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Axxes accelerates complex sales process at Philips Lighting thanks to online configurator
Manufacturer Philips Lighting called on IT supplier Axxes to develop an online configurator for its Maxos continuous-row lighting system. The Maxos Calculation Tool can now be used to quickly configure complete light lines, including a quotation.
In large spaces, such as supermarkets or warehouses, linear systems are generally used for lighting. This is a complex set of interconnected luminaires with various components. The precise configuration of these is usually a time-consuming activity for both lighting designers and end-customers. Manufacturer Philips Lighting therefore called in the help of IT supplier Axxes to develop an online configurator for its Maxos continuous-row lighting system. The Maxos Calculation Tool can now be used to quickly configure complete light lines, including a quotation.
The more than 100 certified Axxes consultants are specially trained to develop the most suitable product in consultation with the client. Thanks to their technical expertise and mutual trust, the consultants developed a configurator that offers various advantages to the customer.
"The Maxos continuous-row lighting system has to be put together carefully. It requires several, even small, parts. In the past, we used Excel files to create the light lines, which meant we had to dig around, search for article numbers and do a lot of cutting and pasting. Thanks to the new calculation tool we can compile the right parts list in just a few clicks," says Charlotte Roels, lighting designer at Philips Lighting.
Moreover, the system virtually eliminates the risk of errors, no smaller parts such as suspension brackets are forgotten. "Even the smallest accessories are in the list. Based on photos you click in the online tool, you can quickly and easily choose the right colour without having to enter specific product codes. That makes it faster, simpler and much more pleasant to work with," says Roels.
CUSTOMERS TEND TO CHOOSE MAXOS
The Maxos Calculation Tool also offers many advantages for the end customer. "End customers can order their parts themselves much more easily, see the correct price and request a quotation immediately. Without the need for an intermediary," says Ruben Dieudonné, product marketing manager at Philips Lighting. "Because of the user-friendly interface, you need little or no knowledge of the system to produce correct product lists. It is impossible not to order certain components."
An additional advantage is that customers are therefore more likely to choose the Maxos continuous-row lighting system. Until now, many installers still opted for Philips Lighting's older TTX400 continuous-row lighting system, often because they were familiar with that system or did not yet know about the more recent Maxos. Thanks to the handy configurator they are now more inclined to make the switch.
SCALABLE AZURE ENVIRONMENT OFFERS NUMEROUS ADVANTAGES
Axxes has been a Microsoft Gold Partner for some time now and the IT supplier also chose to use Microsoft technology in this project. Hannes Lowette, senior .NET software engineer: "We used different parts of the .NET framework and built the online tool with Microsoft Azure. This allows us to be very flexible with capacity and costs. Moreover, Azure allows us to quickly add or modify new products. The Maxos Calculation Tool is also accessible to anyone via the Internet from any device."
These are all things that were very important to Philips Lighting when developing the configurator. Lowette: "At Axxes we find it very important that we fully understand the problems and business needs of our customers, so that we can develop a product that matches them as closely as possible. Good communication between all parties is essential, so that there are no surprises during the project."
JOURNEY OF JUST SIX MONTHS
In its search for a suitable partner, Philips Lighting first looked for several possible IT partners online, after which it was left with a small selection of four candidates. "After the first exploratory meeting it was clear to us that Axxes was the right choice for our project. Axxes immediately had some experts on board who immediately understood what we were looking for," says Dieudonné.
After a functional analysis the Axxes experts first set a budget. The approval was followed by a detailed functional and technical analysis, and a development and test phase. The final implementation was closely monitored by Axxes. Everything went according to plan and the product was up and running after six months.
Axxes worked according to the Scrum methodology so that the client could quickly provide feedback on new features. "When a part of the configurator was finished, the developers always gave an interim demonstration. They then used our feedback to refine the product. That is how they delivered the perfect product," concludes Dieudonné.
"AFTER THE FIRST EXPLORATORY MEETING IT WAS CLEAT TO US THAT AXXES WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR OUR PROJECT."
CUSTOMER ADVANTAGES
- Greater efficiency and time saving when configuring the Maxos continuous-row lighting system
- No specific IT knowledge required thanks to user-friendly interface
- Customers tend to choose continuous-row lighting system for the handy configurator
- Easily expandable and cost-efficient system thanks to flexible Microsoft Azure environment
- Scrum methodology ensures the perfect end product
