Industry:
- Construction
Website:
US Lumber, a major B2B player in the ecommerce space, partnered with Classy Llama to create a customized, high-performance website. They also integrated real-time ERP data, enabling efficient, dealer-specific customer experiences.
As one of Classy Llama’s largest B2B customers, US Lumber operates with an extensive dealer network, requiring a robust online platform to improve business efficiency and support growth. Their primary need was a website that could serve as a front-end portal, displaying ERP-driven data for real-time product availability and pricing updates across their dealer network. With a diverse product catalog and varied dealer-specific pricing structures, US Lumber sought a hyper-customized website experience to accommodate each dealer’s unique requirements.
Classy Llama’s approach emphasized close integration with US Lumber’s ERP system, aiming to streamline real-time data flows. However, the project quickly revealed complexities in maintaining accurate, dealer-specific data, particularly in terms of pricing and stock status retrieval.
Goals & Strategies
- ERP Integration: Seamlessly connect US Lumber’s website with their ERP system to display accurate, real-time product data.
- Dealer-Specific Customization: Build hyper-customized experiences tailored to each dealer’s unique pricing and inventory requirements.
- Enhanced Performance: Ensure fast, reliable data retrieval from various sources to prevent site slowdowns and errors.
- Comprehensive Documentation: Implement detailed documentation practices to align project expectations and processes for both teams.
Unique Solutions for a B2B Network
The complexities of this project stemmed from US Lumber’s extensive dealer network and unique pricing models. Issues arose with product data loading due to dealer-specific codes, leading to pricing discrepancies even after initial fixes. Classy Llama worked closely with US Lumber to resolve these issues, strengthening confidence and collaboration between both parties. US Lumber also made backend changes to their Magento platform, occasionally without full alignment, which created further challenges. To address this, Classy Llama encouraged a documentation-focused approach, helping clarify expectations and avoid assumptions.
Both teams continued to refine the logic for pricing displays and stock availability, creating a more transparent, reliable system for US Lumber’s dealers. Clear communication, proactive problem-solving, and a shared commitment to overcoming technical hurdles ultimately led US Lumber to place Classy Llama on an extended retainer, entrusting them with ongoing platform enhancements.
The Outcome
With Classy Llama’s expertise, US Lumber’s site now supports real-time ERP integration, delivering accurate data across their extensive dealer network. Performance improvements have enabled faster data retrieval, while robust customization capabilities provide each dealer with a unique and consistent ecommerce experience. The partnership has allowed US Lumber to maintain Magento as their platform of choice, supporting the company’s highly customized operational needs.
Conclusion
US Lumber’s transformation underscores the potential of deeply integrated ERP systems to drive efficiency in B2B ecommerce. Classy Llama’s commitment to innovation and client-centered solutions has built a solid foundation for US Lumber’s future growth and customization needs.