Relaunch Shop-PIM-MAM-Middleware

Situation

The two existing Internet store systems were to be merged and operated on a uniform technical platform, and the over-the-counter business was to be integrated as part of a comprehensive cross-channel approach. The existing infrastructure had to be redesigned, developed, aligned with the target customers, advertising partners and search engines and put into operation.

Individual measures:

1. Development of objectives as well as budget and project planning
2. Project management and implementation – agile (scrum) and classic (waterfall)
3. Inventory and change documentation, contract negotiations, partner selection, contract awarding
4. Development of a UX and web design based on the existing CD manual
5. Alignment with the specified brand positioning and personas
6. Development of a new store system (Shopware 6) and unification of the two old stores (relaunch at leitermann.de)
7. Renewal of the underlying infrastructure
8. Integration of the existing ERP system (Navision), interface adaptations
9. Introduction of a PIM-MAM system (OMN), development of a data model, maintenance, transfer and integration of the article content (> 100 T articles)
10. Development of a shipping cost calculator and a rejection control system for marketplaces and portals
11. Integration of the branch business (cross channel: CaR, CaC, availability per location)
12. Selection and provision of a suitable CMS
13. Evaluation and transfer of existing content to blog and content pages
14. Quality assurance: system test, system stability, performance, commissioning
15. Step-by-step implementation and rollout of the various infrastructure components
16. Monitoring, evaluation, rework and continuous optimization of the store system

Challenges/scheduling

The project was intended to achieve the following objectives:

1. Streamlining and standardizing processes
2. Technological renewal
3. Reduction of costs, more effective deployment of personnel
4. Increase in frequency and sales

The biggest challenges for the project were

1. Complexity and susceptibility to errors
2. System stability and performance
3. Adherence to budget and schedule

Sustainable result

With the completion of the project, almost all the targets set were achieved, including in particular

1. Significant functional and procedural improvement
2. Reducing costs and increasing efficiency in personnel deployment
3. Successful integration of the branch business (cross-channel)
4. Modern design with very good user experience and usability
5. Holistic content management
6. Successful overall system integration (shipping cost calculator, rejection control, middleware, store, ERP)

Conclusion

This project was a comprehensive undertaking to consolidate two online store systems on a standardized technical platform. Over the course of two years, an improved, more cost-efficient and technologically advanced infrastructure was created under the project management of the interim manager. The main successes of the project were the integration of the store business and online platforms, the optimization of the user experience and a significant improvement in processes and costs. The combination of classic and agile project management methods created a challenging arc of suspense and gave the project a special appeal. Almost all key project objectives were achieved.