Client's Industry
Retail (eCommerce)
Business Challenges
- Online store presence for B2C (primary) and
B2B (secondary) markets.
- Replacement for the annual
catalog. Creation of an additional
and solid business asset.
Benefits & Results
- Access to global markets.
- Replacement of costly, annual product catalogs.
- Reduction in inventory management and per unit
administration cost due to high sales turnover.
- Improved communication channels.
- Strengthened and enhanced Customer Relationship
Management.
- Centralized data storage.
Tools Used
- ASP
- ActiveX Data Objects
- COM/DCOM
- JavaScript
- Media House Statistics Server
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Site Server
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Microsoft Windows Server
- VBScript
Solution
Azavar™ Technologies developed a Web-based eCommerce application with an intuitive navigation system, personalization and dynamic content generation.
During the last few years, websites have moved from displaying electronic catalogs to providing a channel for complete solutions to business challenges - generating sales using interactive and dynamic tools as well as electronic customer service. The growth of eCommerce consulting has changed the way business is done today. Businesses will spend $50 billion a year on Internet strategic services by 2005, according to Hambrecht & Quist LLC.
The client we partnered with is a supplier and retailer of paints, hardware and home improvement supplies. Outside of its traditional "brick-and-mortar" retail locations, the bulk of the company's revenues come from its catalog sales. It has experienced tremendous growth in customer base and revenues during the last four years. As part of the ongoing effort, the client decided to create an electronic application to serve the B2C market including contractors, painters and household consumers; as well as the growing B2B market including paint manufacturers and distributors. This would help the company expand its customer base in the digital economy. The client's goal was also to implement a cost-effective alternative for annual publication of its catalog. Azavar engineered an automated database to accommodate the client's continually evolving product line, providing easy maintenance of site content and database driven information, and thus eliminating catalog production and distribution costs. Other cost savings included easier and less costly ordering processes for the client's regular business customers. Azavar was selected to design business strategies, online identity, marketing and promotions efforts and a technical platform. In addition, Azavar also innovated a Web-based eCommerce application with custom shopping cart, personalization technology, credit card authentication and an intuitive navigation system for the client.
Azavar applied cutting-edge technology to implement the solution. In every client project we undertake, Azavar strives to not only meet, but exceed the highest quality industry standards. Technology used for this client included Microsoft's Servers and Application Development products for back-end and ASP technology for front-end processing. To facilitate the product information details, specifications and process, we developed a relational database using Microsoft Access that supported dynamic updates on the server side.
ASP technology using access ODBC drivers were connected to the database. Active X data objects performed data exchange standards. Dynamic Active Server Pages were created using VBScript for server side processing while JavaScript handled client side scripting. A component developed in Visual Basic that interacts with ASP allows users to upload image files from the client's machine into the database.
Azavar maintained data security and integrity through a custom designed authentication component that incorporates Windows and ASP based security as necessary. We also implemented additional levels of security such as industry standard SSL encryption protocols that were customized for sensitive data.
The functionality of the eCommerce application includes:
- Navigation system based on keywords, manufacturers, type of product and predefined home improvement solutions.
- Dynamically generated content based on a user's click patterns.
- Advanced search for products and also full-text site search.
- Personalized shopping.
- Retrieval of saved shopping carts.
- Secure online processing.
- A Web-based product inventory management module for administrator.
- Contact forms for customer service and sales support.
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