Unlocking insights through data
David McLaughlin
Digital Transformation Consultant
CASE STUDY

E-Commerce Platform Consolidation

Rebuilders Automotive Supply: Core Division Digital Transformation

30%
Reduction in Infrastructure Costs
60%
Faster Order Processing
2→1
Systems Consolidated
3
Divisions Unified

People • Process • Technology • Innovation

Successful transformation requires alignment across four critical dimensions

⚠️

The Challenge

When I joined RAS, the Core Division operated through two independent electronic procurement systems serving distinct market channels—one for the yard network and another for core supplier partners. Both platforms had overlapping functionality and required significant manual maintenance.

Infrastructure Redundancy

Separate data centers increased operational costs, maintenance overhead, and security risk exposure.

Legacy Technology Risk

Outdated ColdFusion framework couldn't scale or integrate with modern systems, creating security vulnerabilities.

Manual Processing

Backend order processing remained largely manual, resulting in data discrepancies and slow throughput.

Limited Visibility

Suppliers lacked real-time visibility into orders and transactions, increasing support volume.

Scaling Limitations

Fragmented environment prevented RAS from scaling procurement programs or cross-selling across divisions.

Increased IT Overhead

Multiple systems required duplicate maintenance efforts and specialized knowledge to support.

👤

My Role

As IT Director overseeing RAS's digital transformation, I led the end-to-end modernization of our procurement ecosystem, architecting the consolidation strategy and managing both internal development resources and external vendors.

Key Responsibilities

  • Defined unified e-commerce platform strategy to serve multiple market channels
  • Led decommissioning of legacy ColdFusion environments and data center consolidation
  • Designed and implemented Master Data Model (MDM) to unify order, supplier, and product data
  • Drove process automation connecting purchase orders, supplier transactions, and accounting systems
  • Established technical roadmap to extend the platform across additional RAS business divisions
  • Balanced modernization with operational continuity while ensuring seamless supplier transition
  • Secured executive alignment through business case development and ROI modeling
🎯

Transformation Strategy

The transformation centered on building a scalable, integrated e-commerce platform capable of supporting multiple sales and procurement channels within a single digital ecosystem.

Platform Consolidation and Expansion

  • Unified two overlapping procurement portals into one modern, extensible platform
  • Migrated all operations to a single, secure cloud-based environment
  • Reduced infrastructure complexity and eliminated redundant hosting costs
  • Added missing functionality to support both yard network and supplier market channels

Master Data Model Integration

  • Developed master data-driven application automating synchronization between systems
  • Connected purchase orders, product listings, and accounting systems in real-time
  • Reduced manual data entry and established visibility across business units

Supplier Enablement and Cross-Selling

  • Extended platform to serve all three RAS divisions with unified supplier interface
  • Enabled cross-promotion of procurement programs
  • Increased supplier engagement and transaction value through integrated experience

Process Automation and Visibility

  • Automated backend workflows for order matching, payment reconciliation, and notifications
  • Introduced self-service capabilities for suppliers
  • Improved transparency and reduced inbound support volume
📊

Outcomes & Results

💰

30% Cost Reduction

Achieved significant reduction in infrastructure and hosting costs through data center consolidation and platform unification.

🔒

Enhanced Security

Eliminated legacy ColdFusion risk, dramatically improving security posture and compliance readiness.

⚡

60% Faster Processing

Reduced manual order processing time by 60%, improving internal efficiency and order accuracy.

🤝

Unified Supplier Experience

Created consistent experience across all RAS divisions, driving measurable increases in supplier engagement and satisfaction.

📈

Increased Transaction Volume

Cross-program visibility led to higher adoption of multiple procurement offerings, expanding total supplier transactions.

📊

Improved Data Integrity

Enhanced synchronization enabled better reporting, forecasting, and performance analytics across the organization.

Strategic Impact

This transformation fundamentally changed how RAS manages and grows its procurement channels. By leading the strategic consolidation and automation of the e-commerce ecosystem, I delivered measurable cost savings, improved supplier satisfaction, and enhanced operational visibility. The unified platform has become a cornerstone of RAS's digital ecosystem—establishing a scalable foundation for continued innovation including advanced analytics, pricing automation, and AI-driven supplier insights.

Key Takeaways

Consolidated multi-channel e-commerce into one scalable platform

Reduced hosting, maintenance, and support costs while improving security

Automated backend processes, eliminating manual inefficiencies

Enhanced supplier experience and enabled cross-divisional growth

Created data-driven foundation for future digital initiatives

Digital Transformation That Delivers Results

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