IXOM – A leading chemical manufacturer and distributor in APAC
IXOM is a global leader in water treatment and chemical manufacturing and distribution, supporting industries and communities that millions rely on every day. With a heritage of over 100 years, IXOM delivers essential products and services across sectors including mining, food and beverage, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and municipal water.
Headquartered in Melbourne and operating across four continents and ten countries, IXOM employs more than 1,300 people worldwide. Backed by deep technical expertise and a strong commitment to safety, innovation, and quality, IXOM continues to drive responsible growth while delivering long-term value to customers and partners.
A global industry leader headquartered in Australia, with operations spanning four continents and ten countries across APAC, North America, and beyond.
Serving thousands of business customers across water, chemicals, and industrial supply chains through a high-volume SAP Commerce Cloud storefront built on Spartacus.
A robust, globally integrated technology landscape built on SAP Commerce (Hybris) and Spartacus, supporting complex, high-volume B2B transactions at scale.
Following the successful launch of IXOM’s SAP Commerce Cloud platform, performance analysis revealed significant gaps across Core Web Vitals impacting user experience, search visibility, and conversion potential across key B2B journeys including the Homepage, Product Listing Pages (PLP), Product Detail Pages (PDP), My Orders, My Products, and My Deliveries.
The performance scores indicated poor optimisation levels, particularly in layout stability, JavaScript execution, and content rendering speed. While initial content loaded at an acceptable pace, critical elements including the largest content block and overall page stability failed to meet recommended benchmarks, creating friction across the customer journey.
To address performance limitations across key pages without replacing the existing architecture, GoWide implemented a structured, two-track optimisation strategy within IXOM’s SAP Commerce (Hybris) and Spartacus environment.
The objective was to improve Core Web Vitals (LCP, CLS, TBT), reduce API response times, optimise frontend resource loading, and enhance overall user experience, all while preserving the stability and integrity of the existing platform.
GoWide conducted a comprehensive audit of frontend resource usage and rendering behaviour across all major pages – Homepage, PLP, PDP, My Orders, My Products, and My Deliveries, implementing targeted improvements throughout:
Backend Optimisation via EHCache (SAP Commerce / Hybris)
To reduce API response times and server load across high-traffic endpoints, EHCache was implemented for OCC APIs powering the platform’s key self-service features:
By implementing frontend optimisation, API refactoring, and EHCache-based backend caching across key pages, Gowide significantly improved IXOM’s website speed, stability, and scalability while maintaining the existing SAP Commerce (Hybris) and Spartacus architecture.
The performance enhancement initiative transformed the overall digital experience by improving Core Web Vitals, reducing API response times, and delivering faster, more stable page interactions across all critical B2B customer journeys.
| Metric | Before | After | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Contentful Paint (FCP) | 1.2s | 0.8s | 33% Faster |
| Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) | 2.9 s | 1.1 s | 62% Faster |
| Total Blocking Time (TBT) | 300 ms | 130 ms | 57% Reduced |
| Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) | 0.784 | 0.0 | 100% Eliminated |
| Speed Index | 2.0 s | 1.3 s | 35% Faster |
Before optimisation
After optimisation
IXOM’s overall Lighthouse Performance Score improved from 41 to 94 following the optimisation more than doubling the baseline score. This reflects the combined impact of frontend improvements, image optimisation, JavaScript reduction, and EHCache implementation across all key B2B pages.
By implementing frontend optimisation, API refactoring, and EHCache-based backend caching across key pages, Gowide significantly improved IXOM’s website speed, stability, and scalability while maintaining the existing SAP Commerce (Hybris) and Spartacus architecture.
The performance enhancement initiative transformed the overall digital experience by improving Core Web Vitals, reducing API response times, and delivering faster, more stable page interactions across all critical B2B customer journeys.
LCP reduced from 2.9s to 1.1s, delivering 62% faster rendering for users.
CLS dropped from 0.784 to 0.006, a 99% improvement in layout stability.
EHCache cut repeated database calls, improving response times across key endpoints.
Faster, smoother browsing, customisation, and checkout journeys support better conversion rates.
Optimised performance lowers bounce rates and improves usability for mobile B2B users.
Meeting Core Web Vitals benchmarks boosted search rankings and organic digital visibility.
EHCache and frontend refactoring ensure the platform scales efficiently for future growth.
Have a similar project in mind? Let’s identify the right optimisation strategy to enhance speed, stability, and user experience across your B2B platform.
