Multichannel management software suite enables new retail websites across more than 35 countries
Multichannel management software suite enables new retail websites across more than 35 countries
Nikon Europe, one of the most recognised brands for state-of-the-art imaging technologies, has engaged multichannel commerce and communication software provider hybris to develop new online business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) channels.
Nikon’s new multichannel commerce initiative, based on the hybris Multichannel Commerce Suite, will see the company roll out its ‘Nikon DealerNet’ (B2B) and ‘Nikon Store’ (B2C) online retail sites for its imaging business across more than 35 European geographies by the end of 2012.
Testing the sales channel waters
Laurent Christen, head of direct sales at Nikon Europe, stated: “This is our first official pan-European-driven direct sales initiative. It’s a strategic tenet of Nikon’s commercial strategy that enables our loyal dealers to purchase Nikon gear online, provides our assortment of imaging products directly to consumers across the Continent, and supports better our nationally based distributors.
“This is a truly multichannel scheme – not only does it underpin our online B2C and B2B businesses, it also includes sales over the phone and our internal Nikon store which provides merchandising and PoS [point-of-sale] materials to our multiple European geographies. For a multichannel program on this scale, hybris was the ideal technology partner for us to help facilitate this.”
In addition to the e-commerce functionality, including real-time product pricing information, Nikon DealerNet also offers dealers a new streamlined ordering process and enables dealers to see and manage orders, track shipments and invoices.
Pan-European direct sales move
The Nikon Store channel is a series of consumer online stores enabling them to purchase Nikon’s high quality imaging and sport optics equipment directly from the company. Working in fair alignment with Nikon’s commitment to its business partners, these stores offer a response to consumers seeking direct interaction with the Nikon brand. It provides an additional choice for consumers to order their favourite gear, accessories, software or merchandise products.
The hybris software is hosted with Nikon’s hybrid cloud. It interfaces with various internal systems (SAP, corporate website) or external service providers (payment gateway, logistic providers, search and merchandising engine, reviews, analytics) via the service oriented architecture platform from E2E Bridge.
