smplx.

Enterprise & Complex

Shopify for your unique business model

Architecture+ is our premium solution for brands with complex requirements. Custom theme from the ground up, metaobjects, APIs, multi-language, specialized business logic. We build your e-commerce system, not a standard setup.

from €10,000

Project price

  • Custom theme development from the ground up
  • Metaobjects data modeling
  • API integrations (ERP, CRM, shipping, analytics)
  • Multi-language & multi-currency setup
  • Custom business logic (pricing, gating, workflows)
  • Advanced performance optimization
  • Complete documentation & tech stack
  • Scalability & future-proofing
  • Security audit & hardening
  • Deployment & monitoring setup

Ideal for

Architecture+ is for brands whose e-commerce requirements are anything but standard. B2B models with dynamic pricing, multi-regional operations with different logistics, subscription programs, marketplace integrations – or simply: your brand is unique and deserves a technical foundation that doesn't limit you. Also perfect for brands scaling quickly that don't want to accumulate legacy debt through technology decisions.

  • —B2B & B2C hybrid models
  • —Multi-regional stores with complex logistics
  • —Subscription & recurring revenue models
  • —Marketplace & platform requirements
  • —API-intensive integrations

What you get

Custom theme architecture

Not a pre-built OS 2.0 theme – we build your theme from the ground up with modern JavaScript (TypeScript, Tailwind), a component system, and full customization freedom. The theme is optimized for your specific use cases: whether that's custom product pages, complex configurators, or specialized checkout flows.

Metaobjects & custom data models

You have data that standard Shopify can't represent? We build custom metaobjects that properly represent your data structure. For example, complex product variants, brand stories with media, B2B account hierarchies. Everything is queryable, performant, and manageable in the Shopify admin.

API integrations & headless potential

Architecture+ includes integrations with your existing systems: ERP, WMS, CRM, shipping providers, analytics platforms. We use Shopify's GraphQL APIs, webhooks for real-time data, and build sync processes. If you later have headless requirements (multiple frontend clients), the architecture is prepared for that.

Multi-language & multi-currency

Complete setup for multiple markets. This means: separate content for each language (not just translation), currency handling with automatic exchange rates, localized shipping and tax configuration, SEO optimization for each language (hreflang tags, sitemap). This isn't 'just translating' – it's properly multi-regional.

Advanced business logic

Your special requirements become code. B2B customer groups with custom pricing, subscription management with dunning & retries, dynamic promotions (that change based on inventory, season, customer segment), custom workflows (e.g., manual approval for certain orders). All of this is possible with Liquid + apps + custom middleware.

Performance & scalability

Architecture+ is built for scale from the start. This means: client-side rendering is minimized (server-side where appropriate), caching strategies for high traffic, optimized database queries, CDN integration for assets. Your store loads fast even when you scale to 10x your current traffic.

Security & compliance

Beyond GDPR: PCI compliance for payment handling, API security (rate limiting, OAuth), penetration testing, secrets management. We don't just build functional – we build secure. Especially important when you process sensitive data (B2B pricing, health data).

Complete documentation & handover

At the end you receive: complete technical documentation (architecture, API specs, database schema), deployment guides, troubleshooting docs, video walkthroughs of admin workflows. If you later want to bring in another developer, they'll understand the code immediately. This is professional software delivery.

Our process

  1. 01

    Architecture workshop

    Deep discovery with you: business model, integrations, scale requirements, technical constraints. Result: an architecture design document with data models, API specifications, technology stack, and precise scope definition. We map out how your system fits together before we write code.

  2. 02

    Technology stack & setup

    We set up the technical infrastructure: Git repo with best-practice structure, development/staging/production environments, deployment pipeline, monitoring & logging, type safety (TypeScript where appropriate). This is professional software architecture, not ad-hoc development.

  3. 03

    Core development (iterative)

    We work in phases: Phase 1 is core functionality (theme + critical integrations), Phase 2 expands scope. After each phase there's a review with you. This is agile development – you see progress, can adjust requirements, and mitigate risk through early validation.

  4. 04

    Testing & quality assurance

    Not just manual testing – we write automated tests (unit tests, integration tests), perform security audits, performance profiling, and load testing. Before your store goes live, we know for certain that everything works and remains fast even when traffic spikes.

  5. 05

    Launch & knowledge transfer

    We support you through launch and provide full documentation. We train your team on admin workflows and how to easily add features yourselves later. After launch, we accompany you with heightened support during the initial phase to ensure everything runs as planned.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Foundation and Architecture+?+
Foundation is for new stores with standard requirements – fast, solid, ready-to-launch. Architecture+ is for brands with unique requirements: custom theme, complex integrations, specialized business logic. Architecture+ takes longer and costs more, but the result is a system that perfectly maps your business model instead of limiting you.
How long does an Architecture+ project take?+
Depends on complexity: 12–20 weeks is typical. Simple custom themes with a few integrations: 12 weeks. Highly complex systems with many APIs and business logic: 20+ weeks. But this isn't a waterfall model – we work agile and after 4–6 weeks you already have first working features to test.
Can we switch to Scale afterwards?+
Yes, that's actually recommended. After the Architecture+ launch, when you need continuous development (new features, optimizations), you switch to Scale. That's then an ongoing partnership – we become your internal tech team. Architecture+ is the foundation, Scale is the growth that follows.
What if the requirements change along the way?+
That's normal and we plan for it. With the architecture workshop at the start, we understand well what you need. If new requirements emerge during development, we evaluate whether they fit the current scope or if it's a change request (which costs extra and delays the timeline). Transparency is important – we work with change management, not surprises.
Read our complete Shopify cost breakdown →Learn how to avoid the 18-month architecture trap →

Your business model deserves a unique solution

Let's discuss how we can optimally build your system.

Book an architecture workshop