#Japan #Chiyoda #Gaprise #and ST #SpeedKit

SpeedKit Implementation for and ST

Introduction

In the realm of digital commerce, a seamless user experience is crucial for customer retention and sales growth. The Japanese company Gaprise, known for empowering digital businesses, announced the successful implementation of SpeedKit—a cutting-edge web performance tool—at the and ST web store, operated by And Style HD. This upgrade has enabled a remarkable reduction in loading times, greatly enhancing user experience on the site.

Background on and ST

The and ST web store aggregates over 30 fashion brands, including well-known names like GLOBAL WORK and niko and ..., boasting a member base of over 21 million. Despite this large user base, most of and ST's sales were predominantly through its mobile app, leading to a prioritization of resources and marketing efforts focused on app development.

However, it became evident that to boost app growth, improving the web browser experience was essential. Detailed data analysis revealed that while a significant portion of revenue was derived from the app, the web browser variant attracted many new visitors, including potential customers searching online. The necessity for a speedy, efficient web experience became clear: without it, the likelihood of converting these visitors into app users and long-term customers would be hindered.

The Need for Speed

Realizing the importance of a well-optimized web platform, and ST made the strategic decision to implement SpeedKit, aiming for improvements in loading speeds that could significantly influence customer interaction and satisfaction.

SpeedKit's Impact

Following the implementation of SpeedKit, metrics demonstrated a significant enhancement in web performance. According to the PoC reports, the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) metric—a key indicator of how quickly users can view essential content—was drastically reduced:

• - Home Page: Reduced from 2.840 seconds to 0.935 seconds (a reduction of 1.905 seconds)
• - Product Listing Page: Reduced from 1.675 seconds to 0.939 seconds (a reduction of 0.736 seconds)

This considerable improvement resonated not only in quantitative metrics but also in qualitative user experiences, confirming that the efforts to enhance web speed were worthwhile.

Insight from Leadership

To gain deeper insight into the decision-making process leading to this implementation, I interviewed Masashi Iizuka, Director of the DX Division at and ST. He emphasized how critical technical innovations are in maintaining competitive advantages and meeting ever-changing consumer expectations in digital environments.

About SpeedKit

Developed based on collaborative research with Hamburg University in Germany, SpeedKit is an innovative, AI-driven web performance solution. By utilizing cutting-edge caching algorithms and network technologies, SpeedKit facilitates instant website loading. The combination of service workers, edge caching, and advanced optimization techniques effectively alleviates common web issues related to latency and bandwidth scarcity.

More than 10,000 websites globally have already adopted this solution, underscoring its efficacy.

About Gaprise

Gaprise has carved a unique niche in the SaaS market, which is projected to exhibit remarkable growth, driven by technological advancements and an increasing demand for digital solutions. With a focus on identifying and introducing innovative technologies from around the world since its establishment in 2012, Gaprise aims to continually differentiate itself amid rising competition.

Following the upcoming discontinuation of the Google Optimize service, Gaprise is the sole provider of three officially recommended A/B testing tools in Japan. Additionally, starting in February 2024, they plan to expand their offerings with multiple site speed improvement tools. This adaptability reinforces Gaprise's commitment to understanding and responding to diverse client needs without being tethered to singular technologies.

By delivering advanced technology consulting and comprehensive online user experience optimization, Gaprise assists clients in overcoming challenges while accelerating their business growth in the rapidly evolving digital marketplace.

Conclusion

The successful implementation of SpeedKit at the and ST website exemplifies how strategic investments in technology can yield significant improvements in customer interaction and business performance, setting a benchmark for others in the industry to follow.