Pöppelmann TEKU® B2B Customer Portal with Shopware 6

Pöppelmann, a family-owned company based in Lohne, Germany, is a leader in the plastics processing industry. The Pöppelmann TEKU® division specializes in developing and producing high-quality plant pots, professional cultivation systems, and innovative transport and cultivation trays.
With a portfolio of over 600 products, Pöppelmann TEKU® offers a comprehensive range of solutions for commercial horticulture. In 2019, TEKU® became the first division within Pöppelmann to digitize its sales processes, aiming to create a digital, scalable platform that seamlessly integrates into the daily workflow of current and potential customers.
We have been part of this project from its inception, collaborating closely with Pöppelmann TEKU® to drive the ongoing development of their customer portal, built on Shopware 6 (Enterprise Edition).

In 2019, Pöppelmann TEKU® embarked on its digitization journey, becoming the first of the company’s four divisions to undertake this transformation with basecom. A key challenge was establishing a foundation for agile collaboration within the project while digitizing the existing sales processes. This required the collection and provision of accurate, real-time data on delivery times, stock levels, and pricing.
Another significant challenge was integrating the new portal with the existing software systems, including ERP and others. Given the involvement of numerous stakeholders from the Pöppelmann TEKU® division and central departments such as Marketing, Communications, and Digital Sales, maintaining effective and consistent communication was essential to the success of the transformation.

Shopware 6 Enterprise Edition
In collaboration with the Pöppelmann TEKU® team, we developed an innovative B2B portal using the Shopware 6 Enterprise Edition e-commerce platform. Before selecting Shopware 6, Pöppelmann conducted a thorough cost-benefit analysis of four different shop systems. Shopware 6 stood out with consistently good ratings in user-friendliness, design flexibility, and development openness. Ultimately, key factors such as “architecture”, “license and operating costs” and “documentation and community” solidified Shopware 6 as the ideal choice.

The B2B portal features a modern, tiled homepage design that offers users an intuitive overview of the portal’s capabilities. This layout allows for easy navigation, enabling direct access to order creation, product research, and order tracking. Customers can also create order templates and assign product numbers to TEKU® items, streamlining the ordering process and facilitating distribution to their own customers.

Connection to the ERP system
Several evolving parameters are crucial in the digitization of sales processes, and integrating Pöppelmann’s ERP system was fundamental for streamlining all business operations. Additionally, the project served as a catalyst for reviewing and refining internal processes, further advancing the digitization of sales.

Live Query: Availability Prices
One of the challenges was the need to tailor product pricing for each customer, as prices are influenced by various factors that differ from one customer to another. This complexity made it impossible to use a standard price list. To ensure that accurate, order-specific prices are displayed, we implemented a live price query feature. This allows customers to receive up-to-date pricing information based on all relevant factors before placing an order.
Additionally, product availability varies throughout the production process, with different quantities available at different times. To assist customers in planing their purchases, we introduced a live availability query on the product detail page and during checkout. This feature enables customers to view available quantities at specific times and even order partial quantities as needed.

Customer Interaction
At Pöppelmann TEKU®, placing an order initiates various processes, often requiring customer feedback at different stages. The order management system facilitates this in a clear and user-friendly manner. Customers can easily respond to requests, such as accepting, rejecting or commenting on order confirmations. They also receive important notifications, like payment reminders, and can complete necessary order details, such as providing pick-up information.
Looking ahead, the system will soon enable coordination of approvals for tasks like printing and labeling, further streamlining the ordering process.

This project presented significant challenges from both technical and user experience perspective, which we thoroughly enjoyed tackling. By adhering to the MVP approach, we’ve successfully launched the portal and are now continuously enhancing it with new and exciting features. This ongoing development brings us closer to our goal of providing a portal that seamlessly integrates into user’s daily workflows.

Pöppelmann TEKU® specializes in developing and manufacturing plant pots and professional cultivation systems for commercial horticulture. Headquartered in Lohne, Germany, Pöppelmann employs more than 2,500 people globally. The company operates six production sites, serving customers in more than 90 countries.