Extensive platform relaunch with Bohnenkamp

Bohnenkamp has been partnering with basecom for over ten years and had previously worked with us to implement their existing online store. With the announced end of support for Magento 1, it was clear that a future-proof solution was needed. In 2019, Bohnenkamp chose to replatform their system with basecom, moving to the innovative Spryker Commerce OS. The goal of the project was to transfer all the features of the existing system to the new platform and use it as the foundation for further growth in online retail and new digital services. The challenge was to implement the new project while maintaining the continued operation and support of the existing solution.

Rather than developing an MVP, the goal of this project was to fully replicate the functionality of the old Magento store from day one, while expanding and improving it where necessary. At the same time, the existing system needed to be maintained and developed alongside the new platform. Given that the original system had been significantly enhanced since its launch in 2013, the replatforming process required extensive development work.

Replatforming with Spryker 

The new platform for Bohnenkamp was implemented using the Spryker Commerce OS within the Spryker PaaS environment. The first step involved creating a comprehensive list of the features in the existing system. Our UI/UX team then assessed which functionalities were to be transferred to the new platform and refined as needed. This process involved extensive workshops, customer interviews, and the creation of wireframes, UI designs, and click dummies. The platform was then implemented with a modern, responsive design using Spryker. We intentionally took a desktop-first approach, ensuring that all areas were also optimized for tablet and smartphone use. The existing native mobile app (iOS/Android) was replaced by the responsive web store.

Key features included in the new platform are:

• Kiosk mode: This feature allows Bohnenkamp's customers and sales partners to offer store access to their own customers, enabling them to create shopping baskets that are then ordered by the retailers.
  
  
• MyShop mode: This service enables Bohnenkamp's partner companies to set up their own webshop within a shop-in-shop system inside the Bohnenkamp e-commerce infrastructure. Retailers can customize their pricing, access the best pricing, and use many other features, making the platform an effective sales and service tool for their customers.

A significant aspect of the replatforming was the migration of account data. Customer accounts, including preferences, were transferred from the old system to the new Spryker store. Additionally, a multi-level company/contact hierarchy with authorization features was introduced, enabling company admins to manage contacts and permissions. This ensures that different users can access certain features, like browsing the catalog, but are restricted from placing orders.
Another important part of the project was integrating the e-commerce system with NAV (ERP and CRM). We also supported the migration from the old PIM system to the new ContentServ PIM solution and connected it to the store.
The new platform has been successfully rolled out in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Benelux.

Complaint form

The complaint form enables users to report issues with products purchased from Bohnenkamp or other manufacturers in just five steps. Designed with mobile users in mind, the form allows customers to easily upload photos of the damage, assuming many would prefer to capture them via smartphone. As such, mobile design was a key focus during the planning phase. Users can save a complaint and resume it later, with the system showing which steps have been completed and which are still pending. The form is designed to help users navigate unclear steps, reducing the number of calls to Bohnenkamp regarding complaints.

Usability tests

Throughout the project, usability tests were conducted to evaluate and optimize the user experience of individual features. We also adapted UX/UI design patterns from popular B2C applications and websites to ensure that Bohnenkamp customers would feel "at home" in the new store.

The replatforming of Bohnenkamp's B2B online store was one of our most comprehensive and complex projects to date. By implementing the new platform with Spryker, we've established a solid foundation that will enable Bohnenkamp to continue successfully growing its online business in the future. We look forward to maintaining our strong, collaborative partnership with the Bohnenkamp team.