A pre-order platform for an entire network of merchants
A large cooperative network of building materials merchants wanted its member stores to pool their purchases from suppliers. We designed the platform with its future users, developed it, and have run its operations since it went live in 2024.
- pre-order operations run since 2024
- 35pre-order operations run since 2024
- pre-orders placed by member stores
- ~3 000pre-orders placed by member stores
- ordered through the platform
- €2.4Mordered through the platform
- from the scoping workshop to tests with members
- 6 wksfrom the scoping workshop to tests with members
More buying power with suppliers, without complicating life for stores.
The network brings together hundreds of independent stores. On their own, each orders in small quantities; together, they can secure better terms, on price and lead times alike. That takes a tool to pool these orders, operation by operation.
The brief came down to three goals: let members “team up” on large orders, better organise deliveries between the network’s warehouses and direct shipping, and showcase suppliers’ promotional offers. The condition for success was simple: a tool that stores would genuinely adopt, for the long term.
Designing with members, before writing a line of code.
Rather than a lengthy specification, we moved forward with successive prototypes, shown and tested at each stage. This let us hit the mark despite needs that were still unclear at the start, and build buy-in across the network before launch.
- STEP 01
Scoping
Workshop with the sponsoring team
A workshop to align the team on a shared vision: the operations to cover, the member journey, priority features and what could wait.
- STEP 02
Prototypes
Demonstrator, then functional
A first prototype to make the idea tangible and present it internally, then a clickable version, refined at every review with the sponsoring team.
- STEP 03
Testing with members
Working group of stores
A group of members tested the prototype in real conditions. Their feedback — login per store, recipients of the order summary, pack sizes, live stock for clearance sales, basket sorted by supplier — directly shaped the final version.
- STEP 04
Development and launch
Then running the operations
Platform development, team training and a user guide for members. Since 2024, we set up and open every new operation, and track its results.
A journey designed for operation orders.
One login per store
Each store logs in with its own branch ID and orders for its point of sale, with its own recipients.
A view for each operation type
Trade show by brand and discount level, clearance with available stock, new ranges by family and shelf, best sellers with volume-based discounts.
Savings in real time
The pre-order total and the amount saved update as the member fills their basket.
An automatic summary
On validation, a PDF summary goes to the chosen recipients; for equipped stores, the order lands straight in their own system.
History and favourites
Past pre-orders remain available, and followed brands are one click away.
Regional contacts
On the home page, every member finds their regional contact for any question about an operation.
A tool adopted, operation after operation.
Since going live in 2024, the platform has hosted 35 operations: supplier trade shows, clearance sales, new ranges, regional offers and store layouts. Stores have placed close to 3 000 pre-orders, for €2.4M ordered.
Every new operation opens on the same tool, with nothing to reinvent for members: stores find their bearings from one operation to the next.
- Pooled purchasing to negotiate better terms
- A single journey for all of the network’s operations
- Less re-keying, thanks to the summary and automatic sending
- Results tracked operation by operation
A business tool to build with your users?
B2B portal, internal tool or platform for your network: we start from your users, prototype fast, then develop the tool that suits them.
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