In late 2003, Bray-based international biotechnology company Megazyme sought to embark on the next major evolution of their existing web site and Arekibo were commissioned to completely redevelop and redesign the Megazyme e-Commerce site.
As this project was business critical to Megazyme a carefully planned analysis of the business objectives was required from the outset. A thorough process involving capturing the business rules and logic of the organization began. Every single task involved in how an order was taken, processed, billed and shipped needed to understood fully by Arekibo so that automating these business processes could be architected, designed and developed.
Megazyme and Arekibo worked together to produce a fresh, innovative design for the web site encompassing a streamlined ordering process for the customer.
Arekibo produced two systems: the public-facing web site and an Intranet in Bray for processing orders. The two systems - despite being forty kilometres apart - are in constant communication with each other through the use of web services. These provide a secure and reliable means of transmitting data over the Internet without the need for a dedicated line between the hosting facility and Megazyme’s order fulfillment centre in Bray.
Key to Megazyme’s business requirements was to have the web site fully integrated into their existing accounts and stock control system. Again, through the use of web services between the two systems developed by Arekibo the web site can add orders and new customers to their systems with little or no user interaction required by Megazyme.
Arekibo were mindful to use what systems were already in place and already working well while introducing a great deal of new developments and additions.
An example of new functionality offered by the web site for Megazyme is integration with their shipping partner. A task identified early in the analysis of Megazyme’s operation was the process of manually using FedEx software to generate labels for the shipments. The need to automate this process was obvious, and Arekibo developed a system which sends each shipment’s information to FedEx’s systems in Tennessee and automatically prints labels at the time of order processing – ready for pickup by FedEx in Bray. Support for tracking orders is also available to the customer from within the Megazyme web site.
End Results
The web site itself is built on the Microsoft .NET platform. Using Arekibo’s Information Management System and integrating it with Microsoft Commerce Server, the web site was developed in a very efficient and cost-effective manner. The .NET platform provided Arekibo with the building blocks for a secure, scalable and reliable web site. The end-result is a web site that greatly improves the customer’s experience when ordering and a system for Megazyme’s staff in their order fulfilment department that is reliable, quick and easy to use – automatically keeping the customer engaged throughout the fulfilment process and beyond. Megazyme’s web site and associated systems are a great example of a successful eCommerce application and an Irish company showing great success in competing online in the global marketplace.
Megazyme International was awarded ICT Excellence Ward for best Private Sector eCommerce site 2005
The end-result is a web site that greatly improves the customer’s experience when ordering and a system for Megazyme’s staff in their order fulfillment department that is reliable, quick and easy to use.
“The new website developed by Arekibo has had a positive substantial impact on the company’s bottom-line. Megazyme has seen an ROI within the first four months from increased sales. The average order value has increased by 135%; web orders have increased from to 40% to 73% per month; web traffic has increased from approximately 300,000 hits per month to 506,000 per month; and new customers have increased by 10% per month”.
Angela Kennedy, Managing Director
Services Provided
Strategic Advice | Site Analysis & Audits | Usability and Web Design | Information Management - Arekibo IMS | Hosting & Support