Best-of-Breed vs Consolidation: Choosing the Right eCommerce Tech Stack with Portmeirion’s Ankit Jadav

eCommerce MasterPlan · with Ankit Jadav · 33 min

Summary

Ankit Jadav, Global Head of Digital Operations at Portmeirion Group, discusses optimizing eCommerce tech stacks by balancing best-of-breed solutions with consolidation. He emphasizes the importance of dedicated resources for tool implementation and ROI, stressing that even the best tools fail without proper execution. This episode is crucial for understanding strategic tech stack management and avoiding common pitfalls in D2C operations.

Key takeaways

• Don't assume a 'best-of-breed' tool will automatically deliver results; dedicated resources and execution are critical for ROI.
• Prioritize a mobile-optimized platform from the outset to support business growth and evolving customer behavior.
• When implementing new systems (PIM, RMS), allocate sufficient time and resources for integrations and testing, as "go-live" can expose unforeseen challenges.
• Gain hands-on experience in development and backend operations to effectively manage a tech stack and communicate with technical teams.
• Automate manual tasks like order printing and labeling with systems like PIM and RMS to improve efficiency as your business scales.

Themes

Topics covered

Episode description

Ankit Jadav is the Global Head of Digital Operations at Portmeirion Group, home to six unique homeware and fragrance brands with a combined 750 years of trading… including Spode, Portmeirion, Royal Worcester, Nambe, Pimpernel and Wax Lyrical. Turnover is now £110,000,000 of which 10% is DTC. In this episode, Ankit shares how his team manages five DTC brands with just eight people, why they recently consolidated their tech stack, and what he looks for when evaluating new technology. It's a masterclass in building an eCommerce operation that is efficient, scalable, and focused on delivering real ROI. Hit PLAY to hear: 🚀 How one team manages 5 DTC brands with just 8 people 🛠️ The surprising reason the "best" eCommerce tool can hurt your results 📈 Why consolidating your tech stack could unlock faster growth 💰 How to evaluate new software without wasting budget on shiny objects 🎯 The next big tech investment Ankit believes every retailer should consider 🤖 Where AI is actually delivering value in eCommerce (and where it's mostly hype) Key timestamps to dive straight in: [09:36] Implementing and Scaling eCommerce Projects [12:02] Understanding code for collaboration [16:01] Evaluating tech stack consolidation [21:04] Implementing a Customer Data Platform [22:35] Exploring AI for internal use [26:08] Listen to Ankit’s Top Tips! Full episode notes here: https://ecmp.info/603 --- Download our ebook... https://ecmp.info/ebook 500 Tips to Increase Your Profits Get all the links and resources we mention and join our email list at https://ecmp.info Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://ecmp.info/review or reply to the episode QandA on Spotify. Interested in being a Sp

Related episodes

• #1085: The five biggest developments in Amazon reselling right now— Silent Sales Machine Radio
• Hint's Refreshed Positioning Taps Into Hydration as a Cultural Movement— Total Retail Talks
• Fix Your Listings First: The Amazon Growth Hack Nobody Talks About - Hymie Zebede— The eCom Ops Podcast
• #81: Using Story and AI to Grow Your Business (SUMMER REPLAY)— The StoryBrand Podcast
• Dr. Jill Lepore on why the AI backlash is vital for the future— Decoder with Nilay Patel
• Ep 630: "The Best Ads Say Nothing" | Ari Murray, Chief Digital Officer at Salt & Stone— DTC Podcast

Frequently asked about this episode

What does this episode say about shopify & ecommerce platforms?

Don't assume a 'best-of-breed' tool will automatically deliver results; dedicated resources and execution are critical for ROI.

What does this episode say about dtc strategy?

Prioritize a mobile-optimized platform from the outset to support business growth and evolving customer behavior.

What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?

When implementing new systems (PIM, RMS), allocate sufficient time and resources for integrations and testing, as "go-live" can expose unforeseen challenges.

What does this episode say about ai & automation?

Gain hands-on experience in development and backend operations to effectively manage a tech stack and communicate with technical teams.

What does this episode say about shopify & ecommerce platforms?

Automate manual tasks like order printing and labeling with systems like PIM and RMS to improve efficiency as your business scales.

Listen

Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsShow website