As the retail landscape evolves, opportunities abound for retailers willing to adapt. To thrive in the future, retailers must prioritise their customers’ needs. With technology advancing rapidly, consumers increasingly expect the freedom to shop in-store or online via their smartphones or computers, necessitating seamless connectivity across platforms. Retailers strive to innovate, introduce new services, and create exceptional customer experiences. However, many encounter significant challenges due to legacy technology that hinders efficiency.
In response to these challenges, HORNBACH Baumarkt, a leader in DIY retail in Europe, has chosen Blue Yonder’s Inventory and Commits Services, part of its Order Management solutions.
HORNBACH Baumarkt
As the largest subsidiary of HORNBACH Holding, HORNBACH Baumarkt operates DIY megastores with garden centres and online shops across nine European countries. The DIY segment accounts for approximately 94% of the company’s consolidated sales, with nearly half generated in Germany. HORNBACH Baumarkt ranks as the number one DIY retailer in Germany based on sales productivity per square metre. The retailer boasts an average of 50,000 items in its physical stores, while its online offerings reach up to 290,000 items, with online sales, including click and collect, contributing around 13% of total sales.
Recognising the importance of a customer-centric approach and the strategic significance of online sales, HORNBACH Baumarkt is optimising its omni-channel order experience—from initial search to purchase and delivery. By providing customers with reliable information at the outset of their shopping journey, the retailer aims to enhance conversion rates and improve overall shopping experiences.
Why Blue Yonder?
HORNBACH Baumarkt selected Blue Yonder for its unique capability to optimise omni-channel operations, its deep understanding of the order process, and its forward-thinking supply chain strategy. Blue Yonder’s Inventory and Commits Services will empower HORNBACH Baumarkt to:
- Equip customers with knowledge and choices, delivering a consistent and seamless shopping experience that boosts satisfaction.
- Ensure accurate, real-time inventory visibility across all channels.
- Optimise order fulfilment by considering costs, capacity, timing, and other critical parameters.
- Foster rapid innovation in customer-facing services while modernising the technology infrastructure.
“As part of our Interconnected Retail strategy, our primary focus is on customer satisfaction, and we regularly evaluate our processes to enhance the overall customer experience,” stated Nils Hornbach, Management Board Member at HORNBACH Baumarkt AG. “Our internal assessment revealed the necessity for further improvements in order management across various channels to ensure a seamless omni-channel purchasing journey. After a thorough vendor assessment, we chose Blue Yonder for their specialised expertise and market-leading order decision capabilities. Their architecture ensures rapid implementation, scalability, and performance, making them our preferred partner for digital transformation. This collaboration will enhance inventory availability and fulfilment, delivering significant value to our customers. We look forward to collaborating with the Blue Yonder team
Blue Yonder’s adaptable microservices-based solutions, enhanced by machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), will support HORNBACH Baumarkt in refining the entire omni-channel customer journey, from engaging experiences to efficient order fulfilment. This partnership will accelerate both in-store and digital operations, providing a competitive edge through a model that facilitates rapid implementation.
“HORNBACH Baumarkt is spearheading a transformative change focused on customer centricity, and we are proud to welcome them as our client,” said Gael Ramaen, Vice President, EMEA Retail, Blue Yonder. Our Order Management solutions are built to scale and operate effectively under the most demanding market conditions. They can revolutionise order management through a composable approach, ensuring rapid time-to-market. We look forward to supporting HORNBACH Baumarkt in their ongoing digital transformation journey.”
