The right platform isn't the trendiest one. It's the one that fits how your business actually runs.
A restaurant with a simple menu website does not need to utilise the same foundation used by a marketplace processing thousands of orders per day. In addition, a restaurant does not require the same platform as what is required by a mobile-first start-up. Go Digital Bros. does not promote one platform due to comfort level – rather, we build to fit the stack that meets your project budget and timeline and implements the necessary functions of the website (Wix landing pages through complete custom Laravel applications).
Why Platform Choice Matters More Than People Think
A common mistake in web development is developing on the wrong web platform rather than developing bad code. A business using Wix that needs custom functionality after a year of using Wix may find itself unable to scale. They may also find that an off-the-shelf theme does not have the capability to develop a store with the same level of complexity as the actual product. A lot of time and cost can also be spent getting a custom code solution up and running when an off-the-shelf theme would have had your project developed in a fraction of the time.
To find the right web platform for your project, we will first ask you to tell us what the site needs to do in 12 months and not just what the site is going to look like on launch day – because 12 months from now is what helps us determine what the right web platform for your project is.
Platforms & Technologies We Build On
WordPress
The most widely used content management system in the world, and still the right call for most content-driven businesses, blogs, and small-to-mid-size company sites.
- Standard WordPress builds using established, well-supported themes and page builders for businesses that need a professional site without custom development costs
- Plugin ecosystem management — configuring the right combination of SEO, security, forms, and performance plugins without bloating the site into slowness
- WooCommerce integration for businesses that want e-commerce inside a WordPress environment they can manage themselves
Custom WordPress Theme Development
For businesses that need WordPress’s content management flexibility but a design that doesn’t look like every other WordPress site:
- Fully custom themes built from scratch — no page-builder bloat, no unused code, just a theme built specifically around your design and content structure
- Custom post types and fields so the CMS matches how your business actually organises information (properties, menu items, case studies, portfolios — whatever your content model requires)
- Performance-first builds — Custom themes we build are typically significantly faster than page-builder-based sites since there’s no unnecessary framework overhead.
- Full design freedom — when off-the-shelf themes can’t achieve the layout or brand experience you need, custom theming removes that ceiling entirely
Shopify
For businesses that need e-commerce to be reliable, secure, and fast to launch without maintaining server infrastructure themselves:
- Store setup and custom theme development — from configuring an existing theme to building or heavily customising one from scratch
- App and integration strategy — connecting inventory, shipping, email marketing, and reviews tools without stacking so many apps that the store slows down.
- Custom Shopify functionality using Liquid templating and Shopify’s APIs for stores that need behaviour the standard theme options don’t offer
- Migration to Shopify from other platforms, with product data, SEO value, and order history preserved
Wix
A strong fit for small businesses, solo entrepreneurs, and simple sites that need to launch quickly and be manageable without a developer on standby:
- Fast, professional builds for businesses that need a clean, functional site without the overhead of a fully custom build
- Wix eCommerce and booking integrations for small service businesses and stores
- SEO-conscious setup within Wix’s toolset, since Wix sites can rank well when structured correctly from the start
Laravel
For businesses that need something no off-the-shelf platform can offer – custom logic, complex data relationships, or an application rather than a website:
- Custom web applications — internal tools, client portals, booking systems, marketplaces, or anything with business logic unique to how you operate
- API development to connect your site with other systems — CRMs, inventory databases, third-party services, or a mobile app
- Database architecture designed around your actual data relationships, not forced into a generic e-commerce or content structure
- Scalable, secure backend development built to handle growth in users, data, and complexity without needing a rebuild later
PHP Development
The backbone underneath WordPress, Laravel, and much of the web is for direct, framework-free development when that’s the right call:
- Custom PHP applications for businesses with specific functionality needs that don’t map cleanly onto an existing framework
- Legacy system maintenance and upgrades for businesses running existing PHP codebases that need fixes, security patches, or feature additions rather than a full rebuild
- Custom integrations connecting existing PHP-based systems with new tools, APIs, or databases
React Native (Mobile App Development)
For businesses that need a mobile app rather than — or in addition to — a website:
- Cross-platform app development — one codebase that runs on both iOS and Android, which typically means faster development and lower cost than building two separate native apps
- App and website integration — syncing data, accounts, and content between your mobile app and your existing web platform so they function as one connected system
- API-driven architecture so your app can pull from and push to the same backend as your website, keeping data consistent everywhere
- Ongoing app maintenance — OS updates, App Store and Play Store compliance changes, and feature additions post-launch
How We Choose the Right Stack
Five questions we generally ask prior to recommending a platform:
What does the site need to accomplish (e.g., info display, product sales, booking management, custom logic, etc.)?
Who is responsible for site maintenance after launching (i.e., your internal or our internal)?
What is the growth projection for this site (scale of growth expected within the next 1-3 years)?
What is the budget/timeline for creating this site (i.e., different problems are solved at significantly different costs of having it custom-created as a Laravel version versus a Wix/Shopify version?
What exists now (i.e., existing content being moved, not reused in the new design)?
The truth of the matter is that the platform to use is often less exciting than most people would think. A well-built Shopify or WordPress site will outperform most custom-built sites that have too much custom code written. We will guide and advise our clients as to when custom development should be done versus when they should build something custom.
Our Process
Discovering & Recommending Platforms
First, we’ll look at your goals, current systems, and growth plan and select a platform that meets all of your needs – complete with a clear rationale for our recommendation as opposed to just giving you a pre-existing answer.
Architecting Your Design Once
we’ve determined the best platform for building your solution, we’ll architect the way your project will look, and for custom builds, we'll create a database and API plan. If the project is to be built using a pre-built platform, we’ll determine the theme and structure of pages and how they are to be mapped out and integrated.
Development and Testing
Develop and test the project with regular check-ins during the process. Instead of providing a “big reveal” at the end of a project, regular check-ins allow for course corrections early in the process when they can be made economically.
Launching Cross-Browser/Cross-Device
Test the solution on ALL browsers and devices prior to launch. Perform final performance testing. A staged launch will help you avoid downtime and prevent broken URLs.
Post-Launch Support & Iteration
Maintenance and upgrades to your solution will occur as your business evolves, regardless of which platform your solution was created with.
Let's Find the Right Foundation for What You're Building
Whether that’s a fast Wix launch, a custom WordPress theme, a Shopify store, or a fully custom Laravel application with a React Native app on top, we’ll help you figure out which one actually fits before any code gets written.