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From Wholesaler to Hybrid: Mastering B2C Fulfillment with Adobe Commerce and JDE World

 

Adobe Commerce and JD Edwards World Integration Success Story

This organization’s growth strategy required launching a direct-to-consumer business model. We modernized their technology stack by implementing a modern eCommerce platform (Magento) and creating a custom integration that preserved the functionality of their legacy JDE World system.
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AC (9)

Technologies

Magento Commerce 2
JD Edwards World on IBM i
Locally

The Client

A major global supplier in the manufacturing sector recognized years of sustained sales shrinkage in their core business. To proactively address this and target new markets, the parent organization strategically launched a new, dedicated sub-brand. This new brand was created specifically to target independent and small specialized dealers.

The goal was to leverage the massive manufacturing and operational efficiencies of the parent company to help these smaller dealers sell products simply and more profitably, providing them with the necessary tools, products, and services to meet modern market challenges.

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The Goals

  • Update the eCommerce platform 
  • Customize the integration between eCommerce and ERP to create a unique sales process 
  • Increase the brand's web presence 
  • Improve and simplify the customer buying experience

Key Results

Improved data
communication
between systems

Connected with
over 200 local
stores in 7 months

Steady increase
in order volume
since launch

Project Highlights

The Challenge

The primary objective of the new website was not to sell products directly, but to serve as a critical channel for directing customers to local, independent dealers. The parent company's strategy required that customers could browse and order an item online, then pick it up fully assembled from an authorized local retailer.

This required implementing an updated e-commerce platform that could not only support this unique click-and-collect business model but also integrate seamlessly with the existing systems to manage orders and inventory. This process demanded sophisticated integration points between the new e-commerce platform and the IBM i-based ERP system, as well as various third-party fulfillment and financial tools.

Crucially, the new e-commerce site had to be fully operational in time for the brand's launch at a major multinational dealer conference, giving the project team a tight, aggressive timeline of just a few months. Due to the project team's proven track record with the parent company on previous e-commerce initiatives, the organization was confident in their ability to meet the challenging deadline and technical requirements.

The Solution

The core of the solution was the seamless, bi-directional integration between the newly implemented e-commerce platform and the client's existing IBM i-based ERP system. We customized the data flow to ensure real-time accuracy for inventory and order processing, enabling automated order-to-cash processing that minimized manual work.

Crucially, this integration facilitated a unique distribution model: customers could order online, and the system coordinated fulfillment for in-store pickup and assembly by a local dealer. This approach provided the convenience of online shopping while successfully supporting the independent dealer network, making the client's ambitious distribution dream a reality on a tight deadline.

The Result

 

The strategic deployment of the new Adobe Commerce platform was a resounding success, culminating in its launch just in time for the brand's debut at a major multinational dealer conference. This project successfully achieved the organization's strategic goal by:

  • Creating a New Revenue Channel: The new brand and corresponding e-commerce site opened up a profitable new B2C revenue stream, enabling the organization to reach a new clientele and establish strong relationships with independent dealers.

  • Achieving Distribution Innovation: The project team successfully created a dynamic, scalable, and unique distribution model. Customers gained the convenience of ordering online, followed by the assurance of picking up the fully assembled product from a local dealer, effectively blending e-commerce convenience with local business support.

  • Seamless Technical Integration: The team delivered a solution with sophisticated integration between the new eCommerce platform and the existing IBM i-based JDE World system, along with a variety of third-party modules, ensuring accurate data and streamlined fulfillment.

This comprehensive solution not only delivered an enhanced customer experience but also made the parent company's ambitious distribution dream a reality.

The Details - How We Did it

  • Implement a Magento Commerce site to satisfy the needs of the business's customers 
  • Use Magento's robust APIs to give the company flexibility to integrate with third-party tools, mobile applications, and their existing JD Edwards World on IBM i
  • Leverage Magento through a series of integrations, including an integration with their JD Edwards ERP system on IBM i
  • Perform a data mapping exercise to identify necessary integration points 
  • Integrate Locally and Magento to support the unique buying and order processing methods and ensure information is sent to the correct outlets 

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