E-commerce has increasingly emerged as a digital business method in recent months, particularly during the pandemic. Customers are seeking alternative channels to compensate for their business losses. Purchasing parts from home is becoming the standard for all customers, including those in the truck industry. Establishing an online shop has become essential for companies that want to boost their sales and connect more closely with their customers.
When deciding to implement an online shop, it’s crucial to find the right partners who can meet your specific needs regarding requirements, timelines, and budget. At TAXAPA, we can ensure the process is done correctly. We conducted an in-depth market research study for one of our clients by evaluating various online shop providers. When implementing an e-shop, there are three essential pillars to consider:
1. Finding parts and obtaining parts information (using resources like TecDoc or Microcat).
2. Accessing available catalogs, including pricing and availability.
3. Processing orders through systems such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) or DMS (Dealer Management System).
Certainly, more players may join the Three Pillars Club, including CRM integration and messaging providers. However, you should never overlook those three pillars, consider that.
In December 2020, our customer, STABO, the largest DAF Trucks dealer in Slovakia, approached us with a request. Our task was to summarize the requirements for an e-shop dedicated to trucks, manage potential risks, gain a better understanding of the technical aspects, and ultimately select the right partner to deliver the e-shop for STABO. This was indeed a challenge, as implementing an e-shop for trucks is a unique project.
At the beginning of 2021, we gathered all customer requirements. In March 2021, we initiated market research, which included reviewing pricing, licensing, and contract preparations. We conducted extensive interviews with potential partners.
By May 2021, we focused on selecting a suitable e-shop provider and began the implementation process. This process involved developing the ERP interface, preparing e-shop data, implementing the catalog, testing, and initial setup. From our perspective, the most significant challenge during implementation was managing the specialized data for trucks.
In September 2021, we successfully launched the first e-shop for trucks in Slovakia. We take pride in having been involved throughout the entire creation process.
Do you require similar research for your company?
Contact us: info@taxapa.com
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