One of the world’s largest DIY chains, operating several hundred large-format stores in over a dozen countries on 4 continents. Its global sales amount to several billion euros. In Poland alone, it serves 35 million customers each year.
E-commerce
Systems integration for a chain of DIY stores
The most important priority for the client was to fully automate the process of inventory data exchange between their stores. The chain has an extensive product database and the information exchange between stores and warehouses was semi-automatic. Client’s employees had to manually run scripts that prepared data for import to the online store database. This solution was time-consuming and generated significant costs. It also led to human mistakes and errors.
An additional goal of the client was to accelerate and facilitate the placing of orders in the online store. Another important matter here to update prices and product availability in real time, as well as to monitor their status at all – from the store shelf until the final delivery to the customer by courier companies. Information about the availability of goods in the store would also allow for placing orders with quick in-store collection, in accordance with the omnichannel strategy.
System integration using Mule ESB service bus from MuleSoft was selected as the solution best suited to meet the project requirements. What are the benefits of the adopted technology?
- Faster connections between system components.
The implementation of an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) translates into the formation of a middleware layer in the ecosystem, which greatly simplifies the exchange of data between the components already in use and their various communication standards.
- Improved reliability of the system’s critical points.
The reliability of the entire ecosystem is increased thanks to the improvement of the resilience of individual components in case of unavailability of data sources or other shared resources.
- Increased overall performance of the entire solution.
The ESB bus helps buffer the processed data, offsetting the effects of delays occurring locally in system components. The transfer of data across the bus services is lightning fast and utilizes minimal server resources.
- Faster and easier implementation of changes and new requirements.
The MuleESB architecture is known for its modularity and open-source nature. It enables an out-of-the-box implementation of a range of communication protocols and allows new applications and microservices to be easily added as the ecosystem grows. New components communicate with other components via the ESB bus, which reduces the risk of potential backward compatibility issues. This minimizes the risk of technical interruptions and regression errors when adding new features to the systems in use.
- Ensuring the continuity of systems operation.
The project involved also systems maintenance and bug fixing, based on a Service Level Agreement (SLA). Under said SLA, Avra monitors the health and performance of the client’s systems 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Scope of work:
Workshop Sessions with the Client, Business Analysis, Process Analysis and Optimization, Middleware Development, Back-End Development, Front-End Development, System Integration, System Maintenance (SLA 7/365)
- Reduced manual effort as a result of automated data exchange between systems.
- Prices and product availability per store updated in real time.
- Easier way to place orders in the online store. Orders processed faster.
- Increased level of control over key business process thanks to an advanced system of performance monitoring.
“Throughout the entire period of our cooperation, both in the area of development and maintenance of various applications, Avra Software has always done a great job, excelling in every respect. We could always count on their support and commitment during difficult moments and when there were some dynamic, last-minute changes in the project. Their approach translated into timely implementations and, most importantly, the highest quality of service.”
Web Technology Manager