not only slated for deletion but also running on a sandbox version of Shopify with unofficial code and no maintenance.
• Legacy code issues: Shopify continuously deprecates features, and new business rules were incompatible with the client's existing source code, causing critical errors.
• Operational inefficiencies: Errors and deprecated features required immediate updates to ensure reliability.
• Limited error visibility: The tool used to track errors was inaccessible due to missing credentials, leaving teams without insights.
• Restricted environment access: The client's strict security policy limited our access to their environment. We could only debug through specific user accounts, with no direct access to code or logs. This required us to investigate problems by analyzing web behavior and conducting extensive meetings with their teams to identify root causes.

We collaborated with the client's team and Shopify's team to:

• Stabilize daily operations: We fixed existing errors and enhanced middleware performance.
• Upgrade middleware features: Outdated functionalities were modernized to ensure compatibility and long-term stability.
• Conduct a deep investigation: We analyzed the middleware and Shopify's theme code, uncovering the underlying logic and business rules. This allowed us to build detailed documentation and strategically plan the migration initiatives.
• Plan a seamless migration: We designed a detailed roadmap for moving all environments—development, testing, staging, and production—with minimal disruption.
• Develop syncing tools: Custom tools were built to align data and enable the new stores to work seamlessly with the existing database.
• Restore error tracking: The service used to track errors was replaced, providing complete error visibility to all teams.

On migration day, all teams worked together to ensure a smooth transition:

• The Shopify stores and middleware were fully operational within 12 hours.
• Seta Workshop migrated all middleware data in just one hour, eliminating bottlenecks for other teams.
• Our main milestones included investigating the project, documenting the system, and planning the migration. These were achieved despite the client having limited information about their system.
• The client's expectations were met, as the system was ready for use within the promised timeline.

• Our team became the “tip of the spear” for all teams, leveraging the knowledge gained through numerous investigations. The client entrusted us with the most challenging problems, confident in our ability to deliver solutions.
• 12-hour migration completed with precision.
• One-hour middleware migration with zero errors.
• Detailed investigation and documentation paved the way for a successful migration.