How Boardman Revamped Technical Leadership, Strengthened Cybersecurity, and Accelerated Time-to-Market at a National eCommerce Retailer
Client Overview
Our client is a national eCommerce retailer that depended on an underperforming offshore development team.
Faced with critical security vulnerabilities and sluggish development practices, the retailer needed a robust intervention to secure its digital assets and drive rapid growth.
Learn how our holistic intervention removed 400+ critical security vulnerabilities, boosted development velocity by 1657%, and unlocked major cost savings and revenue growth through technology audits, best-practice software engineering, agile transformation, and data-driven insights.
Client Details:
Industry:
Retail
Region:
UK
Employees:
500+
"Boardman’s intervention was a game-changer, identifying vulnerabilities we didn’t even know existed. Their solution not only secured our platform but gave us peace of mind."
eCommerce Director, National Retailer
The Challenge
- Underperforming Offshore Development:
Reliance on a distant, under-resourced development team led to sluggish velocity and inconsistent delivery. - Critical Security Issues:
The website suffered from significant security vulnerabilities, putting both the brand and customer data at risk. - Inefficient Development Practices:
Lacking structured processes, the team struggled with low development velocity, poor prioritization, and limited visibility into technical and commercial KPIs. - Staffing and Recruitment Challenges:Â The existing team was under-resourced, and recruitment processes were inefficient, limiting the ability to quickly scale with the right talent.
The Solution
To transform the retailer’s technical operations and secure its platform, we implemented a multi-faceted strategy:
- Security & Bug Resolution:
- Conducted comprehensive online web and network vulnerability scans.
- Remediated 400+ high alert security vulnerabilities.
- Enhancing Development Efficiency:
- Addressed the root cause of low velocity by supplementing development resources and restructuring processes.
- Instituted agile practices: added epics, defined priorities, commercial values, and estimates on all JIRA tickets.
- Implemented monitoring, alerting, and KPI dashboards for increased transparency of commercial and technical performance.
The Impact
Key milestones include:
Security & Performance Improvements:
- Removed 400+ high alert security vulnerabilities across the website, significantly enhancing security posture.
- Achieved a 46% decrease in page start render time and a 47% decrease in overall page load time, leading to a smoother user experience.
Development Velocity & Efficiency:
- Recorded a 1657% increase in software development velocity, drastically reducing time-to-market.
Cost Savings:
- Negotiated supplier contracts resulting in ÂŁ145k in projected savings for the next fiscal year.
Other Key Benefits
- Feature & Revenue Enhancements:
- Successfully implemented several projects including a comprehensive website redesign.
- New landing pages contributed a commercial value of ÂŁ100k.
- Data-Driven Decisions:
- Deployed custom KPI dashboards and reporting tools, providing enhanced visibility and driving informed decision making across departments.
- Staffing & Process Improvements:
- Strengthened the team by recruiting critical roles and mentoring existing staff, ensuring long-term stability and continuous improvement.
Our Approach
This case study demonstrates how a holistic approach to security remediation, agile transformation, and process optimization can revolutionize the operations of a national eCommerce retailer.
By addressing critical vulnerabilities, enhancing development velocity, and driving data-led insights, we not only secured the platform but also delivered significant operational improvements and cost savings. The strategic interventions have positioned the client for robust growth and an enhanced customer experience moving forward.
"I can sleep at night now."
Managing Director, National Retailer
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