Discovery is where we look instead of guess
This is the second step of how we run a Magento project. Strategy set the direction; discovery checks it against reality. We audit what you have, study who you are up against, and turn it into measurable goals before anyone starts building.
Getting the facts before we commit
It is easy to start a build on assumptions about how customers behave or where a store is losing sales. Discovery is the step where we go and check. We look at your existing store, or your business model if it is a new build, and we work from what the data actually says rather than what everyone assumes.
The whole project gets easier when the team agrees on the same facts up front. That is what this phase produces, an agreed picture of where you stand and what to fix first.
What discovery covers
Usually one to two weeks, led by a consultant. The same activities run on every project, big or small.
Audit of where you are
We go through your current store, or your model if there is no store yet, and write up what is working, what is quietly losing you money, and what to deal with first.
A real look at the competition
We map five to ten direct competitors across their experience, pricing, content and how they handle search, and tell you who is ahead and why.
Goals you can measure
Vague aims do not help anyone. We turn them into targets you can check, things like conversion rate, average order value and page speed, each with a deadline and someone who owns it.
A kickoff to agree it all
We walk your team through the findings in a live session, argue them out, adjust where needed and sign off. From then on that brief is what the project runs on.
What you have at the end of discovery
You get a written report on the strengths and weak spots of the current setup, a side-by-side comparison of your competitors, and a goals document with baselines, targets, deadlines and owners that your team has signed off. We also write down the things that could go wrong, how likely they are, and who would handle them if they did.
Like the strategy work, this can be a standalone piece. Some clients hire us just for discovery and strategy as an audit and then build in-house. The documents are written for that.
Common questions about this step
How long does discovery take?
One to two weeks for most projects. Quicker for a new build with no history to dig through, longer if we are auditing a large existing store.
Do you need access to our database?
Read-only data or analytics access makes the audit a lot stronger, because it is then based on evidence rather than inference. We sign an NDA first. If you would rather, we can run discovery from interviews and screen-shares instead.
What if discovery contradicts our plan?
That is one of the reasons to do it. We will show you the contradiction with the evidence behind it and leave it to your team to decide whether to adjust the plan, the scope or the budget.
Can discovery be a standalone job?
Yes. Some clients take just the discovery and strategy phases as an audit and build the rest themselves. The deliverables are written so any team can act on them.
Want a clear read before you spend
Send us a few lines about your store and we will set up a discovery workshop. You will leave with a handful of concrete findings to act on.