HACH Werbeartikel - B2B Magento online shop

B2B customers also expect binding prices. As a print service provider with a very diverse product catalog ranging from ballpoint pens to umbrellas, HACH requires an exceptionally modular price calculation. The printing costs change depending on the type of print, number of colors and purchase quantities. No store system can map this on its own.

HACH's established and highly individualized merchandise management system/ERP must be seamlessly connected to the online store. All product data, availability, orders, customer data and order status must be exchanged continuously and promptly between the two systems.

The online store must be continuously developed and run smoothly at all times. Even with frequent changes to the store system, the risk of errors should be minimized.

The transformation from a traditional catalog mail order company to an online retailer is very challenging, both technically and for all employees and managers.

Magento 2 has proven itself as a broad foundation for the diverse and demanding technical requirements. In addition to the very extensive functions, Magento also offers a powerful framework for the individual development of features. For example, the complex pricing for the print price could be implemented using a separate price calculation system within Magento.

The highly individualized ERP was connected to the HACH online store via a connector developed in-house. Data from the ERP is imported and then converted and enriched. Numerous functions of a PIM (Product Information Management) system are thus taken over. Order and customer data is transferred to the ERP and checked for duplicates. The processing of printing and shipping is transmitted to the store via status changes from the ERP.

The HACH online shop is continuously developed in an agile process. To avoid errors on the live system, numerous tests of the code and store functionality have been created and run automatically during deployment. This ensures exceptionally high code quality and allows both HACH and us at Kombinat to work with peace of mind. As a test is added with every new feature, the test suite always remains up-to-date in this so-called "test-driven development". This means that both customers can order without any problems and HACH employees can work reliably in the system.

Switching from a traditional catalog supplier to an online mail order company is not easy for a long-established medium-sized company. It requires the willingness of the management and the full acceptance of all employees. This was built up in a continuous process in which knowledge was imparted and process optimizations were developed with HACH employees. The expertise in user experience design, which puts the customer - and in this case the employee - at the center, helped here.

Magento provides HACH with a store system that has proven itself time and again over the years. It is stable, reliable, highly customizable and scalable.

The ERP is the central software in a retail company. It was therefore important for product data to be maintained centrally there and to always remain up-to-date in the online store sales channel. Nevertheless, there was a lot of important product data that needed to be supplemented or adapted. This could be done automatically using the connector, saving store managers a lot of time.

Automated tests detect errors at an early stage before they can cause any damage. This enables customers to make a smooth purchase in the store and HACH support staff are relieved.

HACH has been able to develop its business and prospects extremely positively with these measures. The company has a clear agenda in which new central systems are being integrated to improve work processes and increase sales. The new skills in digital sales together with decades of experience as a commercial print manufacturer are a perfect match, which is also well received by customers. A well-coordinated team from HACH and Kombinat is working continuously and in a focused manner on further development. The joint experience and accumulated know-how is a great advantage when it comes to recognizing opportunities and exploiting synergies.