E-commerce has become an essential tool for businesses of all sizes, and safety technology manufacturers are no exception. By embracing this technology, manufacturers of safety products can unlock a multitude of benefits, including enhanced customer service, boosted sales, and seamless integration with various business operations. However, simply setting up an online store isn’t enough to reap the full potential of e-commerce. To truly succeed, you need a clear understanding of how your platform should be built and the value it will bring to your organization.

In this article, we’ll share Agiliway’s experience in helping clients build and enhance their e-commerce platform using TYPO3 CMS. We’ll discuss the key considerations for building e-commerce platforms with TYPO3 and provide valuable insights to help you make informed decisions for your business.

Why Manufacturers Need to Embrace E-commerce

Since internet access has become widespread, the popularity of online shopping has skyrocketed. Consumers are now turning to the internet to fulfill their needs – from clothing and home décor to food and B2B services. To ensure a strong online presence and expand your business, you need to develop an e-commerce strategy. A successful strategy should be based on the following:

• comprehending your target audience and their wishes is important;
• optimizing your website and content drives traffic and increases sales;
• capitalizing on less saturated markets to broaden your reach and gain a competitive edge;
• collaborating with potential distributors to establish mutually beneficial relationships and grow your market presence.

To attract and retain customers, modern companies are focusing on improving the online shopping experience. Optimizing the sales process not only saves valuable employee time but also increases overall efficiency. Moreover, providing detailed product information and convenient filtering options allows customers to make informed decisions and easily navigate a wide range of products. Also, personalized recommendations based on purchase history increase customer satisfaction and boost sales.

Let’s look at how the client an e-commerce platform turns into a comprehensive business solution. By focusing on the user experience and providing valuable information, the platform not only boosts sales but also serves as a valuable resource for both existing and potential customers.

Case Study: TYPO3 E-commerce Solution

One of the leading manufacturers of explosion-proof switchers, video surveillance systems, push buttons, and lighting products is committed to providing high-quality goods that meet industry standards. With a global presence in many countries, the company was looking for an advanced e-commerce solution that would meet customer needs and foster strong business relationships.

The existing product catalog on the client’s website was outdated and inflexible, making it challenging to adapt to changing business requirements. To modernize their offerings and improve agility, the company opted to migrate to a new external workspace cloud for faster and more flexible data management. At the time, the catalog boasted over 15,000 products with over 1000 unique attributes.

Built on TYPO3 CMS, the client’s website required the integration of a new catalog and e-commerce functionalities. Key objectives included:

1. Seamless integration of the new catalog and e-commerce features into the existing TYPO3 site.
2. Implementing data synchronization among external enterprise resource planning systems and the TYPO3 infrastructure.
3. Development of advanced search functionality for products and related documentation.
4. Redesign of the website menu and optimization for mobile platforms.
5. Website localization to cater to global audiences.
6. Enhancement of website SEO for improved visibility and search engine ranking.

The implementation of these features was completed through the combined efforts of the development and marketing teams, thereby increasing the overall consumer experience on the platform. Aimeos, a multi-tenant e-commerce package, was chosen to implement the necessary functionalities following an exhaustive evaluation of available solutions for TYPO3 CMS. This provided the client with a comprehensive and scalable solution to their requirements.

Benefits of Aimeos Open-Source Framework

1. The platform offers a flexible shopping cart system that allows for customization to meet specific business needs.
2. This feature was crucial for the client to enable them to manage separate stores for different regions under a single platform.
3. Aimeos ensures high performance even with large product catalogs and at the same time makes it ideal for growing businesses.
4. The platform caters to a global audience to supports multiple languages and currencies.
5. Aimeos is an open-source solution that eliminates licensing fees and makes it a cost-effective choice.

Beyond Aimeos:

The team added unique features to the platform to further improve it:

• Automated Product Synchronization: A seamless integration between the TYPO3 e-commerce site and the client’s external ERP system automates product data synchronization, saving time and resources.
• Advanced Search: The team implemented a powerful search engine using SOLR, allowing users to quickly find products, services, and documentation with features like autocomplete and filtering.
• Localization: The platform automatically detects and displays content in the user’s preferred language based on their location or settings.
• SEO Optimization: An SEO audit identified and addressed potential issues like missing keywords and metadata, improving the platform’s search engine ranking and visibility.
• Mobile-friendly Design: The website menu and overall layout were redesigned to ensure a smooth user experience on all devices, including mobile phones and tablets.

By combining the strengths of Aimeos with custom development a robust and user-friendly e-commerce platform was delivered that allows clients to effectively manage their online presence and achieve their business goals.

Value Gained from the Solution

Agiliway developed an e-commerce solution with the integration of the TYPO3 system that transformed the client’s operations and boosted productivity, efficiency, and sales. Through careful analysis and strategic implementation, engineers replaced the outdated catalog with an optimized system, improving the quality of service and maximizing the potential. By integrating the new catalog and e-commerce functionality, the marketing team improved the performance and efficiency of the website. The mechanism for automatic data synchronization with external ERP systems has streamlined processes and saved time. Updates to the menu and mobile version of the website, as well as an SEO audit, ensured uninterrupted functionality after the upgrade. Improved localization and search functions allow users to quickly find products and related documentation, improving the overall user experience and satisfaction.