Order Processing & Sophisticated Subscription Management

Sakara Life is a leading wellness and nutrition company, known for its organic, plant-based meal delivery programs.

As Sakara Life experienced rapid growth, so did the expectations of its subscribers.

To meet these evolving demands and streamline operations, Sakara Life needed a more robust system for order processing and subscription management, capable of handling personalized plans, flexible scheduling, and seamless add-on product integration.

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The Challenge

The rapid growth of Sakara Life exposed critical limitations in their existing order processing and subscription management systems. The need for personalized plans, flexible scheduling, and seamless add-on product integration became increasingly urgent, highlighting the need for a more robust solution.

Key goals:

Evolving Subscriber Expectations: Meeting the increasing demands for personalized meal plans and flexible subscription options.

Limited Subscription App Functionality: Overcoming the limitations of their existing subscription app, which couldn't handle substitutions, schedule changes, or add-on products.

Overburdened Customer Service Team: Reducing the volume of special requests handled by the customer service team.

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The Solution

To address Sakara Life's evolving needs, Diff developed a scalable and flexible subscription platform that empowered subscribers with greater control over their plans while streamlining internal operations. This involved a phased approach, leveraging both third-party integrations and native Shopify functionality.

Early Adoption of Chargebee Integration (2015)
Recognizing the limitations of Shopify's native subscription capabilities, Diff pioneered an integration between Chargebee's backend and Shopify's checkout. This allowed subscriptions to be managed in Chargebee while non-subscription items were seamlessly processed through Shopify, providing a crucial early solution.

Enhanced Front-End Account Management Tools
Empowered users with full control over their programs through new account management tools, including a scheduling calendar, substitution options, and add-on product capabilities.

Native Shopify Subscription API Integration (2020)
Leveraged Shopify's new subscription API to build a fully native subscription model, further enhancing scalability and flexibility. This future-proofed the platform and allowed Sakara to take full advantage of Shopify's evolving features.

Back-End Integrations for Scalability
Created backend integrations to connect each new commercial kitchen to the SMS customer service provider and kitchen management solutions. This ensured seamless communication and efficient operations as Sakara Life expanded its geographic reach.

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The Outcome

By implementing a scalable and flexible subscription platform, Diff enabled Sakara Life to successfully manage its rapid growth, enhance subscriber satisfaction, and streamline its operations.

• Supported Sakara national expansion, which was fueled by a $4.8 million seed round.
• Provided users with the ability to adapt and substitute their plans to their individual schedules and dietary needs.
• Created back-end integrations that connected new commercial kitchens to SMS customer service and kitchen management solutions, ensuring efficient operations as the business scaled. 
• Leveraged Shopify's new subscription API to build a fully native subscription model, providing unlimited flexibility for Sakara front-end and operational needs.

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At a Glance

Type of Project

<sup>- Shopify Theme Redesign
- Custom order flow (multi-step meal plan builder)
- UX overhaul</sup>

Services

<sup>- UX Design
- Wireframes & Visual Design
- Theme Development
- Shopify App Development (custom ordering process)
- QA Testing
- Training
- Go Live Support</sup>

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Looking Ahead

Empowered by a scalable and flexible subscription platform, Sakara Life is now poised to further expand its reach and solidify its position as a leader in the wellness and nutrition market. With streamlined operations, personalized subscriber experiences, and a future-proofed technology foundation, Sakara Life has the agility and control to launch new programs, adapt to evolving customer needs, and continue delivering exceptional value to its growing community.

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