Understanding the model
Do you replace Shopify entirely?+
Yes. We migrate your store off Shopify onto a system you fully own — your code, your data, your infrastructure. The reason is not that Shopify is bad. The reason is that once a store reaches a certain level of complexity, Shopify’s model — rented platform, layered apps, no architectural control — becomes the source of the heaviness you already feel. VOKKA removes that ceiling entirely.
How is VOKKA different from an agency?+
Agencies sell hours. Development teams build what you ask for. Neither takes structural responsibility for how the system works as a whole. VOKKA is the opposite: we implement one architecture, we govern it, and we remain the single technical authority responsible for its integrity over time. You are not hiring a vendor. You are delegating system ownership.
What is the Architecture Audit?+
The Audit is a paid, standalone analysis ($900) that documents exactly where your current system is costing you money. You get five deliverables in five days: App Stack Analysis, Tracking Integrity Check, Performance Baseline, Architecture Risk Assessment, and a Migration Readiness Score. It’s designed for store owners who want proof before making any commitment. If you proceed to migration, the audit fee is credited toward your setup cost.
Migration and transition
What happens during migration?+
Your existing Shopify store continues running normally the entire time. We build, test, and validate the new system in parallel — typical timeline is 30 days. The cutover happens in one controlled step — DNS switch — after everything has been validated. There is no period where your store is down or half-working. Customers never notice the transition.
What about my current apps — Klaviyo, reviews, loyalty programs?+
Every critical integration gets evaluated during the Clarity Check or Audit. Essential functionality — email marketing, reviews, analytics — is either natively built into the system or directly integrated at the API level. The difference: instead of 10–15 Shopify apps each injecting their own scripts and creating dependencies you cannot control, you get clean, server-side integrations that you actually own. Some apps disappear because the new system handles that functionality natively. Some stay as direct API connections. Nothing critical gets lost.
Investment and ownership
How much does this cost?+
Architecture Audit: $900. Migration setup: $15,000. Ongoing governance: $1,200/month with a 6-month minimum. The total cost of ownership is lower than Shopify + app stack + developer costs over 3 years — and you own the system completely. No transaction fees. No monthly platform rent. No app subscription stack. The longer you operate, the more the economics favor ownership over rental.
What if the Audit says I don’t need to migrate?+
That’s a real possibility, and we’ll tell you clearly. The Audit is designed to give you an honest assessment. If your system is fundamentally sound and just needs targeted fixes, we’ll say so. You’ll still have a detailed technical report that any competent developer can act on. The audit fee is not contingent on proceeding with migration.
What if I want to stop working with VOKKA later?+
You keep everything. The code is yours. The infrastructure is yours. The data is yours. If you discontinue governance, we transfer all deployment authority and access to you. Your store keeps running exactly as it is. There is no lock-in. That is the fundamental difference from Shopify — on Shopify, you stop paying and the store disappears. With VOKKA, you stop paying and the store stays yours.