Case Study
Building a unified B2B eCommerce marketplace using a punchout integration
The client is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Hyderabad, India, producing over 190 medications and 60 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), along with diagnostic kits and biotechnology solutions. Their digital platform connects global chemical suppliers and buyers, offering price comparisons and personalized procurement support. Their B2B marketplace simplifies the process for pharmaceutical manufacturers, offering advanced analytics for informed decision-making and cost optimization
THE CLIENT
Pharmaceutical companies can utilize this solution as a key use case to streamline and enhance their procurement processes. By adopting this approach, they can not only improve operational efficiency but also develop customized eCommerce platforms that cater specifically to their unique business requirements. This enables pharmaceutical clients to optimize their supply chain management, reduce costs, and provide a more seamless purchasing experience tailored to their needs.
THE PROBLEM
The absence of a comprehensive eCommerce marketplace tailored to the pharmaceutical industry, offering a unified solution and an advanced platform for buyers to easily explore and purchase products.
The lack of a robust, secure system capable of efficiently managing the complexities of pharmaceutical transactions while ensuring a user-friendly experience for both vendors and buyers.
The need to streamline internal procurement processes and facilitate seamless multi-vendor sales.
THE SOLUTION
Supports distinct workflows for both buyers and sellers, ensuring a smooth ordering and checkout process.
Allows clients to build their own marketplaces, enabling multiple vendors to buy and sell products efficiently.
o AWS S3: Facilitates secure file uploads with signed URLs for easy administrator access. o AWS EKS/EC2: Deploys microservices to boost scalability and performance. o CI/CD Practices: Ensures a streamlined development and deployment process for agility and timely updates.
• Buyer Authentication: Buyers can log into their procurement system to select suppliers or search for products. • Supplier Access: Authenticated buyers are redirected to the supplier’s eCommerce system to review product offerings, prices, and inventory. • Cart Transfer: Items added to the cart are transferred back to the eProcurement system to create a purchase requisition.
THE RESULT
The website automates previously manual email operations, streamlining workflows and boosting efficiency. It allows buyers to seamlessly explore a wide selection of products on the eCommerce platform, simplifying their procurement journey. At the same time, sellers can easily list a diverse range of offerings, enhancing the overall marketplace experience. Additionally, the platform enables buyers to log in, request quotes, place orders, and complete the checkout process with ease, ensuring a smooth and efficient transaction process.
CONNECT
BUSINESS ANALYST’S CONTRIBUTION
Phase 1 – Discovery
- Discovery Plan: Conducted 9-point assessment, product benchmarking, and interviews to gather requirements, focusing on creating a unified eCommerce marketplace for the pharmaceutical industry.
- High-Level AS-Is Discussion: Evaluated the lack of a comprehensive marketplace and the need for a secure, user-friendly system.
- High-Level Product Backlog: Prioritized key features like advanced user management and custom marketplace creation using the MoSCoW method.
- Project Artifacts Creation: Documented the need for a streamlined purchasing experience through BRD, FRD, and system architecture overview.
- Stakeholder Feedback and Approval: Conducted walkthroughs and gathered approvals to ensure alignment with business goals.
Phase 2 – Delivery and Development
- Sprint Wise Backlogs: Managed the development of features like AWS cloud integration for secure file uploads and microservices deployment.
- Requirement Traceability Matrix Planning: Tracked progress to ensure alignment with business requirements.
- Usability Testing
- UAT Documentation: Defined test scenarios and involved stakeholders to validate features like supplier access and cart transfer.
- Defect Management: Logged and resolved bugs to ensure a smooth user experience.
Phase 3 – Hand-Off
- Documentation Handover: Provided comprehensive documentation to support ongoing platform use.
- End User Training and Support Management: Developed training materials and conducted sessions to ensure effective use of the new platform.