Volvo Penta had the expertise and ambition to accelerate digitally, but their existing platform worked against them. Dispersed systems and disconnected teams created bottlenecks that made rapid service launches impossible. The world-leading marine and industrial power solutions brand needed a partner who could deliver more than technology: they needed someone to help the organisation work differently. Together, we built a Sitecore XP platform that makes cross-functional collaboration the default and reduced time-to-market by a factor of ten.
Sitecore XP platform built on proven Volvo Group foundation
Cross-functional collaboration as standard, not exception
Agile delivery with 100+ three-week iterations
Integrated SEO and UX optimisation for measurably improved rankings
Scalable architecture ready for future Volvo Group brands
The challenge
How do you transform a digital platform from one causing organisational bottlenecks to one that accelerates collaboration and speeds up time-to-market for new services?
The solution
A next-generation Sitecore XP platform that breaks down silos and connects previously isolated teams. By redesigning how IT, marketing, and sales collaborate, we created a foundation that enables agile delivery and 10x faster time-to-market.
Volvo Penta x iO: full throttle on digital transformation
Volvo Penta powers world-leading marine and industrial brands with integrated engine solutions and services. Part of the Volvo Group, the company leverages innovations in material science, energy-efficient engines, and emission-reduction technology to drive performance and reliability across global markets.
Our collaboration goes beyond this platform project. As a trusted digital partner, we think strategically alongside Volvo Penta, ask critical questions, and help them stay ahead in a rapidly changing market. This case highlights one part of that journey: the transformation to a Sitecore XP platform that lays the foundation for continued digital growth within the Volvo Group.
Why a new platform was inevitable
Volvo Penta possessed deep expertise and clear ambitions for digital transformation. Yet their existing platform could not keep pace with the speed of the business. IT, marketing, and sales worked in parallel rather than together, with separate systems and workflows. Every new service or campaign required weeks of alignment. The organisation had the drive to move fast; it simply lacked a platform that supported that ambition.
The question was not whether Volvo Penta needed to transform, but how quickly they could make the shift without disrupting daily operations.
How do you break down silos between IT, marketing, and sales?
The key to success lay not only in technology, but in organisational alignment. We started with a thorough analysis of collaboration between IT, marketing, and sales. Where did processes stall? Which handovers cost the most time? And more importantly: how could we design the platform so that cross-functional collaboration became the default?
Together, we redesigned their entire approach to ensure that every team could contribute effectively. This unified workflow needed to span every aspect of their platform, from content creation to service launches, laying the foundation for sustained digital transformation.
How Sitecore XP enables cross-functional collaboration
We did not need to reinvent the wheel. We could build on a Sitecore architecture that had already proven its value within Volvo CE, a sister company of the group. This enabled us to combine cost efficiency with speed.
Sitecore XP provides the tools and integration capabilities for marketers and developers to work together effectively. Content is managed centrally with control over brand standards, localisation, and personalisation. At the same time, IT retains oversight of the technical infrastructure, whether on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid.
For Volvo Penta, this meant teams could work from one platform for the first time. No more separate systems, no more endless email chains for approvals. The unified workflow extends from content creation to service launches, building the foundation for sustained digital transformation.
How testing with real users accelerates transformation
Transformation at this scale requires continuous validation with the people who actually use the platform. In more than 100 iterations, we delivered functionality incrementally, tested with real users, and adjusted where needed. This approach meant Volvo Penta did not have to wait for a big-bang release. Each cycle brought the platform closer to the organisation's ambition while ensuring the solution worked for the teams using it daily.
How does platform transformation improve SEO performance?
A platform only succeeds if it gets found and works well. That is why we integrated SEO and UX optimisation from day one into the development process. No separate workstreams afterwards, but a holistic approach where technical performance, content strategy, and user experience come together.
The result: measurably improved search rankings and a digital experience that meets the expectations of Volvo Penta's b2b and b2c audiences.
The numbers
1x
Faster time-to-market for new services
+1
Agile iterations delivered in three-week sprints
The impact: tenfold faster launches, teams that finally work as one
The new Sitecore XP platform does not just solve today's challenges; it clears the path for Volvo Penta's future growth. By breaking down silos, IT, marketing, and sales now work as one team. Time-to-market for new services has been reduced tenfold, allowing Volvo Penta to respond faster to market opportunities.
For customers and partners, the impact is immediate: a consistent brand experience, faster access to new services, and a platform that grows with their needs. For Volvo Penta's internal teams, it means less firefighting and more strategic focus. And with the scalability of the architecture, the path is open for rollout to other Volvo Group brands.
