Janssens AluSystems' seamless order and delivery flow

Motivating dealers worldwide to make custom sales

In 2018, Janssens approached iO with a clear goal. As a manufacturer of quality greenhouses, they wanted to fully support their global dealer network and empower them to offer superior sales services to their customers. They knew that catalogs and technical information sheets alone simply wouldn't cut it. The organisation needed a robust solution for presenting their products clearly, backed by a strong order and delivery flow.

Developing this kind of integrated system is precisely what our iO experts excel at. We began by developing a dealer portal and 3D configurator. This powerful combination allows dealers and their customers to effortlessly design, order, and monitor their AluSystems greenhouses.

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Challenge

Janssens AluSystems wants to improve customer experience and simplify the buying process. They aim to assure both dealers and customers that orders are placed, processed, and delivered with the right configuration and at the correct price.

Solution

iO developed a dealer portal featuring a 3D configuration tool. This tool seamlessly integrates with Janssens' ordering, delivery, and invoicing systems, enabling dealers (and their customers) to easily configure, order, and track their greenhouse purchases.

Janssens and iO: a flourishing partnership

Janssens, a Belgian family business, produces high-quality aluminium greenhouses, garden rooms and orangeries. In addition to standard models, they also offer tailor-made solutions, assembled according to people's needs. Janssens distributes these products through an international dealer network in Europe, Scandinavia and America.

Since 2018, Janssens engaged us as their long-term partner to support their dealers with a digitised sales flow from a dealer portal with a 3D configuration tool. Our partnership continues to evolve, with ongoing updates and extensions to the tool to meet the evolving needs of the market.

Pioneer in digital 3D configuration

Janssens offers a vast array of choices when you order a custom-made conservatory, including styles, dimensions, RAL colours, and numerous options for decorative and glass panels, as well as placement. This extensive selection can make it difficult for potential customers to decide. So, how can a dealer effectively inform prospects and secure a sale?

The iO team investigated this challenge and proposed developing a multipurpose dealer portal site. This site would feature a configuration tool that includes all the custom parameters. This tool marked the first step in digitalising the sales process, eventually forming part of Janssens' broader online system.

Based on user research feedback and enquiries from the dealer network, we enhanced the configuration tool that was built in the Three.js framework. Now, it's seamlessly integrated into Janssens' dealer platform. We specifically developed the platform's backend in Symfony to foster closer collaboration between dealers and the manufacturer. This is why the platform directly connects to Janssens' ordering, delivery, and invoicing systems.

Digitised sales flow: more efficiency

Distributors naturally need to personalise the offerings within the 3D configurator because not every dealer sells the same models or runs identical promotions. To address this, we developed a solution using an iFrame.

This allows dealers to easily create their own page and integrate the configurator onto their website. The page adopts their logo and brand identity, ensuring the tool seamlessly blends with their existing website, even though the technology operates separately in the background.

Superior experiences for both customers and dealers

Working with the dealer, customers can configure their ideal greenhouse directly on screen. The direct Symfony link to Janssens' ordering and delivery systems allows the dealer to immediately provide the customer with a price and delivery time, instantly building trust. With a single click, the dealer converts the configuration into a final order, which seamlessly reaches Janssens. This empowers dealers to create quotes, place orders, and confirm deliveries independently.

Individual customers can also use the tool themselves, though with some limitations. They can design their greenhouse, save it, create a PDF, or continue later. However, this is not an online shop; they still have to visit the dealer to complete their order.

Results: Exceptional customer experiences

The dealer portal, with its 3D configurator and seamless link to the ordering process, has significantly streamlined Janssens' sales operations for dealers and greatly improved the customer experience.

Dealers see their collaboration with Janssens as a clear benefit. The dealer portal significantly reduces errors (to virtually zero) and provides greater transparency in price calculations, model options, and order and delivery tracking. This, in turn, allows dealers to offer their customers a positive buying experience that reflects well on them. Ultimately, all these factors contribute to growing trust in the Janssens brand and increased loyalty towards the company.

The partnership with iO continues to evolve, with ongoing updates to and expansions of the tool to meet changing market needs.