95% reduction in manual input after linking eCommerce channels, ERP systems, and marketplaces through ChannelEngine

Innowise synchronized product-related information, orders, and inventory across multiple sales channels and back-end systems with ChannelEngine.

Customer

Industry

eCommerce

Region

Client since

2024

Our client is a rapidly growing eCommerce company based in Europe, specializing in the retail of consumer electronics. The client manages an extensive catalog of products and operates across numerous sales channels, including marketplaces like Amazon and OTTO.

Detailed information about the client cannot be disclosed under the provisions of the NDA.

Challenge

Issues with maintaining consistent and error-proof product-related data across various eCommerce platforms

As the client expanded their global reach, they encountered challenges managing and synchronizing product information, orders, and inventory across various marketplaces. Marketing managers struggled with cumbersome and error-prone data entry, which increased the risk of system discrepancies and human errors. These inconsistencies led to inventory mismanagement, resulting in stockouts, overselling, and customer dissatisfaction.

Additionally, the client’s existing platform, AfterBuy, offered limited support for the growing list of sales channels they were targeting. The semi-manual synchronization process required frequent manual updates, such as price adjustments, further compounding operational inefficiencies. The client urgently needed a more scalable, automated solution that could streamline their operations, reduce errors, and support the growth strategy.

Solution

Using ChannelEngine as the centralized hub for consolidating eCommerce workflows and operations

Given the client’s dissatisfaction with AfterBuy, we successfully migrated their entire eCommerce business suite, including product data, order histories, and inventory information, to ChannelEngine as the consolidated hub for eCommerce operations.

ChannelEngine is a software platform designed to help businesses manage their products and sales across multiple online marketplaces and eCommerce channels. It acts as a middleware solution, allowing retailers, brands, and distributors to connect their eCommerce systems (like Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.) with global and local marketplaces (such as Amazon, eBay, Zalando, Bol.com, and others) through a single touch point.

We used RESTful API endpoints to connect back-end systems directly to ChannelEngine, enabling seamless data transfer across all sales channels. In addition, we leveraged pre-configured connections to major eCommerce platforms and marketplaces like Amazon, OTTO, and others – integrated directly within ChannelEngine to ensure quick setup and reliable data synchronization.

Middleware

Our team automated data synchronization between eCommerce platforms and the client’s back-end systems, including their proprietary ERP. We achieved this by integrating middleware as an intermediary layer between ChannelEngine and third-party platforms. This manipulation was crucial for handling data transformations, business logic, and secure data transmission (using protocols like SFTP).

Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP

To streamline the client’s back-office operations, we integrated their MS Dynamics 365 ERP with the ChannelEngine. It was pivotal to link the enterprise resource planning with the product, inventory, and order data through middleware to enable efficient logistics, accounting, and other operational processes and ensure data consistency for insightful decision-making.

eCommerce platforms

We also established connections between ChannelEngine and the client’s eCommerce platforms, such as Shopware, WooCommerce, and Shopify, through custom plugins. This process was meticulously planned and executed to guarantee minimal disruption to the client’s ongoing operations.

Technologies

Back-end

PHP, Laravel, Filament, RabbitMQ

Database

MySQL

CI/CD

Docker, Git/GitHub, RabbitMQ

eCommerce platforms

Shopware, WooCommerce, Shopify

ERP

MS Dynamics 365

Process

We began with an in-depth discovery phase, where our primary focus was to understand the client’s current eCommerce suite, identify pain points, and gather comprehensive requirements. Our specialists held extensive discussions with key stakeholders, allowing us to map out a clear vision for the project.

Moving forward, we designed a robust ChannelEngine migration architecture that could support the client’s expanding operations and interact with various sales channels and ERP systems.

With a well-defined architecture in place, we transitioned into the integration phase. Here, our team got hands-on with building custom plugins for Shopware and WooCommerce and maintaining smooth integration with ChannelEngine.

We coordinated closely with the client to ensure a steady transition, deploying the platform iteratively to mitigate risks. This careful approach allowed us to deliver a fully operational platform with minimal disruption to the client’s day-to-day operations.

Throughout the entire project, we maintained transparent and consistent dialogue with the client, using tools like Slack for real-time updates and Jira for task tracking. This ensured that everyone was on the same page from start to finish.

Team

Project Manager

Technical Lead

Growth Analyst

Scrum Master

Back-End Developers

QA Engineer

Results

47% decrease in inventory discrepancies with an all-in-one eCommerce integration

This way, our project team centralized eCommerce operations for the client, allowing for slick integration of multiple sales channels, ERP systems, and eCommerce platforms without affecting critical workflows. Remarkably, thanks to the centralized management hub and automated data synchronization, the client experienced a reduction in time spent on manual product data entry and updates. This efficiency boost allowed the client to reallocate resources to more strategic initiatives, ultimately enhancing overall productivity.

The API-driven architecture and support for custom channels enabled the client to expand their sales operations within the first six months of deployment. Our project team achieved this without additional overhead, allowing the client to swiftly capitalize on new market opportunities and scale accordingly.

With real-time data synchronization across all platforms, the client reported a decrease in order discrepancies and inventory issues. As a result of this accuracy, the client was able to meet customer expectations regarding product availability and order fulfillment consistently.

Project duration

February 2024 - Ongoing

95%

reduction in manual input

47%

decrease in inventory discrepancies

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