The business requirement
Cartridge World needed ecommerce software that connected a large product catalogue with stores, warehouses, delivery choices and the financial processes behind each order.
Development and integration
Impact developed stock-feed imports, cartridge search, store-based order routing, fulfilment and tracking workflows. Trade accounts added credit limits and account controls. The project demonstrates the breadth of integration required when an online shop must work with a distributed retail operation.
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Original project detail
Ecommerce Development Drives Sales
We were tasked with overhauling the Cartridge World website back in 2014, and whilst we weren't able to change the look significantly (due to worlwide branding constraints) over the years we have worked with them, we made a lot of functionality changes that made a real difference to the bottom line!
We integrated a product data feed of 80,000 products to the website which is processed every night to allow bulk price/text changes for offers etc. At their peak they had 120 stores, so managing stock and distribution from regional warehouses was key to keeping their operation running efficiently. Orders are taken centrally via the website and then routed to the nearest store to fulfil the order, offering same day delivery where possible. This involved creating complex delivery matrices to ensure only the correct products offer the customer same day/next day/courier/royal mail etc at check out, depending on how the order was going to be fulfilled eg centrally or locally and in the case of a printer if it was in stock, or had to be ordered in.
In order to improve user experience and improve sales we created an Ajax driven cartridge finder to speed up customers finding the correct cartridge options for their printers - offering low budget to OEM replacements. We tailored the search to try and force higher margin products first in the list to lever basket value/profit. We also developed a bundle tool to allow similar product to be sold as a package and therefore increase basket values. We also built modules to allow them to track affiliate sales, and a quick re-order function for previous customers.
Backoffice work for them included integrating with the warehouse systems to produce picking lists, delivery tracking, stock level reports, and integration with finance systems etc.
We also wrote many data collection forms, used various 3rd party plug-in marketing forms/analytics packages, and integrated social media pixels. The results were then routed to various stores using rules I built in and summary reports generated.
We also built a trade account area, allowing trade customers to bulk order on account. Accounts maintain a real time credit limit, which both the customer and Cartridge World can monitor at any time. This module is integrated to accounts and there are daily reports to highlight late payers. At any point Cartridge World can freeze an account or increase/decrease their credit limit.
Over the 5+ years Impact have worked with them, together we have hugely boosted their online sales.
