Requirements analysis for commerce & marketplace platforms

The foundation for commerce decisions that will still feel right three years from now.

You are planning a new commerce platform, looking to expand your existing online shop , or building your own marketplace . The ambitions are high: more revenue, better customer experiences, perhaps internationalization. But the deeper you dive, the more complex the picture becomes. Product search, checkout, payment integration, PIM, ERP integration, omnichannel structures, Marketplace interfaces – everything is interconnected, and every decision influences the next. Without a clear, prioritized requirements baseline , what happens all too often in commerce projects occurs: teams talk past each other, system selection becomes a gamble, and requirements that no one had on their radar emerge in the middle of implementation. The result: delays, budget overruns , and an outcome that doesn't align with your business goals.

Duration
2 - 4 weeks
Format
Sprint
Target audience
E-commerce, IT marketing

Solution Approach

Every successful commerce project begins with a simple question: What do we really need? This is exactly where our requirements analysis for commerce and marketplace platforms comes in. Together with you, we capture all functional, technical, and procedural requirements, systematically and comprehensively. Your business goalsare at the heart of this process: whether it's increasing revenue, customer loyalty, or internationalization, every requirement is measured against your strategy. We take a close look at your existing system landscape , identify dependencies, and document specific requirements for product catalog, Personalization, checkout processes, content management and marketplace integrations. The result: a structured basis for decision-makingthat gives you and your team the overview you need for your next steps, whether it's system selection, architectural design, or implementation planning.

Benefits

  • Confident decisions based on a well-founded, prioritized set of requirements that prevents costly mistakes in system selection and architecture
  • Reduced project risks through the early identification of dependencies, gaps, and contradictions before they become expensive
  • Full transparency through structured documentation that keeps everyone on the same page and eliminates misunderstandings
  • Faster start through a solid foundation that enables implementation teams to get to work immediately, without endless follow-up questions

Approach

  1. Stakeholder interviews and business analysis: We talk to the right people in your company, capture goals, expectations, and strategic priorities, and create a shared understanding of the current situation.
  2. Defining functional requirements: Product catalog, personalization, promotions, loyalty, checkout, search – we document exactly what your platform needs to do.
  3. Determining technical requirements: Interfaces, API capability, scalability, headless architecture, hosting – we clarify the technical framework conditions that apply.
  4. Capturing use cases and processes: From the first click to returns – we identify the relevant scenarios along the entire customer lifecycle.
  5. Prioritization based on business value and feasibility: Not everything is equally important. Together, we evaluate and prioritize every requirement so you know where the biggest levers are.
  6. Documentation in the requirements catalog: All results flow into a structured catalog that serves as a binding foundation for all subsequent project phases.

Deliverables

  • Prioritized requirements collection (functional, technical, procedural) as a reliable basis for system selection and implementation
  • Documented use cases and processes along the customer lifecycle for a shared understanding among all stakeholders
  • Evaluation matrix with clear prioritization based on business value and technical feasibility
  • Structured requirements catalog as a central management document for the upcoming project phases
  • Decision-making basis for architecture and technology so you can choose the right platform for your requirements

Speak with our experts!

Let’s work together to identify where the greatest potential lies and which measures will deliver the greatest added value for you.

Robin Dawn Merkelbach
Business Consultant
Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions? We have the answers.

Which companies is the requirements analysis suitable for?

For any company looking to launch, expand, or migrate a commerce or marketplace platform – regardless of industry or size. Whether B2B, B2C, or D2C: as soon as your requirements go beyond a simple online shop, a structured analysis is worth the investment.

Can we use the analysis even if we haven't chosen a platform yet?

That is exactly what it is designed for. The requirements analysis provides you with a neutral, prioritized foundation that allows you to make an informed comparison between platforms like Shopify, commercetools, Spryker, Adobe Commerce, or Mirakl.

What happens if requirements change during the project?

That is normal and expected. We work iteratively and prioritize together. The requirements catalog is a living document that can be adapted to new insights without losing sight of the big picture.

How does this analysis differ from a traditional specification document?

A traditional specification document often only describes the "what." Our requirements analysis goes deeper: we capture the "why" behind every requirement, evaluate it based on business value and technical feasibility, and provide you with a prioritized basis for decision-making rather than just a wish list.

Which stakeholders should be involved?

Typically, we involve representatives from e-commerce, IT, marketing, customer service, and management. The broader the perspective, the more robust the results. We will help you identify the right participants.