B2C/B2B Customer Portal With Product Configurator
Crafting a headless eCommerce product configuration and packaging software to facilitate back office workflows
PROJECT IN BRIEF
Client
Global construction materials manufacturer leading the industry for 90+ years
Industry
Manufacturing
Supply chain
services
From-scratch software engineering
Integrations
Functionality upgrades
Platforms
Packaging is a big deal, always. In this case, it was literally the core of the client’s B2B/B2C eCommerce platform. A robust product configurator was meant to simplify back office routines. 100% our call!
Alongside automating PDF generation, submittal packaging, and product customization, the resulting solution also provides limitless serverless capacities for project and file management. Low-maintenance, headless, fits just right.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Operational blockers
The client’s eCommerce infrastructure in place lacked critical B2B functionality and data storage facility to support the full cycle of product configuration and logistics.
To put these workflows on reliable rails, the client opted for BigCommerce as their operational core.
CLIENT’S OBJECTIVES
Obtain a unified source of truth enabling automated document generation, product customization, and submittal packaging capabilities. Besides, the solution was supposed to smoothly navigate users through a load of marketing materials and company details.
CHALLENGE
Default system restrictions
1. Given that BigCommerce doesn’t provide storage and API-enabled data communication, we’ve ended up using serverless AWS to handle the job:
• Amazon S3 now hosts documents and associated data
• Amazon DynamoDB saves configured customer projects
2. Flexibility was critical for the submittal package generator, as it was meant to support multiple fields for product search and configuration. Yet, BigCommerce by default has custom fields only, without an option to repurpose them.
To reset the field types and roles, we’ve applied a custom prefix system while configuring the Catsy mapping to support the new functionality.
3. To fully meet the client’s special requirements for PDF document layout, the team was to build the TXT to PDF conversion functionality from the ground up, rather than implementing external services.
VENDOR COMPETITION WIN
While researching and interviewing prospective contractors, the client was impressed by our team’s grasp of headless composable architectures.
Amitech Group’s 100% repeat customer rate, alongside proven certification and partnership with BigCommerce, helped win over the client’s loyalty in advance.
SOLUTION
Composable SaaS platform
From the ground up, the team has created a headless Next.js-based storefront running on BigCommerce. The solution features an intuitive user interface providing account details, addresses, product lists, documents, and projects.
The major module, the submittal package generator, helps the client’s customers select the required item modifications, sizes, and combinations via product bundling, anchoring, and support system configuration.
INTEGRATIONS
Manages the website static pages
Handles product details and images
Extends BigCommerce core with B2B capabilities
Powers full-text real-time product search
Stores the user’s saved projects and documents
ENGINEERING STACK
TECH UNDER THE HOOD
BigCommerce, BundleB2B, Catsy, PeopleSoft, AWS Lambda, AWS S3, AWS EC2, AWS ECS, Strapi
JavaScript, TypeScript
Next.js, Node.js, Tailwind CSS, Headless UI, REST API, GraphQL
Elasticsearch, AWS DynamoDB
“Initially, the client was thinking of a minimalistic product search and filtering platform. But then they realized their customers were going to need to download additional documents and save their packages to personal accounts.
Since the submittal package generator wasn’t an out-of-the-box BigCommerce functionality, we went headless instead of Stencil.”
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
- Dynamic PDF generator
- Submittal package constructor
- Catalog with multiparameter search and filtering
- Product attributes manager and configurator
WORK DONE
- The client’s existing infrastructure audit
- eCommerce software development
- Internal and external platform integration
- The solution core functionality upgrades
Results
Fully functional headless B2B eCommerce solution built from scratch
Consistent product attributes management and configuration
Custom product package generation capability
Scalable serverless file and project management
Stable Core Web Vital Metrics-powered performance
Custom-built TXT to PDF conversion functionality
FURTHER FUNCTIONALITY IMPROVEMENT
- Feedback-driven UI/UX updates
- PDF generator fine-tuning
- CMS replatforming to Builder.io
THE UNDERLYING MASTERY INGREDIENTS
Engagement model
Dedicated Team, Time and Materials Not To Exceed
Team composition
- 2 Full-Time Full-Stack Software Developers
- Part-Time Full-Stack Software Developer
- Product Management Director on the client’s side
Methodology
Agile
KPI: Stable Core Web Vital Metrics
- Largest Contentful Paint
- First Input Delay
- Cumulative Layout Shift
Access control
The team has implemented a custom authorization flow, thus allowing to distinguish guest users from registered customers. The solution’s major package and project generation functionality is exclusively available as one checks in
Infrastructure security
- BigCommerce-Certified Tier 1
- Amazon Web Services
Scalability
- BigCommerce-enabled at the backend
- AWS ECS-based at the storefront
Last updated: April 15, 2024
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Does the whole back-to-front heavy-lifting and juggles tormented challenges with eye-opening maneuverability, as hard work looks good on him.
Democratizes those royally sophisticated tech phenomena by means of concise copy and occasional wit.
Charge-free consultation
Have a word with our tech advisory experts—we’ll provide actionable tips on how to start with customizable products configuration software