IPH Group: Providing a Consistent, Seamless Purchasing Experience with SAP Hybris Solutions

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1 Business Transformation Study IPH Group: Providing a Consistent, Seamless Purchasing Experience with SAP Hybris Solutions Company: Partner: IPH Group comprises nine European brands with around two million products and services, ranging from couplings and bearings to drilling and welding tools. But managing all the content for such a vast product range requires powerful software. To provide a seamless shopping experience on all channels, the industrial supplies distributor opted for SAP Hybris solutions. 1 / 7

2 Executive overview Company or Organization IPH Group Headquarters or Location Paris, France Industry Industrial machinery and components Products and Services Power transmission and machining products, industrial supplies Objectives Manage and maintain product information more efficiently Implement an e-commerce platform for all nine group brands Create and distribute consistent print catalogs more quickly with preformatted templates Why SAP Hybris SAP Hybris Product Content Management consolidates information from disparate data silos and ensures greater consistency SAP Hybris Commerce provides a more flexible and scalable platform for online stores Resolution 25% More efficient product content management 102% Increase in e-commerce sales in conjunction with new e-business strategy Employees 4,000 Collaborated closely with SAP Hybris partner DECADE for a smooth implementation Rolled out the PIM system across the entire group Launched a new online store in France and the Netherlands Web Site Revenue or Budget 1.1 billion Benefits Consistent, well organized product content Improved buying experience thanks to personalized online shops and websites Increased customer retention and loyalty Go-live: September 2015 Partner DECADE 2 / 7

3 Company objectives Managing product content on over one million SKUs When it comes to maintenance and repair operations, IPH Group s clients can rely on a wealth of products and services for all their needs. The industrial supplies distributor has established nine brands in eight countries across Europe and built up an extensive product catalog with over one million SKUs. The customers, who are active in diverse industrial sectors ranging from automotive and transport to energy and petrochemicals, are simply spoiled for choice. What sets IPH Group apart in this highly competitive market is its mix of channels. The group has over 250 points of sale and takes orders via web and mobile, over the phone, and by post. It also maintains a close proximity to its clients and visits them to offer technical expertise and support. But with so many products and services, IPH Group was struggling to manage its product information effectively. We have around 15,000 suppliers, and maintaining all this content was very difficult, says Pierre Muller, head of the newly established digital Hybris solutions team at IPH Group. Our product information management (PIM) systems were simply too inefficient. Data inconsistencies led to dissatisfied customers, and IPH Group was at risk of losing major clients if it did not act quickly. Before embarking on the project, IPH Group had many isolated solutions to support its PIM and online stores. But they did not provide the scalability that was needed. We had too many data silos, not enough flexibility, and some solutions were no longer being maintained properly, explains Muller. When our customers are looking for a product, we need to ensure all the content is available to them at a glance so they can quickly find what they need. 3 / 7

4 Resolution Carrying out an all-in-one project for PIM and ecommerce We considered several options for our PIM and online stores, says Muller. SAP Hybris solutions stood out as the best choice to address both needs at the same time. To manage information on all the articles in its broad product range, IPH Group opted for SAP Hybris Product Content Management. The solution consolidates data, including product descriptions, technical information, specifications, and images, from across the entire group. At the same time, IPH Group wanted to roll out new online stores to increase its revenue through e-commerce. The group decided that the SAP Hybris Commerce solution was the best way to increase customer loyalty as it offers an integrated platform for e-commerce. The implementation project was supported by DECADE, a leading SAP Hybris partner in France that specializes in omni-channel commerce and digital marketing platforms. We had full confidence and trust in DECADE, and their expertise throughout the implementation helped us to complete the project with the most appropriate solutions fulfilling our needs, says Muller. The PIM software has already been rolled for the whole group. After an initial beta release for a limited number of customers, the revamped online shop was launched in France, where the majority of IPH Group s business takes place. Shortly after this go-live, the store was rolled out in the Netherlands, too. Since implementing the SAP Hybris solutions, we ve been able to integrate and centralize our customer touchpoints both digital and physical. Pierre Muller, Hybris Digital Solutions Manager, IPH Group 4 / 7

5 Business transformation Creating consistency across all touchpoints IPH Group can now manage and maintain information on all its products and services with ease. By consolidating data from across the enterprise, it is also easier for the company to check the quality of information and update it when necessary. Product content, such as descriptions, images, and technical specifications, are now consistent and clearly organized: This helps our customers to make the right buying decision when they come to us, explains Muller. E-catalog and print catalog exports were another important part of the project. Using preformatted templates, IPH Group can quickly create consistent product catalogs in Excel or PDF files in layout. These can then be distributed to all subsidiaries and customers across the group. Using SAP Hybris Commerce, the company has added a greater degree of customization to its online store. We personalize the look and feel of the homepage for each customer, says Muller. Using details from their contracts, we show them a selection of products and services that are relevant to their business. Another feature that accelerates the procurement process is the Punchout catalog. This connects the IPH Group catalog to the purchaser s procurement system, enabling them to place orders using their own software. It also prevents duplicate orders while ensuring accurate prices automatically. SAP Hybris Commerce enables us to better fulfil our customers demands. Thanks to the new enhanced shopping experience, they feel more comfortable and confident when they buy from us. Pierre Muller, Hybris Digital Solutions Manager, IPH Group 5 / 7

6 Future plans Maintaining the competitive advantage With the SAP Hybris solutions, IPH Group now has a future-proof e-commerce platform that helps the enterprise to maintain its position as a market leader. In light of the success of the French and Dutch webstores, rollouts for Italy and Germany are already in the pipeline. We will continue to invest in web channels across our group as we aim to increase our revenue from e-commerce, explains Muller. In addition, there are plans to add an automatic translation feature to provide content in the native languages of each subsidiary. IPH Group is also investigating functionality for exporting product data with specific templates and predefined rules. This will support the group in querying and producing customized and automated reports. IPH Group now has a flexible e-commerce platform that it can build upon to maintain its edge in this competitive market. We used to have multiple PIM solutions and it was very difficult to maintain. With SAP Hybris solutions, we have increased efficiency and consistency, enabling us to roll out online stores based on a common content and solution structure. Pierre Muller, Hybris Digital Solutions Manager, IPH Group 6 / 7

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