Masterclass: Operating Optimizely Commerce Connect at Scale

Join this Masterclass to learn how Commerce Connect functions as a scalable content and commerce framework, why its flexibility is both a strength and a risk, and how outcome-driven planning, experienced teams, and disciplined delivery practices shape timelines and success. The session also covers maintainability, feature adoption, upgrades, PaaS deployment best practices, and strategies for managing organizational complexity across brands, regions, and systems.

The course is intended to help teams set realistic expectations, make informed tradeoffs, and establish ways of working that support continuous improvement as their Commerce Connect implementation evolves.

 Key Takeaways

• Commerce Connect is a flexible foundation, not a turnkey solution

• Operating at scale is an organizational challenge, not just a technical one

• Outcome clarity is essential on Commerce Connect

• Plan for features and upgrades

• Deployment best practices

Welcome & Context (3 minutes)

Introductions and background with Commerce Connect
Who this session is for: agencies and internal teams operating CC at scale
What this session will and won’t cover: real-world patterns, not deep implementation walkthroughs

Commerce Connect as a Scalable Framework (8 minutes)

Commerce Connect as more than ecommerce
Why organizations choose CC for content + commerce
Supporting multiple sites, brands, or regions on a shared foundation
Why flexibility is powerful—and why it requires discipline

Planning with Outcomes on a Flexible Platform (10 minutes)

Why outcome clarity matters more on CC than rigid SaaS platforms
Examples of strong outcomes (operational efficiency, content velocity, consolidation)
How outcomes shape scope, architecture, and timelines
Using small releases and learning loops to reduce risk

Timelines & Team Experience: What Drives Delivery Speed (7 minutes)

Timeline expectations

• Typical Commerce Connect timelines (6–9 months)
• Drivers for delay

The role of accelerators and experienced teams
Why first-time CC teams benefit from expert partnership

Feature Adoption, Upgrades, and Staying Maintainable (7 minutes)

Considerations in adding new features

• Scable framework

• Why adopting new features always involves development work

• Marketplace add-ons vs. plug-and-play expectations

Upgrades

• Frequent upgrades as a strategy to keep technical debt low

• Keeping code base maintainable

Where testing fits into sustainable development

• Automated regression testing

• Unit tests

PaaS Deployment best Practices (10 minutes)

• Build and Deploy Fundamentals in PaaS

• Smooth (Read-only) vs Regular Deploys

• Handling Variables and Substitutions

• Rollout Notes

• Tips

Managing Complex Organizations (8 minutes)

Note: Addresses environment overhead + sub-brand separation

Options for Brands, Regional, and Language Sites

• Shared vs. separated environments for sites or sub-brands

• (lots of other stuff to come here)

• Tradeoffs between regional autonomy and operational efficiency

Multiple ERPs

Closing: Operating Commerce Connect with Confidence (3 minutes)

Commerce Connect is a long-term foundation, not a one-off build

Success depends on habits: planning, upgrades, deployment discipline, and learning

Focus on outcomes, not just features

Q&A (14 minutes)

Note: Intentionally longer Q&A to address real-world concerns