DAIKIN NZ: Optimizing and streamlining the eCommerce experience
Daikin is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of air-conditioning equipment with an extensive distribution network that spans across the globe. And Daikin New Zealand has been one of the country’s most trusted names in heat pumps and air conditioning for over 45 years.
The Challenge
Daikin NZ faced many obstacles whenever it came time to update their B2B e-commerce platform due to the complexity of the existing architecture. The website, built within Drupal, contained numerous components that made it challenging to implement updates, adjustments, improvements, and customizations.
Objective
To simplify the platform architecture and to enhance the client’s ability to adapt and customize the platform to meet their evolving business needs. This would involve the integration of multiple systems into a simplified architectural framework, and the creation of a customized middleware from the ground up to improve integration with Daikin’s existing B2B legacy systems.
Development
Starting with architectural challenges, Villvay implemented the migration of Daikin NZ’s e-commerce platform from Drupal to Shopify. This utilized new APIs and middleware to enable seamless integration, providing the improved functionality and flexibility that Daikin NZ required for their evolving business needs.
Aligned with Daikin’s specific brand guidelines, we revamped the site’s theme and UI to improve the overall appearance and user experience. The result was a cohesive and professional appearance that perfectly mirrored their market position as an industry leader.
User management was improved by the integration of the Azure Active Directory, which streamlined user authentication processes through robust middleware while ensuring secure access to the website. This was further aided by the Single Sign-On (SSO) functionality, allowing customers to enjoy personalized discounts and experiences based on their specific user role identification.
To enhance the website’s product search capabilities, we integrated Shopify Core with synchronized Redis instances. This ensured users could find the right products fast while enjoying a more efficient overall browsing experience — which is crucial for B2B customers who often have specific product requirements.
Villvay’s solution also included extensive custom feature development using JavaScript to provide unique functionalities that were not a part of Shopify’s offerings. These tailored features enabled Daikin to deliver personalized experiences to their customers, setting them apart.
Finally, we developed a checkout process unique to Daikin with integrated data encryption to meet their specific security requirements. This customization enhanced data security by encrypting customer data in the front-end transmission, thus providing a safe and reliable checkout experience.
The Result
- A simplified, scalable architecture that improved functionality and maintainability.
And customers experienced:
- A product search time that was reduced to 1 second.
- A more secure order process.
- A customized user experience with personalized discounts
- The enhanced overall experience for customers and developers alike positioned the platform for future success.
