How WordPress Easily Links Content and eCommerce to Complex Back-end Systems: A Case Study

Content and eCommerce can easily be integrated in WordPress by developing a complex back-end. Learn how in this case study.

Content and eCommerce can easily be integrated in WordPress by developing a complex back-end. Learn how in this case study.

The Project

HSM Informatika was in the market for a new eCommerce platform that integrated with their current legacy solutions including both their Customer Resource Management and Enterprise Resource Planning Software. Specializing in the distribution of software and hardware integration solutions for businesses, HSM Informatika has been an industry leader for over 20 years, and finally decided it was time to update their online presence. The end goal was to build an eCommerce website with the capability of presenting over 4000 products to their users.

The Challenge

The main challenge was combining their many content types into one central location, including their existing blogs, articles, micro-sites, and products. The primary driving factor for the rebuild was to move their system to a user-friendly platform that would improve the process of adding and editing content across the board. There was an existing website built on Joomla that served as the starting point, and that content needed to be migrated onto the new platform.

Why WordPress?

Their need for easy content editing and publishing combined with a mature eCommerce solution made WordPress with WooCommerce — the platform of choice.

The easy integration of WordPress with their current systems while extending their possibilities, was another big reason for choosing WordPress.

The Obstacles

“The main obstacle we faced when building the new platform was integrating with our client’s Customer Relationship Management and Enterprise Resource Planning systems. All within six months.” says Neuralab’s CEO.

Other notable additions during the project included an auditory option for the blind, re-organized and color coded project categories, a two-step filterFilter Filters are one of the two types of Hooks https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Hooks. They provide a way for functions to modify data of other functions. They are the counterpart to Actions. Unlike Actions, filters are meant to work in an isolated manner, and should never have side effects such as affecting global variables and output. and search wizard, all in wonderfully responsive format.

The Solution

The final product was integrated with HSM Informatika’s CRM and ERP systems within six months which required its own special APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways. adapters to orchestrate the integrated content. Neuralab created both a custom theme and plugins for the HSM Informatika WooCommerce project and even included parts of their Salesforce pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party to meet the challenge.

The Results

Thanks to the new fully-integrated and easy-to-use platform, HSM Informatika has grown approximately 25% in the year following the release of the new website. The project was delivered on time adding accessibilityAccessibility Accessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility) and functionality that integrated their many systems into one easy to use platform that has been instrumental in their recent growth.
With their new efficient workflow allowing them to add content and products much faster than before, maintaining their website now requires much less of their time and effort, making this project an overwhelming success.

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