Heidelberg
A PIM system and SAP integration for Heidelberg
Four different countries, 3 SAP ERP systems and a vast amount of (duplicated) product assortments for every branch: Youwe helped Heidelberg to integrate a Magento web-platform with their SAP and implemented PimCore.
Heidelberg provides the entire array of print services and software solutions. Customers turn to Heidelberg for solutions in the area of equipment, maintenance and workflow applications and through Heidelberg, they can order high-quality products from manufacturers such as Kodak, 3M, HP, Adobe, Agfa and Canon.
To expand their market reach and sales worldwide, Heidelberg has built a European platform connecting Tetterode/Plantin for Belgium and the Netherlands, Mackinggraf for Italy, and Hartman for Spain. How can differences in product assortments, price structures, stock information, and supply chain infrastructures of three different systems be combined into one single platform?
Through the Magento SAP connector, Youwe was able to realize the best e-commerce solution in spite of the complexity arising from the different SAP systems. The Heidelberg e-commerce solution combines three SAP systems and its product assortments on one Magento Platform, using a PIMcore solution to enrich data that is retrieved from the different SAP systems. Moreover, information from 3 SAP ERP systems and an impressive amount of products within their assortment motivated Heidelberg to improve their Product Information Management. A single platform where all assortments and products could be combined was needed, a place where all productdata could be enriched and sent to Magento with one article number across all platforms.
3
SAP ERP systems integrated
4
Different countries integrated
€50mn
Projected turnover in 2018/19
Thanks to Pimcore and the Magento SAP integration, organised marketing,- and sales policy can be executed from one central platform.
Our solution
Magento SAP Connector & PIM
Four different countries, 3 SAP ERP systems and a vast amount of (duplicated) product assortments for every branch: Pimcore does provide a solution to bring structure to these (product)information flows in a logical manner. Pimcore offers one central source of product information. All articles have a so-called ‘Heidelberg-number’, a Pimcore-numbering that was added to unify the numbering system across all branches. This ensures less system pollution and makes identifying the products easier. This way, product managers will have more control when managing the assortment, stock, and inventory. In addition, marketing actions are made easier and can be enhanced with assets such as video, images, and product specs.
The results
Centralized approach
Youwe made management and enrichment of the product assortment possible from one central point. This made sure the e-commerce platform was easy to maintain and product information and inventory could be synchronized throughout the entire organization. All branches can update, change or delete product information from a central location, as well as managing the assortment in the webshop thanks to the Magento integration. By adding a unique SKU number in Pimcore all products are marked with the location and language specific properties, without loading up any duplicates in the Magento webshop. This in turn simplifies international communication about products.
Heidelberg has increased its efficiency, but also created a fully integrated platform that allows for a scalable business model, easily deployable to multiple countries.
ERP system
Youwe believes that the logic available in an ERP system such as SAP should not be replaced, but used efficiently. The Magento SAP connector enables Magento to work with the information it retrieves from SAP, including price structures, specific customer delivery dates or stock information. This information is all retrieved from the SAP database by using the real-time interfacing of the SAP connector. Heidelberg is now able to maintain the entire product flow from ERP system to the e-commerce system. By adding a PIM system within the flow, more information can be added to the products and distributed to different channels and outlets. Pimcore allows extra imagery, videos, specification sheets and safety sheets to be added on product level.
Interested in a system to manage and distribute all your available data?
A central source of product information with Pimcore and a Magento SAP Connector for the best e-commerce solution! More control when managing the assortment, stock and inventory with a centralized approach! Sounds good, right?
Youwe's experts are ready to take on the challenge!
