powering Punch Pubs
100 pieces of unique, custom-built functionality
A Brief overview
Monsoon Consulting collaborated with Punch Pubs & Co. to modernise their B2B eCommerce platform, the Punch Buying Club. Initiated in June 2022, this project aimed to transition from Magento 1 to Adobe Commerce (Magento 2), enhancing user experience and operational efficiency with over 100 custom-built features.
This overhaul was designed to cater to the diverse needs of Punch’s clientele and internal operations, setting a new industry standard.
Punch Pubs & Co., a major player in the UK’s food and beverage sector, supports over 1,240 pubs through a range of services from supply chain logistics to specialised training. Following the sunsetting of Magento 1, Punch Pubs engaged Monsoon Consulting to upgrade their B2B platform, Punch Buying Club, to Adobe Commerce (Magento 2), enhancing their service offering and internal efficiencies.
A FEW CHALLENGES
The primary challenge was to transition and enhance the Punch Buying Club platform to improve the usability and performance for both publicans and Punch’s internal teams. This required a solution that could handle complex personalisation and integrate content management seamlessly with eCommerce functionalities.
The project, initiated in June 2022, aimed to not only transition from Magento 1 to Adobe Commerce but also to:
- Enhance site usability with tailored personalisation, design and user experience.
- Consolidate the eCommerce and content management systems into one unified solution.
- Improve the performance, feature set and stability across all portal sites.
OUR SOLUTIONS
Across 21 months, our team of 16 experts developed a comprehensive platform supporting Punch’s vast network with over 100 bespoke functionalities, alongside a separate standalone brand site called Laine, and an internal Order Management System (OMS) for streamlined customer service operations.
Key Features and Implementations
1. Personalised User Experience:
- Single login functionality: Allows managers to switch effortlessly between multiple pub accounts, streamlining management tasks.
- Company Members: Empowers easy control over visibility into account settings and products based on levels. For example, a manager of a single pub might not have the same permissions as a regional manager.
2. Performance and User Experience Enhancements: Leveraging Adobe Commerce’s robust capabilities, we optimised the platform to handle extensive personalisation swiftly. Collaborations with third-party solutions Hyva and Judopay were integral in enhancing front-end themes and simplifying payment processes.
3. Advanced Ordering and Checkout System:
- Favourites System: Facilitates quick reordering by displaying the last eight weeks of purchases.
- Instant Delivery Date Selection: Automates the selection of the quickest delivery options, tailored to order specifics.
- Real-time Promotions: Dynamic promotions update as shopping conditions are met, enhancing the checkout experience.
- Can Buy/Can’t Buy Rules: Easily configurable settings to show products based on the type of account or deal they currently have.
- Injected Products: Provides users with alternative product suggestions for out-of-stock items. This feature is fully configurable by the client and offers a fresh approach to cross-selling and upselling.
- Customised Checkout: Based on account type, enabling streamlined payment with default method or simple PO number entry.
4. Comprehensive Content and Commerce Integration: Using Storyblok, we empowered Punch’s teams to manage content directly within the eCommerce workflow, ensuring a cohesive journey for users.
5. Self-Service and Operational Efficiency:
- Self-Service Portal: Provides comprehensive account management features, significantly reducing the need for customer service interaction.
- Internal OMS: Custom-built for Punch staff to efficiently manage orders and customer queries, significantly speeding up order processing and adjustments.
By integrating multiple 3rd party solutions, the Monsoon team was able to bring a very complex project to life with a high level of functionality and ease of use.
Hyvä
Hyvä, our top choice for Magento frontend themes, ensures quick load times and maximum efficiency. With performance being such a key factor in the busy pub environment, faster journeys were a key priority for the Punch team.
Storyblok
The drag and drop functionality for content management that the Storyblok integration brings means the Punch Pubs team is empowered to make their pages look the way they need, without constant developer input. This enables their team to consistently create and promote new content on a day-to-day basis while maintaining optimal performance.
LET THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
- 200% increase in Page Speed and Performance
- 100 pieces of unique, custom-built functionality
- Checkout simplified from 5 to 3 clicks
- 8% increase in promotions claimed
At Punch, we value the strength of relationships we have with our suppliers. A great example of this is how we recently worked together with Monsoon Consulting on a significant re-platforming project, transitioning our B2B solution from Magento 1 to Adobe Commerce.
Throughout the project their team demonstrated professionalism, expertise, and dedication. There was clear communication and timely updates throughout the process with Monsoon Consulting’s team understanding our bespoke business requirements and working with us to ensure smooth delivery. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them on future developments
Chris Knight
THE RESULTS
The replatformed Punch Buying Club site launched in February 2024. It’s overall a faster and cleaner experience, with page speed twice as fast the promotions and checkout processes streamlined. Fewer clicks and less friction means pub managers spend less time on routine orders.
The Punch staff are also very happy with the new internal OMS system that saves them time when processing phone orders. Head of Business Support, Rachel Oh, commented, “The new order management system is a lot faster to search and quick to pull up relevant customer data, meaning I can process phone orders much more efficiently than before. This has had a waterfall effect in our department, enabling us to spend more time helping our publicans in other ways.”
The newly launched platforms not only streamline operations but also significantly reduce the time staff spend on administrative tasks, freeing them to focus on customer service and other critical activities. And the self-service features have led to quicker transactions and improved user satisfaction.
OTHER SUCCESS STORIES
UNIPHAR GROUP
30% uplift in online order value
- High-capacity fulfilment while maintaining accurate inventory data
- 33,000+ financial documents accessed monthly
- Customised pricing with personalised account management and discounting
TOPLINE GROUP
B2B buying group with over 160 stores across Ireland
- 24/7 Self-service Functionality
- Complex ERP Integrations
- Customised GDPR-compliant hosting
PUNCH PUBS
100 pieces of unique, custom-built functionality
- 200% increase in Page Speed and Performance
- Checkout simplified from 5 to 3 clicks
- 8% increase in promotions claimed
UNIPHAR GROUP
30% uplift in online order value
- High-capacity fulfilment while maintaining accurate inventory data
- 33,000+ financial documents accessed monthly
- Customised pricing with personalised account management and discounting
TOPLINE GROUP
B2B buying group with over 160 stores across Ireland
- 24/7 Self-service Functionality
- Complex ERP Integrations
- Customised GDPR-compliant hosting
PUNCH PUBS
100 pieces of unique, custom-built functionality
- 200% increase in Page Speed and Performance
- Checkout simplified from 5 to 3 clicks
- 8% increase in promotions claimed