Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

NORGREN CHOOSES HYBRIS TO PROVIDE ITS ecommerce PLATFORM AND PIM SOLUTION

…hybris helps Norgren deliver its customers an efficient ecommerce solution with optimised data management and print catalogue automation…

London – 19 March 2007: hybris (www.hybris.com), a leading product information management (PIM) and ecommerce vendor, today announced that Norgren, a global provider of fluid and motion control systems, is using the hybris e-business platform to support its B2B ecommerce site. The solution will initially be aimed at Norgren’s SMB customers in Europe, providing a complete transactional and information site making it easy for them to purchase the products they need at agreed pricing. The solution will subsequently be rolled out globally. The basis of this ecommerce solution is the implementation of hybris’ product information management software, which will enable Norgren to create a common source of data by consolidating a large number of disparate systems and databases.

Prior to using hybris, Norgren had to access and maintain often complex data from a number of different databases and repositories to support its ecommerce platform; this was a difficult system to manage, comprising different websites and web-based applications. Not only will hybris be consolidating all the data repositories it will also be integrating the existing websites onto the single hybris platform, supported by hybris’ Web Content Management Module.

Keith Hopkinson, Global IT Director at Norgren, said: “Our existing ecommerce platform had served us very well for eight years, but was beginning to show its age. Following a review in 2006 it quickly became apparent that the existing system would restrict our ability to meet our customers’ demands and expectations. We established the need to have a single data source, ensuring our product information was maintained, complete and accurate, which would support a fully integrated web solution, providing a rewarding experience for our customers. That’s where hybris came in; their platform enables us to do just that.”

Faced with these issues, Norgren took the decision to update its ecommerce platform and product information management system. Having looked at solutions available on the market, the company opted for hybris’ e-business platform. “The initial focus was on identifying the ‘best of breed’ PIM solutions that were available, as we saw the effective management of product data as key to our success” said Keith. “hybris came out very strongly in this area and by combining the ecommerce and print production modules we had found our complete solution.”

Norgren chose hybris because of its broad range of functionality, ease of use and adaptability to support complex processes. In addition to this, the security of having an established UK implementation partner was essential which was confirmed by the introduction of Javelin Group. “Javelin’s background aligned perfectly with our goals for delivering a truly rewarding web experience,” said Keith.

“All our ecommerce content and publishing can now be easily managed from one platform, which will ensure our customers can access the information they need quickly and easily. With the hybris PIM solution we have a single source of data and information that can simultaneously update the information on the ecommerce site, ensuring our SMB customers have the latest product data and pricing to help with their purchasing decisions and requirements. We also have the assurance of knowing that our e-business platform can easily and reliably handle whatever data and publishing requirements we will have in the future,” he concluded.

Andrew Piscina, UK Country Manager for hybris, said; “Norgren represents a global company that needs to ensure it can provide its customers with a fully functioning and up to date e-business platform. As the internet increasingly becomes a major part of global sales for businesses this requirement is becoming a universal ‘must have’. hybris’ ecommerce and PIM solutions help to ensure that this business critical requirement can be met and that customers will have an efficient and productive experience when purchasing goods and services online.”

About Norgren

Norgren is a £600m pneumatic controls business, one of the world leaders in the supply of motion and fluid control technologies for a wide variety of different industry sectors. Norgren is committed to optimising technological performance for its customers’ advantage. All of Norgren’s systems are engineered for flexibility based on strong product fundamentals. Application specific solutions frequently involve integrated or modular combinations of actuator, control valve and air preparation technologies.
With established manufacturing facilities in USA, Germany, UK, Switzerland, and Spain and with newer facilities in Mexico and the Czech Republic Norgren has the global manufacturing and support capabilities to be able to cope with the most demanding international projects. With support through an established sales and service network in 75 countries Norgren has the global reach and capability to ensure continuity of supply and local support where it is needed for customers involved in export markets or multi site operations.
Norgren is a subsidiary of IMI PLC.

About hybris

hybris supplies standard software solutions for the media-independent management of product information and its distribution over both online and print channels.

Manufacturers, vendors, marketplace operators and purchasing companies consolidate and manage their entire product information in every language on one platform, in the process creating a “single source of truth”. Enterprises are able to supply online and print channels with information from this central hub. Integrated solutions for catalogue management, ecommerce, e-procurement and database publishing provide you with personalised and channel-specific data recycling throughout all electronic procurement and sales channels. This also means that print catalogues can be published without media fragmentation.

The hybris solution’s integrative approach to managing and recycling product information leads to a reduction in process costs, clearing the path for companies to add new sales and procurement markets at low cost. The return on investment with hybris is very fast. As hybris has selected to use standards-based and future-proof basic technologies in its solutions, investments are secure over the long term.

Established in 1997, the company is based in Munich and it has offices in the UK and Switzerland. hybris has over 1,000 customers and was recently awarded the European Retail Solutions Award for Best Use of ecommerce in a Retail Environment and European Retail Technology Solution of the Year 2006.

For further info please contact:

Michele Bayliss
Ascendant Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 777 937 2106
E-mail: mbayliss@ascendcomms.net

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