Multi-site strategy for Canada's leading online retailer
Challenge
Parasource Marketing and Distribution is Canada’s leading online retailer of books, Bibles, music, DVD’s, curriculum and church supplies. Parasource does not operate solely as a business to consumer (B2C) e-commerce store, but also as a wholesaler and distributor of books and other resources. Business Challenge Parasource understood that its business model required a robust platform that can support a complex, B2B as well as B2C operations. The existing, custom-built e-commerce solution was outdated and no longer met the business needs and requirements. Parasource required a new strategy to better manage a multi-site distribution model. They needed a platform that would allow it to better manage its online store and orders, and have a consistent user experience across its lines of business.
Solution
Transformative Vision Our engagement began with a thorough analysis of Parasource’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and IT Systems, workflows and unique product requirements. As an outcome of this phase, we created a Business Requirements document, 18 month roadmap for the business and platform recommendations. Based on the client’s catalog size of over 200,000 SKUs, B2B requirements and customization needs, Magento Enterprise platform was selected. Enginess was responsible for the implementation. We planned, wireframed and specified the user experience, including custom events pages and custom product entities for multiple categories of products. Additionally, we planned ERP to e-commerce catalog import process as well as orders to ERP integration process. Enginess developed and implemented the multi-site strategy that powers not only Parasource but also Bibleman Canada, Bibleman US, Heart2Heart and A Better Us websites. For Parasource, the primary challenge was getting the correct merchandising and product data from multiple data sources (i.e. publishers, wholesalers) in different formats, then managing the workflow to correctly cross-categorize products and source attractive product images. To address this challenge, Enginess proposed a data aggregation system. Parasource implemented the system in-house in conjunction with their new ERP rollout.
Results
The system integration commenced in Fall 2017 and the website was launched in early 2018. This engagement allowed Parasource to streamline its business operations, offer consistent user experience across its lines of business and enhance its digital communications. The new website better represents the business and have contributed to an increase in returning visitors to the site. The e-commerce platform integrated with the ERP system, allows Parasource to better manage its online store and orders, and have a greater insight into its customers’ behaviour.
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