Klusloods: Powering e-commerce for a new retail venture

The challenge

Klusloods embarked on a new DIY venture in Deventer in 2024, a fresh brand designed to reinvigorate DIY retail in the region. The core challenge was to launch a new e-commerce presence that could seamlessly integrate with existing enterprise systems whilst establishing a strong online retail foundation.

Specifically, Klusloods needed a Shopify store capable of:

• Real-time stock and pricing updates: Automatically synchronising product prices and inventory levels from SAP, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for customers.
• Comprehensive product data management: Integrating product information (PIM) and digital assets (DAM) from disparate sources, including detailed attributes, to enrich product listings on Shopify.

This presented a significant integration hurdle, requiring a custom solution to connect Shopify’s flexible e-commerce platform with the foundational data held within SAP and PIM/DAM systems.

Our solution

WeAreBrain engineered a comprehensive e-commerce solution built on Shopify, specifically tailored to address Klusloods’ unique integration requirements. Our approach focused on creating an automated data flow to ensure the Shopify store always reflected the most current product information.

1. Shopify webshop development
   We leveraged Shopify’s powerful and user-friendly platform as the foundation for the Klusloods online store, providing a robust and scalable e-commerce backbone that could handle complex product catalogues and customer interactions.

2. Custom integration service
   To achieve seamless synchronisation of product data, we developed a bespoke integration service using Java, hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS). This custom-built middleware acts as the crucial bridge between Shopify and Klusloods’ enterprise systems, intelligently pulling product catalogues, categories, pricing, and stock updates directly from SAP whilst ingesting rich product data from PIM and DAM systems.

3. Automated data synchronisation
   Our solution ensures that all product information, from pricing and stock availability to detailed product descriptions and imagery, is automatically and continuously updated on the Klusloods Shopify store, eliminating manual intervention and potential errors.

The result

Thanks to our efficient development process and deep understanding of e-commerce project timelines, the initial phase of the Klusloods e-commerce platform was successfully developed and launched within 3.5 months.

1. Rapid market entry
   Since launching in May 2024, Klusloods has established a strong online retail presence, providing customers with a comprehensive range of quality products at competitive prices, living up to their motto: “Bij Klusloods krijg je meer voor je geld!” (At Klusloods you get more for your money!).

2. Seamless enterprise integration
   Our custom AWS-based integration service ensures real-time synchronisation between Shopify and enterprise systems, maintaining accurate product information and inventory levels across all channels without manual intervention.

3. Ongoing partnership
   Over the past 1.5 years, we have continued to provide ongoing support and develop new features, demonstrating our commitment to long-term client success and platform evolution.

This strategic blend of Shopify’s agility with our custom integration expertise has enabled Klusloods to operate with a sophisticated and fully synchronised online presence that supports their growth ambitions.

Technology used

• ChatGPT & Github Copilot
• Shopify for e-commerce platform
• Java for custom integration services
• AWS for cloud infrastructure
• SAP integration for enterprise data