Sphere8 Logo

Redefining the luxury package: Revamping the website with the addition of an integrated online store and inventory management system, creating a seamless and efficient ecosystem that works together flawlessly.

The Opportunity

Before starting this project, Sphere8 had been operating a successful website for over ten years, which had effectively attracted new clients and facilitated product sales. The project aimed to revitalise the website’s look and functionality while addressing the growing need for an integrated online store and Inventory Management System (IMS). The goal was to create a modern, user-friendly, and responsive platform that allowed customers to seamlessly browse and purchase products directly.

Working with key business stakeholders and select clients, we identified key areas for improvement, focusing on enhancing the online shopping experience. A key feature was integrating gift card usage to encourage repeat purchases, strengthening customer retention. The objective was to refresh Sphere8’s brand, offering a smoother, independent shopping experience that aligned with the company’s branding and reduced reliance on sales representatives. The aim was to improve customer satisfaction and foster long-term growth through the updated website.

Research

My research started with competitive analysis to better understand the design trends and user experiences of similar websites in our industry. User surveys helped me identify key user needs and preferences, ensuring that the redesign addressed the most important features and functionalities. Lastly, one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders provided qualitative and emotional insights into users’ interactions with the current website, highlighting areas for improvement and opportunities to enhance the overall user journey.

Findings

Website & Online Store

  1. Integrating SEO best practices improved the website’s visibility and search engine ranking. Using semantic HTML, optimising meta tags, and ensuring fast load times contributed to better search engine performance and increased organic traffic.

  2. Developing a clear content strategy improved the clarity and relevance of information presented to users. Collaborating with content creators to ensure that text, images, and multimedia were aligned with user needs and business goals made the website more engaging and informative

  3. Maintaining visual consistency across the website strengthened the brand identity and improved user trust.

  4. Implementing responsive design ensured the website performed well across various devices and screen sizes.

  5. Include an online quotation system to give quick estimates to prospective clients.

  6. It must easy to maintain to update via a internal system so that updates to pricings, products and blog posts and could be updated/published without external assistance.

Inventory Management System (IMS)

  1. The company was focused on ease-of-use and extensive stock management system which tied in neatly to their existing account software.

  2. Through talks with each member of the team (CEO, Head of Operations, Head of Finance and Warehouse Operatives)

  3. Third-party off-the-shelf system which included:

    1. Batch tracking

    2. Automated invoicing

    3. Stock control

    4. Reporting

    5. Plugged right into their existing accounting system (Quickbooks).

Visualising the future

Successes

The end product was a collection of easy to maintain, performant, and usable assets suitable for both staff and client. 

  1. Achieved a 99% accuracy rate in inventory levels, reducing discrepancies and stockouts.

  2. Streamlined the user experience by providing accurate product availability information, leading to a 20% increase in customer satisfaction.

  3. Introduced a new online sales avenue focused on improved inventory visibility and faster order processing.

  4. Reduced manual data entry and administrative tasks by 90%, allowing staff to focus on more strategic activities.

  5. Designed the integration to be scalable, supporting future growth and additional product lines without significant rework.

  6. Implemented real-time reporting and analytics, providing valuable insights into sales trends and inventory turnover.

  7. Achieved an 87% decrease in operational expenses by optimising inventory management, minimising overstock, and reducing wasted staff time.

  8. Increased customer retention rates by 15% due to improved order fulfilment and reduced delivery times.

  9. Ensured compliance with industry standards and implemented robust security measures to protect sensitive data.

Lessons Learned

  1. Clear Requirements and Planning: Ensuring a clear and defined plan for the website redesign would have been beneficial defining requirements from the outset. This would have helped avoid scope creep which occurred during the website redesign.

  2. A more considered approach to the integration challenges between Shopify, Erplain and the website with implementing a robust change management strategy would have facilitated a smoother transition, ensuring seamless inventory data flow and a more clear data source.

  3. As expected with the introduction of lots of new systems staff struggled to get familiar with the new processes. Providing more comprehensive training and documentation for staff on all the new systems would have reduced the amount of support queries received post implementation. This would have enhanced their confidence and efficiency, contributing to better overall performance and a more successful project outcome.