DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

How a Manufacturer Adapted to Ecommerce Post-Pandemic

Greg Foster, Director of Sales, explores how one manufacturer masterfully adapted to the post-pandemic world. Learn how prioritizing a modern ERP system and embracing ecommerce strategies are paving the way for success. This article offers a compelling look at turning unprecedented challenges into remarkable triumphs in the digital era.

In the wake of the pandemic, manufacturers found themselves facing unprecedented challenges. 

A surge in demand for streamlined B2B transactions, coupled with evolving customer expectations, left many searching for a solution. As a member of our sales team, I collaborated with a manufacturer struggling with these issues, and I'd like to share our journey from envisioning a sweeping digital transformation to focusing on a strategic approach for the critical initial phases of this significant undertaking.

The Challenge: A Complex Digital Road Map

I worked with a manufacturer navigating the turbulent waters of a post-pandemic world. Like countless others, they had a long-term digital roadmap that included various systems and initiatives. Their ambitious vision encompassed everything from ecommerce enhancements to CRM improvements and more. However, they faced a unique challenge: where to begin?

The Solution: Prioritizing the ERP

The solution to their challenge hinged on a carefully planned and well-thought-out approach. Rather than attempting to tackle every aspect of their digital transformation simultaneously, we collectively decided to prioritize one system first — a modern, cloud-based ERP solution.

This strategic decision was rooted in minimizing disruption to their internal teams and, more importantly, to their valued customers. It allowed us to maintain operational stability while working on the most critical component of their digital transformation.

Choosing the Right ERP: A Sturdy Foundation

With the focus now on the ERP, the manufacturer embarked on a journey to select the right solution, leveraging our expertise and network of experts. They sought a modern, cloud-based ERP that aligned perfectly with their vision for a comprehensive digital transformation.

The chosen ERP addressed the manufacturer's specific operational needs:

1. Inventory Management — It enabled real-time inventory tracking, ensuring products were in stock and readily available
2. Financial Management — The ERP's financial tools helped the manufacturer optimize financial processes, control costs, and improve financial reporting
3. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) — The CRM features streamlined customer interactions, providing insights into customer preferences, enhancing the overall customer experience, and arming the customer’s Sales Team with valuable user insights.

Mapping the Transformation

With the ERP as the primary focus, we proceeded to create a comprehensive strategy. The manufacturer clearly understood the challenge and had a technology solution in mind. Now, it was time to map it all out.

The Execution: A Custom, Tailored Approach

The manufacturer had two choices: build the solution in-house or partner with a development agency. They opted for the latter, choosing to partner with an agency to tap into a wealth of experience. Our decoupled accelerator, Gesso, served as an excellent foundation for the digital stack they were envisioning, expediting their time to value. Their minimum viable product (MVP) included selecting an ecommerce platform, such as BigCommerce, Shopify, or Drupal Commerce, along with the chosen ERP.

This strategic choice accelerated their journey to market, allowing the manufacturer to begin improving and facilitating their online B2B sales processes. It also provided the flexibility to create a tailored B2B customer experience that aligned with their vision.

In this case, Gesso played a multifaceted role, acting as a bridge between the ERP and the ecommerce platform while ensuring a synchronized data flow. Moreover, it served as the command center for all future integrations, leveraging its design system to expedite front-end development, maintain consistent styles, and establish a design system ready to extend to other future applications.

Scaling for the Future

The manufacturer had made a smooth entry into the digital world at this stage. They now have the option to gradually scale their online ecosystem, one integration and one internal change at a time, or opt for a more accelerated approach to stay ahead of their competition.

This experience shows how using technology and partnering strategically can change the manufacturing industry. Even though the challenges were common in the industry, solutions like modern cloud-based ERP systems and accelerators like Gesso can be customized to fit each manufacturer's specific requirements. In a post-pandemic world, being adaptable and quick to adjust is crucial for success in the digital world.

Interested in seeing these strategies in action? 
Explore our case study on how an effective ERP system can revolutionize your business.

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