E-commerce projects for online shops: costs and timeframes

The project documentation should outline the shop’s objectives, target customers, sales model, required features, integrations, security and work plan. It enables you to translate an idea into concrete decisions. E-commerce projects can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, and the timetable depends, amongst other things, on the complexity of the shop, the scope of integrations and the readiness of the data. In this article, you’ll learn how to plan the stages, assess the team’s skills and prepare the shop for development, so that you can make an informed choice about the direction of the project.

Key findings

• Include integrations with PIM, ERP, payment systems and courier services in the implementation plan. Their scope affects the sequence of work and testing.
• Describe the payment processing and data protection measures right from the requirements stage. This will make it easier to plan a secure purchasing process.
• Divide the project into stages, assign specific deliverables to each stage, and decide who is responsible for making decisions. A plan like this makes it easier to track progress and respond to changes.
• Assemble a team suited to the scope of your shop: combine design, technical and e-commerce expertise. Automation tools, a dedicated app or a new online shop can also help when working on conversion rates.

Table of Contents

• How long does it take to set up an online shop?
• Payments, data protection and regulatory compliance
• Planning the scope and schedule of an e-commerce project
• Skills in e-commerce project management
• Internet Stars: E-commerce conversion

How long does it take to set up an online shop?

A standard implementation, from prototyping to go-live, takes 6–10 weeks. The online shop can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to build, depending on the scope and integrations required.

The timetable is influenced by the functionality, the number of integrations and the readiness of the data. Integrating PIM, ERP, CRM, payments and logistics requires planning for information flow, testing and error handling. The more complex the solution, the more work its implementation may require.

Payment and logistics integrations

Integrations with payment providers, courier services and logistics systems involve the transfer of orders and updates to their statuses. The team determines what information is exchanged between the shop and each system, such as the delivery address, parcel number and payment status. It then tests typical scenarios, such as order payment and dispatch preparation. Integrations with ERP and CRM systems help to streamline order and customer management.

Shop automation and features

The extent of automation depends on the company’s processes. A shop can transfer orders to the ERP system, product data to the PIM system, and customer information to the CRM system. Integrations with marketing tools support communication with customers. Before implementation, the team defines the rules, data sources and situations requiring manual intervention. Such preparation reduces the risk of errors in the exchange of information.

To set up a shop step by step, define your sales model, requirements, features and platform. Then plan the design, prepare the integrations, test the checkout process and launch the shop.

Attract customers by integrating your shop with your marketing activities and analysing buyer behaviour. Boost sales by improving product descriptions, navigation and the checkout process.

Common risks include incomplete product data, incorrect mapping of information and omissions in testing. Before going live, check the scenarios for orders, payments, returns and parcel handover.

Setting up an online shop takes, on average, from a few weeks to a few months, whilst more advanced implementations may take longer. It is therefore worth treating the schedule as an estimate rather than a promise of a specific deadline. When defining the scope, it is helpful to separate work on the core shopping journey from additional features, and to identify which elements are required before launch. An example implementation of a feature using e-commerce technology may take 60 hours. This is an example, not a universal measure of the time required to build the entire shop.

Before starting work, agree on what each feature entails, what data it uses and how it will be tested. This will make it easier to assess the scope of the project and enable you to identify issues requiring clarification at an early stage. If new requirements arise, reassess the plan and the order in which features are to be implemented. Also, set aside time for testing and bug fixes, rather than assuming the system will go live immediately after development is complete. This ensures that the deadline is based on the agreed scope, rather than simply on a general estimate of the development time.

Payments, data protection and regulatory compliance

Start planning your payment options by selecting the methods available in your shop. Customers may expect to pay by card, BLIK or bank transfer, so check how each of these fits into the checkout process. Also decide what transaction details the buyer will see and what they will receive once they have paid for their order. A clear message about the payment status reduces uncertainty during the shopping process.

Security covers both payments and data handling. E-commerce websites should protect payments using two-factor authentication (2FA). They should also comply with the GDPR’s requirements regarding the protection of personal data. In practice, plan which data the shop collects, where it is transferred and who uses it during order fulfilment. Restrict access to information to those roles that actually need it.

If the shop processes card payments, ensure compliance with the PCI DSS standard. Describe the data flow between the website, the point-of-sale system and the payment processor. This will enable the team to identify which components require integration and how they behave in the event of a transaction error. For example, if a payment is declined, the customer should see a clear message and be able to choose an alternative payment method.

Product requirements also influence purchasing decisions. Ensure that information on availability, variants and delivery is consistent. It’s not just the appearance of the shopping basket that matters, but also whether the customer understands what they are buying and how they will pay. Choose tools that support your shop’s growth, rather than complicating order processing.

Before going live, carry out a test purchase for each payment method. Check the confirmation, the change in order status and the transfer of data to the payment processor. You can include such scenarios in your online shop implementation plan, alongside the requirements relating to data protection and payments.

Planning the scope and schedule of an e-commerce project

Divide the shop’s implementation into stages: requirements, design, development, testing and launch. For each stage, specify the deliverable, the decision-maker and the dependencies between tasks.

Scope of e-commerce implementation

Start by defining the scope of work based on the online shop’s functionality. Take into account the number of products, the sales model, the technology and integrations with other systems. A shop with a local product range requires a different plan to a B2B platform with individual terms and conditions for customers. Set out the requirements separately for the initial launch and subsequent stages of development. This ensures the team knows which elements need to be included in the first launch.

Project duration

Draw up a schedule based on the dependencies between tasks. The catalogue design should precede the preparation of product data, and payment testing requires a fully functional shopping basket. Adding features during development may alter the sequence of work and the workload on the team. You should therefore determine which elements are required for the launch and which can be implemented later.

Project profitability and performance

Assess your results against the targets set before you started. For an online shop, these might include the number of orders, the conversion rate, the average basket value or the proportion of returning customers. Compare the data with similar periods and check what changes preceded a particular result. This will help you distinguish the impact of a new feature from seasonal factors or a marketing campaign.

Popular e-commerce projects

In Poland, online shops operate under B2C, B2B and D2C models. Marketplaces, which bring together multiple sellers, are also a popular option. The choice of model determines the features, user roles and how orders are processed. When planning the scope, describe who your customers are, what products you offer and how the shop is to support sales. These decisions set the direction for the technology and subsequent work.

Before approving the plan, assign a measurable outcome and a decision-maker to each stage. This division makes it easier to track progress and respond to changes without blurring the scope.

Skills in e-commerce project management

A good project manager aligns sales objectives with the technical team’s decisions. When developing an online shop, they translate the company’s needs into tasks, a work sequence and acceptance criteria. If the shop is to handle B2B sales, they must take into account customer roles, individual terms and conditions, and order processing. Simply listing the features is not enough. What matters is an approach that brings together the product, the technology and the team’s day-to-day work.

Competencies are evident in day-to-day work. The manager documents decisions, assigns responsibilities and monitors interdependencies. When the way products are presented changes, they check the impact of this change on the website design, catalogue data and testing. They also ensure smooth communication between those responsible for sales, marketing, customer service and programming. This ensures that important information is not lost between meetings, and the team knows who approves each subsequent element.

Experience in e-commerce also involves working with data. Before a project begins, the team determines how it will measure conversion rates, shopping basket abandonment rates and order fulfilment. Following the launch, it compares the metrics against the targets and identifies further areas for improvement. The manager should bear in mind that a drop in sales can have various causes. Therefore, they analyse the entire customer journey, rather than attributing the problem to a single function without checking.

Look for a team that can explain decisions in plain language, outline a work plan and conduct tests involving the business. Ask for an example of how they resolved a conflict between the scope of features and the launch date. A specific answer will show whether they can set priorities and take responsibility for decisions. If the shop’s development requires improvements to the checkout process, discuss a plan to boost conversion rates and link sales targets to the team’s activities.

Internet Stars: E-commerce conversion

Internet Stars helps businesses grow their online sales by optimising e-commerce conversion rates. When users visit a shop but rarely complete a purchase, it is worth analysing the journey from the moment they land on the site to the moment they place an order. Working on conversion rates helps to identify areas for improvement and tailor the shopping experience to the business’s needs. The aim is to make better use of existing traffic, rather than simply adding more features.

Work on the conversion can be combined with the development of an online shop. If the current solution does not fit the sales model, Internet Stars creates online shops tailored to the project’s objectives. When a company’s processes require functionality that goes beyond that of a standard online shop, dedicated applications may be a good solution. Their scope is determined by user needs and the tasks they are designed to support. This approach helps to determine what should be developed first.

Automation reduces the need to carry out repetitive tasks manually in e-commerce. It can complement a shop or app when a business wishes to streamline specific sales-related activities. First, identify the process that needs organising and the desired outcome. Next, select a solution that fits in with your current way of working. This ensures that the technology addresses a specific need, rather than simply adding yet another tool without a clearly defined role.

Contact Internet Stars if you’re planning to improve conversion rates, build an online shop, develop a bespoke app or implement automation. Prepare a description of your current challenge, your customer base and the process you wish to change. This information will allow us to start the discussion by focusing on your business’s needs and to define a direction for the work that aligns with your objectives. You can discuss the development of an existing sales channel or the launch of a new solution. Contact Internet Stars and tell us about your project.

Prepare your shop for the next stage of growth

The project doesn’t end once the shop goes live. Treat it as an evolving product: keep an eye on changing customer needs and make decisions in response to the business’s real-world challenges. That way, e-commerce projects become not just a one-off implementation, but part of a long-term strategy for sales growth.

Appoint someone to be responsible for further decisions and establish how the team will submit ideas for changes. The next step could be the development of an online shop, a dedicated app or the automation of a repetitive process. The Internet Stars team combines business needs with the development of digital solutions. Choose an approach that addresses the current challenge, rather than implementing features without a clearly defined objective.

Do you have an idea for boosting sales, or do you want to plan the next stage? Get in touch with Internet Stars and discuss your project. Every successful shop starts with a decision you can make right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should the project documentation contain?

The documentation should describe how the shop operates in typical situations and in exceptional cases. E-commerce projects benefit from a clear point of reference when the documentation includes specific scenarios, such as purchasing several products, changing the delivery address or cancelling an order. For each scenario, specify the expected outcome and the criteria for considering the feature complete. This will facilitate the acceptance of work and decision-making during development.

Can I build an e-commerce website without any coding?

Yes, no-code tools allow you to set up a simple online shop using ready-made components and manage your product range yourself. They work well when sales do not require any non-standard processes. If you have your own pricing rules, need to integrate with your company’s systems, or require bespoke features, some programming may be necessary. Assess whether the tool you’ve chosen allows you to handle orders efficiently and develop your shop as your needs change.

Can I change the features of my shop once it’s up and running?

Yes, after launch, you can continue to develop your shop by adding features or modifying existing ones. For example, you can change how product variants are displayed or the messages shown after a purchase. Before publishing, describe the change, specify who it affects, and test it on different devices. This will make it easier to spot any issues before the new version is rolled out to all customers.

How do you prepare preliminary functional specifications for an e-commerce project?

Start by defining the shop’s purpose and describing your customers, then set out their tasks. In e-commerce projects, it’s useful to have a specific scenario – for example, a customer wants to find the user manual after making a purchase. Note down where they should find it and what information should be displayed. Include a screen sketch or a brief list of steps so that the team can discuss the solution without a finished graphic design.

How do you choose the right technology?

Choose the technology based on who will be managing the shop on a day-to-day basis and how often the product range changes. Check whether the control panel allows you to easily edit descriptions, update photos and set up promotions. Ask to be shown an example of the admin interface. A quick trial will reveal whether the tool is suited to your team’s skills before it becomes part of their daily workflow.

How do you prepare a shop for launch?

Before the launch, carry out test purchases on a computer and a mobile phone, using different user accounts. Check the automated messages, the confirmation screen, and whether the shop staff can see the new order. Also, arrange for someone to be on hand to answer customers’ questions once the site goes live. This test will show whether the whole process works seamlessly, from the first visit through to the order confirmation.

An article by

Andrzej Klimek

Owner of Internet Stars since 2008