L&R Distributors
Replatforming a B2B giant from an antiquated custom eCommerce platform onto Shopify Plus
L&R Distributors is an internationally recognized B2B distribution company that supplies familiar brands of cosmetics, health & beauty, and hair care products through a global distribution network.
The Project
Replatform L&R Distributors from an outdated eCommerce platform to Shopify Plus. Modernize a large-scale B2B eCommerce operation with a huge network of legacy systems and etched-in-stone processes, without upending existing tech stacks or customer data. Introduce new multi-device cart sharing features, smartphone-as-barcode-scanner features, tiered and nested customer pricing structures, and a wide variety of UX features that encourage larger transactions by removing friction points that were baked into the previous platform. Customize the Shopify experience to give B2B customers the ability to manage, store, and place orders for multiple locations and customer groups, with a totally reimagined company, location, and catalog structure.
The Challenges
Replatform a massive catalog of over 40,000 products
Replatform decades of legacy data to preserve customer groups, price tiers, exceptions, internal notes, and other must-have data points
Revamp UX design to deliver a better user experience that will result in larger orders and a more pleasant ordering experience
Give users the ability to scan physical barcodes with their smartphones, allowing them to retrieve and add products to their Shopify cart, while also abiding by a dynamic catalog minimums which vary from customer to customer
Maintain a legacy feature by creating a quick-add page where users can bulk add product UPCs or SKUs and quantities by line item. All products are then added to cart with catalog minimums respected automatically
Our Solution
B2B replatforming for a global leader in health & beauty
With dozens of brands, a massive product catalog of over 40,000 products, and over 17,000 points of distribution within the supermarket, drug, and beauty industries, L&R is one of the biggest names in Health, Beauty, and Cosmetics distribution. But after nearly a decade of use, their existing eCommerce ordering experience lacked the modern functionality and flexibility befitting a global, multi-million dollar business. The replatform to Shopify Plus B2B would be a complete overhaul of their eCommerce system, with the exception of a few legacy components and custom UX features that their loyal customer base had grown accustomed to. Many of these legacy features were not core offerings from the Shopify Plus platform, and would require heavy customization to accomplish
Faster, more efficient ordering for B2B customers
Combining a legacy quick-order feature with an entirely new barcode scanning feature that no longer requires specific scanning hardware, customers can build bulk orders easier, quicker, and more conveniently from their smartphone. With an integrated cart-share feature, customers can move pre-built carts, saved carts, and wishlists seamlessly across devices, allowing them to use smartphones to browse and scan barcodes, and then move that cart to another device to complete the transaction. This feature enables faster, more efficient ordering for L&R’s customers, minimizing time spent on manual entry and reducing operator errors.
An innovative blend of classic and modern B2B features
We worked closely with L&R leaders to develop an ordering experience that leveraged both legacy features to maintain brand recognition and consistency, and a totally revamped ordering experience that includes new and upgraded features, delivering an amazing B2B experience that aligns with L&R’s current and future vision. This innovative blend of classic and modern features not only enhances operational efficiency but also reinforces L&R’s commitment to streamlined, customer-focused service, setting a new standard for B2B ordering experiences.