AB Building Products’ BigCommerce Rebuild: Solid Online Experience Made Even Stronger

When AB Building Products came to us, they knew it was time for a change. Their online store had been running on Magento 2 for years, and while it served its purpose, they were ready for something faster, smarter, and friendlier for their customers. So, we got to work, making the move to BigCommerce and rethinking every part of their site to meet their needs in 2024 and beyond.

The Goals: A Better Shopping Experience, Stronger Brand Presence, and Easier Site Management
AB came to us with three main goals for this rebuild, each one focused on creating a more enjoyable experience for their customers and making the site easier for their team to handle:

1. Creating a More Thoughtful Shopping Journey
   We aimed to make the site feel natural and satisfying to navigate, refining key pages and reworking the checkout flow to make it as clear and straightforward as possible. From browsing to checkout, we wanted to ensure customers could find what they needed without unnecessary clicks or obstacles.

2. Boosting Brand Visibility and Making AB Easy to Find
   Our second goal was to elevate AB’s brand presence online. The new site was designed with an SEO-focus to attract organic traffic. Every page was built using a clean and engaging layout to help customers quickly see AB’s value and find the products they needed.

3. Moving to a SaaS Platform for Lower Costs and Simple Management
   Lastly, AB wanted a platform that was simpler and less costly to maintain. Moving from Magento to BigCommerce aims to lighten their team’s workload, with BigCommerce handling hosting, security, and updates. Now, AB’s team has the flexibility to make quick product and content updates, while our team remains on hand to ensure everything stays fresh, relevant, and optimised.

Overcoming Challenges Along the Way
Of course, no project goes perfectly to plan, and AB’s rebuild was no exception. Here’s a peek at a few of the trickier parts - and how we solved them.

• Migrating Data Without Losing a Step
  We migrated over 30,000 products to the new site, all with unique attributes that had to be mapped from Magento to BigCommerce. This was one of the biggest product migration we've ever done, but with plenty of attention to detail (and a lot of patience), we got everything moved over.

• Split Shipping: More Options, Less Hassle
  To give AB’s customers more flexibility, we added split shipping. Now, they can enter different delivery addresses and choose various delivery options based on what’s in their basket. Whether someone’s shopping for multiple projects or just wants extra control over their order, this custom option makes it all possible.

• Custom Decking and Sealant Calculators
  For AB’s customers, it’s crucial to get accurate estimates for big projects. That’s where our Decking Calculator and Sealant Calculator come in. The Decking Calculator lets users input area dimensions to figure out exactly what they need, while the Sealant Calculator provides precise quantities based on coverage requirements. These tools make sure customers feel confident and prepared when they order.

What We Brought to the Table
Throughout this rebuild, our team handled design, development, and project management to create a site that looked good and worked even better.

• Design & Development: We built a site that’s not only easy to use but also packed with the features specifically tailored for AB's customers.
• Project Management: From start to finish, we kept everything on track, coordinating with AB’s team and third parties to make sure nothing slipped through the cracks.

Standout Features and Customisations:

• Quantity Calculators: Whether it’s units or cladding, these calculators make it easy for customers to get the right quantities, every time they order.
• Document Attachments: Users can view any necessary documents right on the product page.
• Multi-Currency Options (£, €)
• Custom Checkout Fields and Estimated Delivery Dates: A streamlined, clear checkout with all the info customers need.

Third-Party Integrations
To pull everything together, we brought in some powerful tools:

• CIN7 for inventory management
• Quotilio for streamlined quotes
• Shipper HQ for accurate shipping options
• Trustpilot for customer reviews
• Clerk.io for advanced search, personalised recommendations, and upsells

The Final Takeaway
With thousands of products and a blend of simple and configurable items, AB’s site required careful attention to detail and some serious customisation. This wasn’t just another rebuild but a deep dive into how to make BigCommerce work for AB’s unique needs.

The new AB Building Products site is built to handle whatever comes next. It’s faster, easier to navigate, and packed with features that make the user experience simple and intuitive. We’re thrilled with how it turned out, and we’re excited to see how AB’s customers respond to this new and improved site.