Suunto’s platform migration and process optimization journey
For over eight decades, Suunto has been at the forefront of precision technology, with its roots tracing back to the visionary Finnish adventurer Tuomas Vohlonen, who founded the company. Suunto specializes in the design, manufacturing, and global distribution of sports watches, dive computers, compasses, and precision instruments, catering to the needs of enthusiasts and professionals alike.
The challenge: A platform migration from M1 to M2
Before partnering with Vaimo, Suunto operated on Magento 1 (M1), which required extensive custom development.
As a subsidiary of Amer Sports at the time, Suunto wanted to establish its independent identity and sought to transition to a more modern, structured environment. This led to the decision to migrate from Magento 1 to Magento 2 (M2). The migration was challenging due to the existing custom development and unstructured code.
Beyond the technical aspects, Suunto wanted to streamline internal workflows to maintain operational excellence with a reduced team size.
At its core, Suunto aimed not only for a seamless migration but also a future-proof ecommerce environment that allowed for sustainable growth. Suunto wanted to boost sales, drive business growth, and become a market leader.
The goals for the project
Streamline and strengthen the platform
Maximize the use of built-in platform features to minimize custom work, boost efficiency, and ensure a secure, GDPR-compliant ecommerce foundation.
Deliver a seamless global shopping experience
Optimize performance, payments, and logistics worldwide to create smooth, consistent, and reliable experiences for customers everywhere.
Empower growth through smart marketing tools
Equip Suunto’s team to make the most of native marketing and merchandising capabilities using proven tactics, automation, and data-driven insights to drive engagement and sales.
The results in numbers
113% year-on-year increase in revenue
87 countries served
10 language versions
The Suunto brand achieved the coveted list of the TOP20 cross-border ecommerce sites in Europe.
The solution: A gateway to efficiency and growth
Vaimo’s solution for Suunto involved a comprehensive overhaul of their ecommerce ecosystem. Migrating from Magento 1 to Adobe Commerce (on-prem) enhanced backend flexibility, while the Optimizely CMS-driven frontend ensured a user-friendly interface. Global-E integration streamlined cross-border payment and logistics, and the implementation of Akamai CDN optimized global performance. The Suunto Customizer helps customers design their own personalized watch.
Vaimo’s holistic solution not only addressed Suunto’s immediate challenges but also laid the groundwork for sustained growth, efficiency, and an elevated customer experience.
Project features & details
Vaimo transitioned Suunto’s ecommerce backend to Adobe Commerce (on-premises), offering a powerful and flexible commerce engine to support Suunto’s evolving needs.
The frontend experience was predominantly built on the Optimizely (EPIServer) Content Management System (CMS), ensuring a user-friendly and visually engaging interface for Suunto’s customers. The integration of Cart and Checkout functionalities directly into Adobe Commerce further streamlined the user journey.
To boost global performance and ensure a seamless user experience worldwide, Vaimo implemented the Akamai Content Delivery Network (CDN), optimizing website performance and accelerating content delivery.
Vaimo provided Suunto with a robust and scalable hosting infrastructure based on Kubernetes, offering a reliable foundation for Suunto’s ecommerce operations.
The complexities of cross-border payment and logistics were effectively addressed through the integration of Global-E, a third-party module with customized features. This integration facilitated a smooth and efficient international commerce experience for Suunto customers.
A sophisticated Delivery Management API was introduced to optimize and streamline the logistics and delivery processes, ensuring timely and efficient order fulfillment.
For comprehensive analytics, Vaimo implemented Google Analytics and managed tags through Google Tag Manager (GTM), providing Suunto with valuable insights into user behavior and website performance.
Ensuring secure access, Vaimo implemented Azure Active Directory (AD) authentication, enhancing the overall security posture of Suunto’s ecommerce platform.
To further enrich the ecommerce ecosystem, Vaimo integrated ProductsUp for streamlined product feeds, ReverseLogix for efficient returns management (integrated with Global-E), and a bespoke Product Customizer allowing customers to personalize their watches directly on the Suunto website.
“From seamlessly migrating our platform to implementing innovative solutions, Vaimo has greatly improved the performance of our website. Their passion and collaborative spirit have not just met our expectations but created a shared success story, leaving us excited about the endless possibilities ahead.”
Anna-Leena Kaunisto
Senior eCommerce Development Manager
Future plans: Suunto’s vision for business and ecommerce advancement
Embracing a growth mindset, Suunto emphasizes making business-based decisions, conducting A/B testing, and leveraging data-driven insights. Recognizing the pivotal role of customer experience, Suunto places a strong emphasis on enhancing omnichannel interactions.
Suunto’s commitment to sustainable practices extends to involving their team in decision-making processes, ensuring a collective effort towards making environmentally conscious choices.
Ready to modernize your ecom solution like Suunto?
Contact Marko Rytkönen to discover how our expertise in ecommerce can streamline your operations and boost your growth in global markets.
