Introduction
Deployment is critical to releasing new features and updates for any eCommerce brand. For more prominent brands, it’s often a day-to-day operation.
Working with over 200+ e-commerce brands, we’ve identified a recurring pattern—problems arise when new releases are deployed on Fridays.
The question then arises: “Should I deploy on Friday?” Based on our experience, Friday deployments often lead to complications that stretch resources and disrupt operations over the weekend—a time when teams and business owners should be focused on maximizing customer experience rather than resolving crises.
Why Avoid Friday Deployments?
01. Increased Risk of Missing Crucial Steps
Even with a detailed checklist, Friday’s last-minute deployments often happen in a rush. This increases the likelihood of missed steps, posing potential bugs or issues post-deployment.
02. Limited Resources Over the Weekend
If something goes wrong, the availability of team members or third-party support is significantly reduced over the weekend. This delay can escalate minor issues into major disruptions.
03. Short Window to Fix Bugs
Deploying on Friday leaves little time to identify and patch bugs before they harm the user experience. By Monday, the damage may already be done.
04. Weekend Traffic Peaks
Most eCommerce stores experience higher traffic on weekends. If an issue arises, it affects many customers, potentially hurting conversion rates and damaging your brand’s reputation.
05. Third-Party Dependencies
Many Shopify stores rely on third-party apps or tools. Support for these tools may not be available during weekends, delaying critical fixes and impacting store performance.
06. Quality Assurance Under Pressure
Even if resources are available, they are often stretched thin or rushing to resolve issues quickly. This compromises the thoroughness of QA testing, leaving unresolved bugs or vulnerabilities in the system.
Healthy Deployment Practices for Shopify Development
01. Staging Environment Testing
Before deploying changes to your live Shopify store, use a staging environment to test all updates. This mirrored production environment should be used to check new features, updates, and bug fixes under conditions that replicate your live setup as closely as possible.
02. Version Control
Utilize a version control system like Git to manage changes to your store’s codebase. This allows multiple developers to work on the same project without conflicting changes and helps you roll back to previous versions if something goes wrong after a deployment.
03. Backup and Rollback Plans
Always back up your store’s data before deploying new code. Have a rollback plan ready so you can quickly revert to the previous version of your store if the deployment introduces critical issues.
04. Documentation and Communication
Maintain thorough documentation for your deployment processes and any changes made to the codebase. Communicate clearly with your team about the status of developments, testing, and deployments to ensure everyone is on the same page.
By following these healthy deployment practices, you can ensure that updates to your Shopify store are smooth, efficient, and least likely to cause disruptions, thereby maintaining a stable and reliable shopping experience for your customers.
A Proactive Approach: The No-Friday Deployment Rule
To avoid these pitfalls, establish a clear “no-deployments-on-Friday” policy within your team. This rule encourages planning and ensures all work is completed earlier in the week, allowing for thorough testing and issue resolution before the weekend.
Conclusion
While deployment is vital for eCommerce businesses, timing is crucial in ensuring its success. By adhering to safer deployment practices and asking, “Should I deploy on Friday?” you safeguard your Shopify store’s performance during peak traffic periods and foster a healthier work culture for your team.
Remember, when it comes to deployment, the key to success lies in preparation, collaboration, and proactive planning. Stick to safer deployment practices and let your weekends focus on delighting customers, not damage control.
