O'Briens Wines - E-Commerce Platform
Technologies: IIS, .NET, ASP.NET, SQL Server, Web Services
Customer Profile
The O’Briens group is Ireland's largest independent drinks retailer. Importing exclusively from over 55 wineries worldwide, they provide an offering of over 1,000 wines complemented by the largest beer and spirit offering in the country. There are 28 stores nationwide in the expanding network and their entire range is available to buy online.
Business Situation
O’Briens required an E-Commerce website that would act as a retail channel for their wine, beers and spirits products online. In addition to the retailing function the site also needed to perform some ancillary functions such as customer profile maintenance and loyalty card management.
The website would need to integrate with their existing ERP solution, Microsoft Dynamics, to receive product details and stock levels, and transfer all orders placed on the website. In addition the site would need to connect with their EPOS systems to allow the implementation of a seamless Customer Loyalty program across their online and traditional retail channels.
Solution
Engine assisted O’Briens in defining and documenting their requirements in terms of how the website would look, function and integrate with the other systems. This analysis phase produced a functional specification document which was used as the blueprint for the system.
Engine's E-Commerce solution was used to build the website and deliver the required functionality. With Engine's E-Commerce solution, the website provided a full E-Commerce shopping experience to customers. Customers can go to the website and browse the product catalogue, add products to their basket and checkout. Checking out involves a customer selecting what address(es) to send their basket to and providing payment details.
Customers can also manage their account online. They can update their contact details and shipping details as well as viewing their loyalty card balance.
O’Briens can manage their website using the Shop Manager module of Engine's E-Commerce solution. The Shop Manager allows authorised O’Briens users to manage products, promotions, customers and orders as well as the content of the website.
The website integrates with three other systems:
- O’Briens ERP system, Microsoft Dynamics, sends the website full product details and inventory levels via web services. Orders placed online are sent down to Microsoft Dynamics via web services.
- O’Briens EPOS system, Meridian, calculates Loyalty Points on all online and traditional in-store transactions and updates account balances viewable by customers in their own online portal. Web services also allow any customer account details changed or added online to flow down to the EPOS environment.
- Customer’s credit card payment details are verified using the “Realex” payments gateway.
Results
O’Briens now have a best of breed E-Commerce solution that seamlessly integrates with their other key systems and provides them with an online retail channel. The website is managed by O’Briens staff and provides them with tools for communication with their customers.
Testimonial
"Engine Solutions were chosen ahead of several competitors based in the UK and Ireland to develop an online retail site for O’Briens. Right from the start we have been continuously impressed by their ability to interpret our exact requirements, implement them accurately and deliver the result on schedule and within budget. It is testament to their expertise and know-how that we have chosen Engine for all further development work and ongoing site maintenance."
Grattan O'Brien | Product Manager
O'Briens Wine Off Licence
www.ObriensWine.ie