Ecommerce is extremely challenging, with growing competition, shrinking margins, and ever-evolving customer expectations. Launching a robust ecommerce site is merely the first step; the real challenge lies in driving sustained profitability month after month by refining traffic, conversions, average order value, and customer retention.
To support our customers in achieving long-term success, VTEX has introduced the Certified User Program. This specialized training initiative is designed to maximize the performance of stores on the VTEX platform. Led by our Field Software Engineering team—a collaborative group that blends technical, platform, and digital commerce expertise—the program equips customers with in-depth knowledge and tools to optimize online operations. Certified Users undergo detailed training in VTEX modules and best practices, empowering them to take strategic actions that drive revenue growth and ensure lasting sales success.
The program’s primary goals are to boost store efficiency, accelerate project implementation, and improve communication between VTEX and its customers. Certified Users receive extensive technical and digital commerce training, empowering them to identify revenue growth and operational improvement strategies. The program fosters a collaborative environment where businesses and VTEX function as a unified team, streamlining operations, reducing resolution times, and driving success in the evolving digital commerce landscape.
The program includes two levels: Level 1 is a self-paced course covering 12 missions on VTEX modules, APIs, and traffic optimization, followed by a certification exam. Level 2 involves a four-day, business-specific training to enhance expertise and autonomy.
Paragon Sports completed Level 1 in just two weeks, followed by a customized four-day in-person training. Throughout the program, Paragon Sports saw immediate improvements in website performance, including faster page speed and better user experience metrics like CLS and LCP. Both teams collaborated on cleaning up their catalog, tackling their taxonomy, categories, clusters, product details, and metadata which resulted in a much better search experience with the main goals of better organic results and optimized search results which compliments Paragon Sport’s large and diverse catalog.
Throughout the program, Paragon Sports installed key features such as Cybersource IO and Adyen V3. Merchandising was a big part of the program, with emphasis on relevance scores and visual merchandising tools, the efforts resulted in better PLP product sorting customer experience, customers are now able to find the right product they want faster and more efficiently. Training also covered testing payments and promotions in production, using Clusters, and adding Custom Components via Site Editor. Technical concepts like Cold Start and Throttling were explained with visual demonstrations, and thirty-four additional enhancement opportunities were identified, ensuring ongoing collaboration to optimize their store’s performance.
VTEX took the time to understand the specific customer journey we aim to create, welcomed our team into their offices, and ensured we received a well-tailored series of intense sessions with subject matter experts. These hands-on workshops not only addressed immediate improvements but also provided us with long-term strategies for optimizing our site.
Sam Wunderlich, CIO, Paragon Sports
Paragon Sports participants praised the Certified User Program, expressing deep appreciation for its value and immediate positive impact on their work. Sam Wunderlich from Paragon Sports shared, “The Level 2 portion of the VTEX Certified User Program was specifically tailored to our store. Paragon Sports has been New York City’s Specialty Sports Store since 1908, offering a series of best-in-class experiences across specialty departments such as Running, Tennis, Outdoors, Lifestyle Outerwear and Footwear, Team Sports, Ski, Surf, and many more—all under one roof. Representing each department online as a distinct specialty store to reflect our in-store expertise has been both a main focus and a challenge for us online. VTEX took the time to understand the specific customer journey we aim to create, welcomed our team into their offices, and ensured we received a well-tailored series of intense sessions with subject matter experts. These hands-on workshops not only addressed immediate improvements but also provided us with long-term strategies for optimizing our site. We walked away with actionable insights and a clear plan for future enhancements. Moreover, the relationships we’ve built with VTEX have given us a strong line of communication to address ongoing questions and fully explore the enhancement opportunities now added to our roadmap. This partnership has been invaluable to our team and will continue to drive meaningful improvements to our ecommerce operations.”
Moreover, the relationships we’ve built with VTEX have given us a strong line of communication to address ongoing questions and fully explore the enhancement opportunities now added to our roadmap. This partnership has been invaluable to our team and will continue to drive meaningful improvements to our e-commerce operations.
Sam Wunderlich, CIO, Paragon Sports
