Replatform

Replatforming, or replatform, is the process of moving an application, service, or data from one technology platform to another to achieve improved capabilities without a complete rewrite. It preserves core functions while changing the underlying architecture, tooling, or hosting environment to a newer, often cloud-based, platform. The goal is to leverage the benefits of a different platform without rebuilding the entire system from scratch.

Replatforming is commonly applied in ecommerce, content management, and enterprise applications. Examples include moving a self-hosted or legacy e-commerce store from a platform like Magento to a cloud-based SaaS solution such as Shopify or BigCommerce, or migrating a headless content management system to a managed cloud service. It is distinct from rehosting (lift-and-shift, which transfers without changing platforms) and from refactoring (rewriting components for a new architecture).

Benefits typically include improved scalability, performance, security, and maintainability; easier access to managed services, automated updates, and better integration with other cloud tools. It can reduce maintenance burdens and enable faster deployment of new features, while preserving business logic and data models to a degree. Costs and outcomes depend on the chosen platform and the migration approach.

Key considerations involve data migration integrity, compatibility of integrations, legacy customizations, potential downtime, and impacts to SEO or URL structures. A successful replatforming plan usually includes an assessment, platform selection, data and code migration, testing, cutover with rollback options, and post-migration validation. Examples of outcomes include Magento to Shopify migrations, on-premises systems moving to cloud-hosted databases, or transitions to a headless CMS.