J.H. Pölking GmbH & Co. KG

Optimal B2B Commerce in the Footwear Trade

partner

The Challenge

The Solutions

The Design

Plan Early, Sell in an Organized Way

Digital Pre-Order with Pölking Schuhe

Given globally unstable supply chains, forward-looking planning is essential. Together with Pölking Schuhe, we further developed the B2B e-commerce processes and integrated a digital pre-order solution that optimizes the ordering process and opens up international markets.

Through complete digitalization, costs were reduced and inventory management made more efficient. At the same time, the pre-order feature enables targeted planning for upcoming seasons as well as reliable delivery dates – which not only increases the satisfaction of trading partners but also sustainably boosts revenue.

The result: a user-friendly, scalable shop that supports early purchasing decisions and creates long-term competitive advantages.

Project Key Facts:

  • Core Software: Apache Ofbiz
  • Project Duration: 3 months
  • Client: J.H. Pölking GmbH & Co. KG
  • Industry: B2B distribution of footwear, from manufacturer to retail
  • Challenge: Wide product range, complete integration into the ERP, digitalization of all order processes
  • Project Goal: Extension and optimization of the existing B2B portal, creation of a pre-order feature, internationalization of the shop (choice of multiple languages and currencies), introduction of extensive filter options, full integration with Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Client Details:

J.H. Pölking GmbH & Co. KG is a traditional footwear wholesaler from Osnabrück, founded in 1894.

The company supplies over 3,000 retailers in Germany and Europe with a wide range of women's, men's, and children's shoes. The portfolio includes both proprietary brands such as Dr. Brinkmann and Comfortabel, as well as well-known trade brands such as Rieker and Bugatti.

Design Meets Function

– Intuitive and User-Oriented

When designing the B2B platform, great importance was placed on clear, structured user guidance – visually aligned with Pölking's corporate design.

A digital order form served as the conceptual foundation, displaying all line items in a clear scroll-down view. This way, users always keep track of their order – even with large order volumes.

Especially in the footwear industry, with its high degree of product variation, clarity and filterability are key UX requirements.

That's why all available sizes, colors, and models, along with their respective availability, are displayed at a glance. Delivery dates are shown transparently, enabling reliable purchase planning.

Intelligent filters – for example by heel height, material, fit, size, or color – enable precise product selection.

Customer-specific prices and individual offer variants are displayed dynamically, allowing retailers to navigate the catalog efficiently and intuitively. The result is a user interface that feels familiar while excelling in functionality and usability.

More Functionality, More Reach:

The Challenge of the B2B Shop Relaunch

We already implemented the first B2B shop for Pölking Schuhe back in 2016 – a proven solution. With a growing product range and increasing demands in international trade, targeted further development was now needed.

The existing shop structure was modernized without jeopardizing established workflows. Processes and interfaces had to be adapted to current market conditions as well as the need for availability, transparency, and real-time data.

The lack of ERP integration was particularly challenging: without real-time communication, inventory levels could not be reliably displayed – resulting in increased coordination effort and the risk of incorrect orders.

The Solutions

International Digitalization

By introducing multiple language and currency options, the Eastern European market was opened up digitally. Retailers can now use the shop in Polish, Czech, English, and German and place orders directly in their local currency. This significantly simplifies access to new markets.

Implementation of Pre-Order Processes

By placing pre-orders for the next trading season, Pölking can plan pre-order capacities in advance and optimize supply chains for the long term. Connected retailers also benefit from planning and price security thanks to guaranteed delivery quotas.

Powerful Filter and Search Functions

In the footwear trade, comprehensive search and filter functions are a must-have for a full range of thousands of articles. All properties and attributes are imported directly from the ERP system.

Product Safety in the New Webshop

In addition to the functional enhancements, product safety in the webshop was also significantly improved: safety-relevant information – such as requirements under the GPSR – is now integrated directly into the system.

This ensures that legal requirements are automatically met while sustainably increasing transparency for customers.

Axel Hörnschemeyer

Axel Hörnschemeyer

Head of IT at J.H. Pölking GmbH & Co. KG

"With ZYRES, we have been able to align our B2B portal for the future: The introduction of detailed filter functions and the digitalisation of our pre-order processes were implemented precisely and efficiently. By introducing several languages, we were able to internationalise our platform and optimally prepare it for future expansion.

ZYRES supported us not only with a high level of technical understanding but also with business expertise for our complex product structure and extensive product range. Even after the end of the core project, ZYRES continues to actively support us with changes or adaptations to new circumstances."

Book your free consultation with us now!

Email*
Your message to us