Challenge:

For a significant client in the footwear sector with an annual turnover of 5 million euros, the need arose to automate inventory management across all digital sales channels. This requirement was a mandatory condition set by Zalando for onboarding. The tool provided by Zalando was prohibitively expensive on a monthly basis and only offered synchronization between the website and the Zalando platform, while synchronization with other third-party platform channels incurred equally costly additional monthly fees. Moreover, most synchronization tool providers did not support integration with Zalando.

Solution:

To address this challenge, we developed a two-way integrated database that not only kept stock quantities updated on the Shopify site but also integrated with Amazon and eBay. For Zalando integration, we conducted market research and selected a provider we were familiar with and had previously used for logistics management, to integrate with shipping carriers. This solution ensured a seamless two-way synchronization, meaning all sales were updated in real-time with a central database that communicated stock changes to all connected digital channels.

Result:

The implementation of this innovative inventory automation system enabled our client to synchronize inventory across all digital sales channels efficiently. This not only met the mandatory requirements set by Zalando for onboarding but also eliminated the need for costly monthly fees associated with the Zalando tool and additional charges for integrating with other platforms. The client now benefits from a comprehensive, cost-effective solution that supports real-time inventory updates across multiple sales channels, enhancing operational efficiency and sales potential.