UNIFIED ONLINE PRESENCE
An intuitive ordering platform that optimizes processes and enables easy handling “from system to system”: valantic addressed this challenge for the specialist trade group TOPSERV with a powerful e-commerce system based on Shopware 6. Through the consolidated platform, the cleaning-, care-, and hygiene-specialist supplies small and large customers nationwide with professional products and services.
>100,000
products & services
>1,000
employees
23
locations
Powerful & customizable e-commerce system
With Shopware 6, TOPSERV has introduced a highly scalable and efficient e-commerce system that meets many of the specialized trade group’s specific requirements right out of the box. Numerous plugins and customizable functions are included in the standard, which limited the overall project timeline to a few months and saved additional costs.
Seamless extensions & integration of third-party systems
The API-first architecture creates ideal conditions for the smooth connection of required third-party systems: PIM, CRM, and ERP platforms could be integrated into the e-commerce landscape with minimal development effort. The Shopware technology enabled a standardization of interfaces and associated processes, ensuring simple “system-to-system” handling.
Increased online orders & reduced error rate
The intuitively operable ordering platform has quickly helped to increase the share of digital orders in total sales and minimize the error rate in online orders.
Shopware Version: Shopware 6
Industry: Cleaning, Hygiene & Care Products
TOPSERV: Specialist for the cleaning, hygiene, and care industry
The specialist trade group TOPSERV emerged from the merger of four medium-sized family businesses Durner, Toussaint, Wencke Management GmbH, and Julius Brune. Within this association, the group advises and supplies nationwide commercial and institutional large and small customers with products for cleaning, care, and hygiene needs. With more than 100,000 products and services, TOPSERV has developed into a valued solution provider and strategic partner for healthcare, industry, and municipal facilities.
The challenge: Consolidated platform for efficient ordering processes
A stable, intuitively operable ordering platform that optimizes processes and allows easy “system-to-system” handling: This briefly summarizes the demand for TOPSERV’s new e-commerce solution.
The specialist trade group faced the challenge of merging different ordering systems across the group. To offer all services from a single source and enable orders without technical barriers, the formerly separate shops of the four companies had to be consolidated on a common e-commerce platform.
A powerful shop solution was needed that could depict the different business structures of small and large customers and agree on individual prices for each customer. Particularly for the acquisition and retention of B2B major customers, streamlined, efficient, and reliable ordering processes needed to be enabled.
With Shopware 6 to a unified online presence
After initial consulting by the implementation partner valantic, several reasons led to the choice of Shopware 6: With numerous plugins, the API-first approach, and innovative functions, the technology meets many of the specialist trade group’s requirements from the outset. This reduced development work and favored lower costs and time required for customizing, implementing, and introducing compared to similarly comprehensive solutions.
The criterion of enabling developers to easily handle the systems is met by Shopware especially through its API-first approach: Third-party systems and plugins can be seamlessly integrated via interfaces into the architecture, offering maximum flexibility and adaptability. Also, the integration of new sales channels such as social media and marketplaces is easily possible.
Optimized ordering, purchasing, and approval processes
The new system creates the ideal basis to gradually establish a uniform industry standard for order management. Among other things, for this purpose, the Shopware B2B Suite was integrated: This is essential for mapping the processes of the various trading partners and the complexity of their company structures – including permissions, delivery objects, and different addresses. The function allows the automation of many business processes and offers tailored functions for B2B trade that make the handling of orders and individual price and delivery management more efficient.
Through targeted process optimizations, the share of digital orders in total sales could be increased, and the error rate in order processes minimized in a short time.
Custom products at individual prices
In addition to the B2B Suite, other customizable Shopware functions contribute to optimized ordering and purchasing processes: The Shopping Experiences allow for the easy creation of custom content and its integration into the shopping environment. This tool makes it possible to apply layouts across multiple pages, which simplifies the design of a unified brand presence and brings positive SEO effects. Additionally, with Custom Products, tailored products can be offered and the selection process simplified. The tool allows the selection interface to be precisely defined according to the product and its features.
Patrick Gottsacker
Unit Lead at valantic
”Each of the companies accessing the ordering platform has its peculiarities. It requires careful examination and deliberation on how to implement. It was and remains a very demanding project—for TOPSERV a quantum leap in e-commerce and another step towards Order Solution as an industry standard.“
What's next?
Seit dem Go-live Mitte 2023 wurden Schritt für Schritt neue Handelspartner und Kunden in das System übernommen und der gruppenweite Order-Solution-Standard weiterentwickelt. In der nächsten Ausbaustufe sollen neue Vertriebskanäle für weitere Zielmärkte entwickelt und angebunden werden. Geplant ist unter anderem der Rollout auf dem französischen Markt.
Manuel Seraphin-Falout
Head of E-Business & Technology at TOPSERV
”Since the go-live in mid-2023, new trade partners and customers have been gradually incorporated into the system, and the group-wide Order-Solution standard has been further developed. In the next expansion phase, new sales channels for additional target markets are to be developed and connected. Among other plans is the rollout in the French market. “
