Shopware technical & functional audit: Benefits and common worries explained

Many business owners in the B2B or FMCG space, particularly those managing medium- to large-sized companies, struggle with growing online sales, adapting to customer expectations, and making sense of complex product data.

An audit gives you the foundation to solve these problems – and offers strong guidance when current approaches fail to deliver results.

Technical audit vs. functional audit – what’s the difference?

The technical audit examines the engine room of your e-commerce store – the infrastructure, code, and configurations that drive it.

The technical audit includes thorough checks of the following:

➡ Code quality: A well-performing store starts with quality code. If your code doesn’t meet Shopware’s best practices, it can negatively impact site speed and make ongoing maintenance more complex.

➡ Server performance: We examine whether your hosting environment is equipped to handle high traffic, particularly during peak periods. Poor load times are a major contributor to cart abandonment.

➡ Integrations with other platforms: Since your Shopware store is typically part of a broader ecosystem, we evaluate how well it integrates with ERP, PIM, WMS, and payment gateways. The audit highlights any instability or errors. Issues in this area are common, particularly when product data is inconsistent or poorly synchronized.

➡ Security: The audit looks into your store’s resilience to cyberattacks. We assess vulnerabilities, confirm the presence and validity of SSL certificates, and review other security factors that protect both your business data and customer information.

➡ Technical SEO: Is your website set up in a way that helps people find it on search engines? This includes analyzing the URL setup, sitemap presence, robots.txt configuration, and other technical components that influence your store’s discoverability in Google.

➡ Shopware updates and plugin compatibility: Is your Shopware platform running the latest version? Are all plugins and extensions fully compatible? Neglecting updates can lead to system errors and create security risks.

Your eCommerce platform needs a technical audit to stay stable, secure, and efficient. A well-designed storefront alone isn’t enough. If the technical base is weak, the site may become slow or prone to outages.

A functional audit shifts the focus to the user experience: how your customers interact with the store and how your team works within it.

In a functional audit, we take a close look at the following components:

➡ User pathways: This involves analyzing how customers interact with your site, from searching for a product to making a purchase. We examine the entire flow through a UX (user experience) lens, identifying whether it supports smooth navigation or creates friction that may drive users away.

➡ Functionality in practice: Are all intended store features – for example, the search bar, filtering options, recommendation systems, and customer reviews – operating correctly? Do they align with your commercial needs, especially around customer experience and personalization?

➡ Catalog management: We examine how manageable the system is for your internal team. Can they quickly add new products, update descriptions, and adjust promotions or pricing? Smooth internal workflows support better agility and faster response to market changes.

➡ Admin workflow efficiency: How effectively can your team execute order processing, customer management, and return handling? The audit pinpoints process bottlenecks that could be slowing down your business operations.

➡ Personalization and automation opportunities: Does your eCommerce platform allow you to tailor content and offers based on specific customer groups? Can routine operations like marketing or customer support be automated using Shopware’s built-in tools or with the help of AI integrations?

➡ Support for business objectives: Do the current store functionalities help you reach your goals, whether it's boosting revenue, expanding globally, or building a unified omnichannel presence?

The functional audit examines how well your store performs in terms of usability and alignment with your business objectives. It addresses whether the store is not just fast and secure, but also optimized for sales and efficient for your team to use.

Why invest in an eCommerce audit? Here are the clear benefits

1. Improved conversions and customer satisfaction

Sometimes, small issues stop users from completing their purchase. An audit finds and helps fix those pain points. The result? A better experience for your customers – and more conversions for you.

2. Process refinement and cost control

Underperforming code and legacy integrations can silently increase costs. A detailed audit allows for process improvements, ensuring better handling of complex product data and reducing the total cost of ownership for Shopware.

3. Readiness for growth and change

We often operate within outdated frameworks, missing chances to improve. A Shopware audit brings these to light, from adding new features and personalizing offers to using AI tools that help you stay ahead of the competition.

As your eCommerce operations grow and you enter new territories, the audit ensures your platform is technically and strategically ready. It highlights potential weaknesses proactively, giving you time to prepare.

4. Increased security and system resilience

A comprehensive technical audit includes a security review to identify any gaps. This strengthens your online store’s resilience against cyber threats and helps prevent data loss.

5. Smarter product data management

Disorganized product information can hinder efficiency. The audit assesses your current setup and proposes how to implement PIM systems for structured, centralized product data, boosting accuracy and simplifying distribution processes.

Answers to your concerns and questions

We understand that an audit decision can bring up doubts and questions. This section is here to walk you through those concerns and provide the answers people most often look for.

“I’m worried about several possible risks...”

1. …that the audit could just be a gateway to expensive changes we don’t really need. It might take too long and interfere with other important projects.

Think about the real cost of downtime in sales, missed customers caused by a slow site, or data processes that waste time and money. An audit helps reveal what’s holding you back.

At Tandemite, we understand your budget concerns and take them seriously. We don’t use audits as a reason to inflate costs. Instead, we focus on identifying real improvements that can move your business forward. You’ll receive targeted recommendations, each with a clear business rationale, so you’ll know exactly why a change is needed and what it can deliver. The decision to implement any of them is entirely up to you – we’re here to support you with expert guidance and help streamline your e-commerce strategy and workflows.

We maintain complete transparency in the hours tracked and the rates applied. We define the scope upfront and keep you informed with consistent progress updates. Any variation from the plan is discussed with you — no action is taken without your explicit consent.

2. …that we’ll be left with a list of issues rather than solutions. What if the Shopware audit uncovers too many issues to even fix?

Our audit report goes beyond identifying problems. It offers a detailed assessment of your current setup, along with actionable insights, practical recommendations, and a comprehensive action plan.

We’ll help you see the full landscape and guide you through a thoughtful prioritization of efforts. Immediate fixes aren’t always necessary. Some matters are critical, others less so. By targeting the areas with the greatest return, both short-term wins and long-term gains, we’ll support you in achieving impactful results while keeping costs under control.

Whether you choose to move ahead with us or take the project forward with your internal team, we’re here to provide expert advice and hands-on technical support.

3. …that the audit might not meet our expectations. We've had poor experiences with similar services in the past. What guarantees a better outcome now?

Entrepreneurs often come to us after being held back by inadequate solutions. Previous Shopware partners failed to assess their real needs, poorly adapted and implemented systems, and left them with platforms that couldn’t scale, becoming major growth obstacles. Later attempts to fix these problems and optimize were unsuccessful.

We take a different path. Transparency, trust, and effective communication are at the core of everything we do. Our expertise is backed by completed projects and strong client recommendations. We don’t just consult; we take full responsibility for delivering results.

4. …that the audit may disrupt our current operations. Our team is already fully engaged, and we’re hesitant to take on a new initiative that could overburden our IT department.

Our focus is on relieving your team’s workload, not making it heavier. We perform the e-commerce audit in a way that avoids disrupting your ongoing activities. Once completed, we provide a detailed report with specific, actionable insights. This report can serve as a decision-making tool – whether your team takes the lead or we step in as your implementation partner.

5. …that the audit may uncover outdated systems which are challenging to integrate, potentially escalating complexity and cost.

The absence of integration and reliance on outdated systems is a critical challenge that holds many businesses back. Through a meticulous technical audit, our team will examine your current infrastructure and recommend tailored integration paths for PIM, WMS, CMS, and more. In many instances, we are able to unlock Shopware optimization even when older platforms are involved.

Why consider an audit when your store is running smoothly and making sales? It’s easy to believe everything is fine until unforeseen problems disrupt your operations. An eCommerce audit allows you to detect hidden weaknesses early and address them before they become costly. Even if your store is performing well, an audit can reveal new opportunities to optimize your processes, enhance efficiency, and boost sales results.

It’s a smart investment that strengthens your e-commerce business for the future.

At Tandemite, we understand that businesses seek one thing above all: concrete results (more sales, greater efficiency, and satisfied clients). This is exactly how we can help. Our audit approach brings together technical know-how and dedicated support. The Shopware audit is just the beginning – what follows is a partnership focused on identifying improvements and executing specific actions that generate meaningful outcomes.