American Outlets
Custom product information management system development for ecommerce marketplace
Building scalable product information management & monitoring system
Location:
USA, Israel
Cooperation model:
Outsourcing / Dedicated Team on maintenance
Industry:
Partnership period:
June 2019 - January 2021
Improvements plan:
Full-cycle (Discovery phase, Requirements and estimation analysis, MVP release + Maintenance)
Team size:
Team Lead, two full stack DevOps, Node & React developers, QA, Project Manager.
Technologies:
About the client
Our client, American Outlets, is a U.S. company that offers a customer-centric ecommerce marketplace with a global reach. This innovative enterprise facilitates cross-border selling by bridging the gap between resellers, vendors, and a diverse global customer base. Their mission is to establish a marketplace that rivals industry giants like Amazon. In essence, American Outlets is reshaping the ecommerce landscape by making global commerce accessible and cost-effective for businesses of all sizes.
About the product
American Outlets offers a comprehensive solution that combines a robust ecommerce platform with customer-centered logistics and marketing strategies. This means U.S. vendors can effortlessly market their products at competitive prices, with the added advantage of eliminating additional shipping and fulfillment costs. In other words, brands have the opportunity to increase their Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) without incurring extra charges.
Challenges overview
Developing a product information management & monitoring system for our client's marketplace presented a series of formidable challenges:
- At the beginning of the cooperation, a template for frontend development was provided by the client. However, during the work, our team identified weak points of this template. DigitalSuits specialists completely replaced and reworked the necessary operational things in order to achieve the best result for the stable and high-quality work of the client's marketplace.
- Before the cooperation with DigitalSuits, the client team used ElasticSearch technology as a database. During the work of the DigitalSuits team on the development of the product information management system, our specialists determined that the use of this technology outside of its intended purpose causes a number of problems. However, DigitalSuits managed to adapt quickly and have learned to work with it. As a result, no obstacles related to using ElasticSearch as a database didn't prevent the successful implementation of the client's needs.
- With numerous online shops offering a diverse array of products, our first hurdle was to efficiently categorize this extensive inventory, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience for customers navigating the platform.
- However, the prime challenge that truly tested our team's capabilities was the creation of a robust PIM system. This system needed to provide real-time access to distributor pricing for each individual item, a pivotal element for the marketplace's success. The scale of the project, which encompassed a multitude of online shops and an extensive product catalog spanning various categories, made this task particularly demanding. The solution helped to set up the marketplace catalog more easily, improve products visibility, order, and their value for the end customer.
In essence, our mission was to establish a seamless and dynamic ecosystem where customers could effortlessly explore and purchase products while having transparent access to distributor pricing information in real-time.
The solution
Our team uses the power of cutting-edge technologies, including ElasticSearch, Node.js, and AWS, to deliver a game-changing product information management system that significantly revolutionizes our client's operations. The PIM and monitoring system for American Outlets that we built transformed how our client do business, bringing them agility, efficiency, and growth.
Simplified management process
First and foremost, our solution empowered the client to seamlessly add and edit their distributors' products, providing them with a competitive edge in a dynamic market. This enhanced flexibility extended to attaching tags and categories to each item, ensuring a streamlined organization of their extensive product portfolio.
Real-time insights
Our monitoring system provided American Outlets with real-time insights into their ecommerce operations. This included tracking product performance, monitoring user interactions, and ensuring the health of the entire platform.
Supply chain improvement
We successfully integrated the client's system with their supplier database, fostering stronger and more efficient connections in their supply chain. This integration not only saved time but also significantly improved accuracy and data integrity.
Affiliate module implementation
In addition to these core features, we implemented an affiliate module, allowing for effortless product promotion on the marketplace. This strategic move expanded the client's reach and amplified the company's brand presence, resulting in increased sales and market share.
Adding cutting-edge filter
We introduced a cutting-edge filter configuration system that puts the control in the hands of the client. They can now fine-tune their product listings, enabling them to tailor their offerings to the exact needs of their target audience. This level of customization and precision has led to higher customer satisfaction and increased sales.
The end result of our work
The client received a robust and flexible product management & monitoring system that was carefully assembled. We used top-notch technology to make managing product information much easier. This platform allowed for real-time updates, making everything smoother. As a result, user engagement increased because users now have swift and seamless access to various new products.
The application we created allowed the client's team to manage the marketplace product catalog more effectively. Now it gives the possibility of quick and convenient management of the information that the end customer sees. In addition, it provides the ability for the content management team to publish products to different platforms while having one unified version of the product and at the same time to manage these products from one specific place. For example, with the help of this application, we could tell how products should be displayed for the end customer on a specific collection or on the main page of the American Outlets site.
The new platform, which is easy to use, made a big difference for the client. It made sure that product information was accurate and always up-to-date. This meant that people could easily find and explore the newest products that they loved. It also helped the client connect better with their customers. Some bullet points summarize the results:
- American Outlets received a robust and flexible product information management & monitoring system, improving their ecommerce marketplace operations.
- Our solution in the result allows our client to halve the labor costs of the content management team.
- An app simplified the product information management process, allowing the client to add, edit, and categorize their distributors' products with ease.
- The marketing team spent less time on catalog management and price management.
- Increase in Average Order Value (AOV).
- Increase conversion rates thanks to the correct organization of the catalog.
- Integration with the supplier database enhanced supply chain efficiency by saving time and improving data integrity.
- The introduction of a cutting-edge filter configuration system provided greater customization, leading to higher customer satisfaction and increased sales.
- An affiliate module implementation expanded the client's reach, amplified the client's brand presence, and resulted in increased sales and market share.
- The new platform ensured accurate and up-to-date product information, improving user engagement and connecting the client better with their customers.
