For many businesses, 2020 was a year defined by uncertainty. For ecommerce, it was also a year of extraordinary change.
As physical retail was disrupted by lockdowns and consumer behaviour shifted rapidly towards online shopping, retailers and agencies faced the challenge of adapting at pace. For Aero, it was a defining period too; one that tested the platform, strengthened our team and accelerated our growth.
Looking back, what stands out isn't simply how much changed. It's how much we achieved while navigating an environment none of us could have predicted.
Growth in challenging circumstances
The biggest theme of the year was growth.
Aero's team doubled in size over the course of 2020, while continuing to operate as a lean organisation through a period of significant disruption. With much of the year shaped by remote working and ongoing uncertainty, maintaining momentum required everyone to adapt quickly and take on new challenges.
That growth wasn't limited to our internal team.
Our agency partner network grew to more than 60 agencies, giving retailers access to an expanding ecosystem of ecommerce specialists able to design, build and support stores on the Aero platform.
Agencies played a particularly important role during this period. As demand for ecommerce accelerated, they were under pressure to deliver new stores and digital experiences faster than ever. Building a strong network of partners meant Aero could support that demand while giving agencies a platform designed for flexibility, performance and rapid development.
Building a platform for what came next
While the market around us was changing rapidly, we continued to focus on the fundamentals of the Aero platform.
A major focus during the year was optimising the platform's core technology and performance. That work was particularly important during the peak trading period, when ecommerce businesses faced unprecedented levels of online demand.
The results reinforced the importance of having a strong, lean foundation. Rather than continually adding complexity, our focus was on building a platform that could handle demanding trading periods while giving agencies the flexibility to develop the functionality their retailer clients needed.
That philosophy continues to shape how we develop Aero today.
Ten times more stores
One of the clearest measures of Aero's growth was the number of stores being built on the platform.
Over the course of 12 months, the number of Aero stores either live or in development increased tenfold.
That represented a significant milestone for the business, but more importantly, it demonstrated growing confidence in Aero from agencies and retailers looking for an alternative to traditional ecommerce platforms.
Every new store also brought new requirements, challenges and opportunities. Working alongside agencies and retailers gave us valuable insight into the realities of running an ecommerce business and helped inform the continued development of the platform.
Learning from a rapidly changing industry
The events of 2020 reinforced something we already knew: ecommerce doesn't stand still.
Retailers need platforms that can adapt as their businesses change, whether that's responding to sudden increases in demand, introducing new functionality, expanding into new markets or changing the way customers interact with their brand.
For agencies, that flexibility is equally important. They need to be able to build differentiated ecommerce experiences without being constrained by rigid platforms or excessive technical complexity.
Those principles became even more important as the industry accelerated.
The experience of the past year strengthened our belief that ecommerce platforms need to provide more than functionality. They need to provide a foundation that agencies and retailers can continue to build on.
Looking ahead
While 2020 brought challenges we couldn't have anticipated, it also gave us a strong foundation for the next stage of Aero's development.
Our focus was and remains on continuing to improve the platform, strengthening our agency ecosystem and helping more retailers build high-performance ecommerce stores.
That means continuing to invest in the areas that matter to modern ecommerce businesses: performance, flexibility, scalability and ease of development.
It also means listening to the agencies and retailers building on Aero and using their experience to shape what comes next.
Always moving forward
The past year showed us just how quickly ecommerce can change.
For retailers, agencies and technology providers alike, adaptability has become essential. The businesses that can respond to changing customer expectations and market conditions are the ones best placed to thrive.
Aero's growth during this period gave us plenty to be proud of, from doubling our team and growing our agency network to delivering ten times more stores across the platform.
But we're more interested in what comes next.
If you're looking for an ecommerce platform that can adapt and grow alongside your business, book a demo with Aero to see what the platform can do.
