As an internationally positioned specialist for machining solutions, ARNO Werkzeuge sells high-quality, customised tool systems worldwide. In order to meet its own high standards in customer service, the Ostfildern-based company decided to replace its previous online ordering system with a modern B2B e-commerce platform.
The new platform is based on Salesforce CRM and Viamedici PIM. An interdisciplinary project team consisting of marketing and IT experts from ARNO Werkzeuge, Salesforce experts from T-Systems MMS, and INFOLOX as PIM/MAM and data transformation experts designed and implemented a best-of-breed e-commerce platform in just 12 months. Since ERP, CRM, CMS and PIM/MAM systems were already in place, the system landscape was expanded to include the B2B Salesforce Commerce Cloud and fully integrated via a data store for PIM/MAM.
In the new architecture, the PIM/MAM system acts as the heart of the platform. All content, such as structures, data, images, texts, relationships and business logic is provided to the Salesforce Commerce Cloud from the PIM/MAM system via INFOLOX data management processes.
ARNO Tools was already using the PIM system, but the data structures created in it were primarily geared towards ARNO's sometimes quite complex and specialised print catalogues. Together with the experts at ARNO, INFOLOX therefore developed a Data Model 2.0 that meets all the requirements of the object-oriented omnichannel world and thus serves both print and online channels equally well.
The data was supplemented with metadata and enriched with business logic for the online shop – and thus prepared by INFOLOX for Salesforce and made available in a NoSQL data store. The data store serves as a self-service data hub that can be used to serve other front-end systems in addition to Salesforce.
The result was a user-centred B2B online shop that increases customer satisfaction and frees up time for individual projects and services. The task now is to continue developing this shop. The online shop is being continuously expanded by a team of experts. Further digital services are being designed and implemented to provide ARNO's customers with not only the best tools, but also the best service.
Christian Kimmich, Head of Online Shop at KARL-HEINZ ARNOLD GmbH, on the project:
"I am very impressed with the result we achieved together! Even though we already had a PIM/MAM system in place and had gained some initial experience with it, infolox's consulting and implementation services were crucial to the outcome. Of course, it was a big challenge for me to coordinate such a complex project with an interdisciplinary team of several service providers/agencies, but every minute invested was enjoyable because every party involved is an absolute expert in their field. During the project, INFOLOX showed us completely new potential for the PIM system. I am already looking forward to the next projects with infolox!"
About ARNO Tools
ARNO Werkzeuge has been a family-run business since 1941 and is now in its third generation, employing around 230 people in six countries. Based in Ostfildern near Stuttgart, the company produces all kinds of machining solutions and develops high-quality, customised tool systems for turning, grooving, drilling and milling.
About infolox
INFOLOX is a leading agency for omnichannel marketing, e-commerce and product communication with a focus on system integration. From strategy consulting, conception and system selection to implementation, customisation and integration to hosting, support and maintenance – INFOLOX offers comprehensive solutions from a single source.
