Sinop CB is a leading manufacturer and supplier of industrial refrigeration, air conditioning, refrigeration equipment and beverage tapping equipment. Sinop is based in Norway with offices in several countries such as Czech Republic, Spain, Italy and France. With different markets to serve and a wide array of products and components the company relied on manual orders for custom-made products.

The customer needed a web-based system for its customers based on various countries with a seamless interface for configuring custom Air Conditioning units and Heat Pumps. The system should be flexible enough to handle various currencies and pricing for different customer groups. Complete automation was required starting from setting up customer accounts till placing an order with the custom configuration.

Solution

 Sinop CB, required a state of the art web-based product configuration system with the ability to handle various products and components and create custom configurations.

eJeeva  proposed the implementation of its product Configurator software to meet Customer’s requirements. The web-based product configurator has options to set up different product lines and guides users through a step by step process in customizing their chosen models. Different pricing discounts are available to users based on their login.

The Product Configurator supports 6 languages and currencies, users can switch between these currencies at any time. The Product Configurator has a full administration module that allows the Company to control all the products and features of the Configurator.

 Result

 Sinop has a fully functional web-based Product Configurator system with ability to place orders for  users, they also have the ability to provide a custom user experience for the different countries that they sell their products to.  Since the implementation of the new Product Configuration system much of the work is automated ensuring better accuracy in order processing and delivery.

 I Need a Radiator is a web store offering OEM quality radiators for all automobiles. The customer has thousands of products that they sell online. The challenge the customer had faced with other systems that they tried out in the past was handling of a large number of products and also providing users an easy way to search and browse these products.

Solution

 eJeeva proposed a turkey solution for loading all the data into the database, Setting up a web-based Product Information Management system  and development of an e-commerce system using  a customized version of eJeeva Commerce software.

The online catalog system allows users to register and login and view products and place orders. There would be different customer groups based on their business model, these customer groups will see different catalogs customized to their needs and their corresponding pricing will be applied to them. The online ordering system will allow automatic calculation of shipping costs and taxes.

The e-commerce site features easy navigation and search features that allows users to find the exact radiator that they are looking for in a few seconds. Just by knowing the make, model, year of the automobile the user can narrow down to the exact radiator of their specifications.

 Result

Ineedaradiator.com has a fully functional web catalog system with ability to place orders for existing users. The search and navigation features coupled with a robust e-commerce engine allows the customer to receive and process web orders effectively in the lowest time possible.

 Foliage Design Systems is a national franchise Interior landscaping company that enhances businesses and commercial property environments with the beauty and benefits of plants. FDS provides a full range of interiorscape professional services that include the design, installation, and maintenance of live plants and decorative planters.

Foliage Design Systems required a web catalog system for their customers where they can search and browse product information and download high-resolution images of products. This web catalog system should be supported by a CMS and a Product Information Management system in the back-end allowing the company to make changes to the website.

Solution

 eJeeva proposed a turkey solution for loading all the data into the database, Setting up a web-based Product Information Management system  and web catalog system.

The online catalog will allow users to search and browse the different products, allowing them to download high-resolution images of plants and decorative containers. With the capabilities of advanced searching and filtering the users will be able to narrow down to the required products very easily.

The CMS allows the administrator to edit the website content and manage product information on their own.

Result

Foliage Design Systems has a fully functional web catalog system with the ability for their users to browse and navigate product information. With the state of art online CMS and product catalog FDS can share information with their users easily.

 A New York based Pool and Spa distributor needed an online solution for its customers to be able to create and configure custom pool configurations. The current process involves manual information gathering through phone or email and creation of custom configuration using a CAD diagram.

This traditional method involved a turnaround time of more than a week for each request and errors and difficulties during communication and processing of the request. The company wanted a smart and efficient tool which will allow its users to create these custom configurations online and download CAD diagrams for pools.

Solution

 eJeeva proposed a turkey solution for loading all the data into the database, Setting up a web-based Product Information Management system  and development of a product configuration system using eJeeva Configure

The online product configurator allows users to register and login. They will be guided through a step by step process from choosing the required pool shape and size to adding additional features such as Steps, Benches and Skimmers.

After the required configuration for the pool is developed, the project can be saved and an auto generated CAD diagram is available for download. The CAD diagram contains the different views of the pool along with the Bill Materials required.

Result

By the use of this self-service portal, the users no longer need to contact the company for their custom pool configuration requirements. The company has a ready to use online system which enhances their quality of delivery and reduces cost and time for creating pool configurations.

IT Systems in a Manufacturing Company

A Manufacturing company is the perfect example to analyze a complex IT environment primarily for the reason that it runs and utilizes several computer  applications for its day-to-day operations. For the purpose of maintaining a straight path for the article we are going to discuss only about the various systems a Manufacturing Company uses for its product life-cycle management.

Let’s consider that this company manufacturers industrial tools, there will be several departments within the company involved in the product development, marketing and sales. Each of these departments needs a software solution to manage, document and share their processes, information and output. The major systems used throughout the product life-cycle are

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software
• Product Data Management (PDM)/ Product Information Management (PIM) Software
• Customer Relationship Management  (CRM) Software

Enterprise Resource Planning Software

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) integrates internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application. Its purpose is to facilitate the flow of information between all business functions inside the boundaries of the organization and manage the connections to outside stakeholders. (Source: Wikipedia)

Inferring from this definition an ERP system is the back bone of an Organization. With activities ranging from Supplier Management, Engineering, Product Development, Accounting and Sales various tasks are carried out using the ERP system.

Product Information Management

Product Information Management (PIM) software is a primary tool for both product development and marketing departments. Rich product data is stored in the PIM, the various information stored are Product SKU or Codes, Long Descriptions, Product images, Technical Specifications, Attachments such as User Manuals, Warranty Sheets, Operating Instructions etc. Once the information gets stored they are then published to various media such Print, Web, Digital Catalogs, Product Configurators.

A PIM software is essential for a company to manage its marketing activities such as creating Product Brochures, Catalogs, Price Sheets, B2B e-commerce websites etc.

Customer Relationship Management

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a widely implemented strategy for managing a company’s interactions with customers, clients and sales prospects. It involves using technology to organize, automate, and synchronize business processes—principally sales activities, but also those for marketing, customer service, and technical support. The overall goals are to find, attract, and win new clients, nurture and retain those the company already has, entice former clients back into the fold, and reduce the costs of marketing and client service.(Source :Wikipedia)

The Nightmare of disconnected Systems

By looking at the quick overview of these systems we can see that even though the functions of the systems are specific in most cases there are overlaps as well. A company needs these three individual systems to effectively run their business. It is often the task of the IT department within the company to manage and support these systems. The tasks of managing these systems involve maintenance tasks such as server backups, database backups, performing updates to the system, troubleshooting problems that arise with these systems. There may be additional tasks as well such as data extraction and importing into these different systems when a need arises to share data between them.

From just a quick overview we can see that these tasks have to be run by a team or multiple teams of administrators with zero errors and with timely completion of the tasks as any delays or mistakes could affect the entire company. Since each of this software is provided by different vendors, the implementation and underlying architecture are so different from each other that managing all of them is a true nightmare for the IT Administrators

The Solution

The ideal solution would be to have a single system that fulfills all the needs for the company, in most cases this does not happen. The alternative solution would be to interconnect these different systems so there is a seamless data flow between them. Consider the following examples of a well-connected environment.

Example 1: The product engineering department release a new product and this gets entered into the ERP system. By the means of integration this new product gets created in the PIM, the marketing department then adds additional information such as copy, images to this product and publishes to the website seamlessly.

Example 2: A product on the website is being ordered by the customer, this information is passed back to ERP system for Order processing and fulfillment, The information also goes into the CRM automatically with all the necessary data so that the customer account gets updated with the purchase which helps the Technical Support or the Customer Support team.

In both the examples above the involvement of the IT team is close to zero when there is a tight integration between these disparate systems. With eJeeva Central we aim to achieve this integration which will help the IT department and in turn the entire organization by minimizing errors and increasing productivity.

Companies that sell configurable products face a constant challenge of getting all the product information to their customers, presenting all the options and configurations involved in the products in a clear way and allowing customers to pick and choose the configurations they need.

In a traditional method companies may present all of the information related to a particular configurable model as a print catalog or a static web page and provide instructions for customers to create their unique configurations. These configuration details are filled in an order form and sent to the company to build the product. The pitfalls in this process are inaccurate information being presented to the customer, misinterpretation of the configuration rules and mistakes in the order form.

Having a system that automates the entire process of selling configurable products greatly increases productivity and reduces costs for companies.

What is a Product Configurator?

A Product Configurator system provides all the required product information to the users in a clear and understandable format and guides the users in creating a complete configuration for several different types of items.

Let’s take the example of a HVAC manufacturer selling to contractors for installations in large spaces such as a warehouse. A typical air conditioning unit contains several features that need to be chosen based on the application, cooling area, altitude, consumption requirements and many others. A user should be presented with different base models that they can choose from and customize it further to meet their needs. This is generally a process that involves several steps, to select these features. The configuration system allows users to go through the multiple steps of configuration and build a customized product model.  After the configuration is completed, users can select to place an order or request a quote for the product.

The entire process is streamlined and the user gets the adequate help required and the company receives the order from the customer through the automated system.

An Online Product Configurator

An online configuration system adds a lot of value to a traditional system, the most important advantages are

• Easy accessibility to various users across different platforms
• Scalability, grow from a few hundred users to thousands very quickly
• Flexibility to include new features and technologies
• Excellent user interface

By implementing an online Configurator system companies can leverage the use of catalog software (Product Information Management System) and drive data from a central database to the various channels they employ for marketing and sales.

Benefits of a Product Configurator

Low Cost of operation:

The process of providing information to the customer, configuration and placing orders is completely automated; this reduces the requirement for multiple people for customer service, sales and saves the company costs of printing traditional paper catalogs.

Increased Accuracy:

All the product information is centrally managed in a catalog software system and then published to the online Product Configurator; this reduces the errors while publishing and also reduces errors in order placement when customers select the wrong components for a system. Using the built-in business rules the system automatically applies only the right components for any configuration.

Increase in Revenue:

Companies can benefit from implementing an online configuration system by seeing a substantial increase in revenue due to the various features and factors outlined in this article. Thus such a system definitely should be a master sales and marketing tool for a company.

To know more information about industry standard Product Configurator view information about eJeeva Configure.

One of the biggest challenges faced by a manufacturer is getting accurate and timely product information to its network of distributors and dealers. Manufacturer possesses very important product information such as product specs, technical data, CAD drawings etc from its Product Development team, product images, marketing copy and manuals from its marketing team. All of this information is crucial to its network of distributors as a means to provide collateral, e-commerce websites to end customers.

With massive amounts of information required to be provided to the various customer channels, manufacturers face problems in aggregating this information and managing it effectively and channeling it to the proper users. A catalog software is required to accomplish these tasks.

The importance of a Product Information Management System

A central Product Information Management System (PIM) allows a manufacturer to aggregate information from its different departments. The product information starts with basic details added by its Product Development department and goes through various departments within the Organization the information grows through the product life-cycle.

With the PIM the organization is able to maintain links to its ERP and CRM systems which enhances product data. Once the information is aggregated in a central repository the manufacturer then has to deliver it to its customers through catalog management software which is an integral part of the PIM.

B2B Websites

Every company irrespective of its size or its products needs an online presence as it is the most effective way to deliver information and is also one of the significant channels of sales. A manufacturer needs a Business to Business (B2B) website to share its product database with its customers and also use it as a means of generating revenue.

A B2B website can have the following features

• Product Navigation and Browsing : Users can look up product information by navigating the website and a user friendly navigation is one of most important features for a website
• Search: A good website search does not show too many results or too few, with the right number of results combined with good filtering and drill down options saves a lot of time and hassle for the users
• Downloads: Product information comes with additional materials such as technical documentation, user manuals, installation videos etc. All of this rich content can be presented to the user in the most effective manner
• Quote generation: Distributors looking at product information online will have the ability to place a quote request for products they are interested in.

These are some of the core features that make a good B2B website, but the list does not stop here and could be enhanced to various other features as required by each company.

Benefits of a good B2B website

A good B2B catalog provides users with accurate information whenever it is needed and implementing a B2B website will provide manufacturers with several important benefits

Lower Costs of Operation

With information being stored in a central PIM database and being driven to the website automatically companies can reduce costs associated with aggregating, managing and publishing the product information.

Increased Revenue

Since accurate product information is being offered to customers, there will be fewer errors with products, pricing and other data. Information is also available easily to users which helps them make an informed decision without resorting to channels such as customer support for obtaining the required information.

Increased Customer Satisfaction

When customers have access to the latest and accurate product information, there will be less room for errors and product returns will be lower. This increases customer satisfaction post sales and provides the customer support team with better tools to deal with queries.

Lesser time to market

Using traditional methods of distributing product information is time-consuming in all aspects such starting from collecting the data and putting together the required files to supply to the users. A B2B catalog makes sure information is available in the shortest time possible when it is released from the company. This gives the edge in the competition.