Press Release
Jena/Düsseldorf – The long-standing partnership between Messe Düsseldorf and dotSource once again yielded great success: With the development of a powerful service partner portal, the trade fair company's B2B marketplace was enhanced considerably. Both Messe Düsseldorf and its service partners now benefit from more efficient processes, reduced support costs and an intuitive user experience.
For over 20 years, Messe Düsseldorf has set standards in digital trade fair organisation with its online order system (OOS) for exhibitors, stand builders and service providers such as caterers, recruitment and logistics companies. The long-standing collaboration with dotSource led to the development of a powerful, multi-client B2B platform based on SAP Commerce in 2017. The OOS offers a dedicated marketplace for each event, featuring a unique product range and integrated service partners. This structure ensures maximum flexibility and tailor-made processing for every trade fair.
Service partners are essential for Messe Düsseldorf, supplying exhibitors with products and services not directly offered by the trade fair company. To meet the specific requirements of service partners even better and effectively manage the wide range of features, Messe Düsseldorf was looking for an easy-to-use platform. Based on an extensive survey of service partners regarding their needs and challenges, dotSource created a tailor-made, intuitive solution: a service partner portal.
Modern Architecture for Maximum Flexibility
dotSource developed a decoupled front end for Messe Düsseldorf that seamlessly communicates with the SAP back end of the B2B marketplace via interfaces. The service partner portal is based on Java and Next.js, offering a modern, flexible architecture. The platform supports server-side rendering, which significantly reduces load times. Service partners can make changes directly in the portal, which are automatically transferred to the marketplace. Furthermore, the harmonised interface landscape lays the foundation for future integrations.
Smart Structures for Quick Services
The new service partner portal optimises service partners' day-to-day work with numerous features: Thanks to extended filter options, service partners can segment their offers specifically according to events, halls or customers. An intuitive order overview simplifies viewing, editing and approving purchase order items. Manually entered orders, for example those received over the phone, as well as new products can easily be added and automatically synchronised with the SAP back end, ensuring seamless, transparent communication between all parties involved.
The service partner portal considerably reduces workload: Service partners can now upload their offers and product data more quickly, conveniently and in a well-structured manner. It also facilitates the management of availabilities, prices and order status. Additionally, quantity and order adjustments can be made directly via the platform, optimising exhibitors' order stocks and ensuring more efficient restocking processes. Moreover, service partners benefit from streamlined order processing – both during ongoing trade fair operations and for follow-up events. Following the implementation of the portal, Messe Düsseldorf trained its partners in using the new platform, eliminating the need for time-consuming training on the SAP back end. The result: simplified processes, lower costs and increased satisfaction among service partners.
»The service partner portal makes our back-office processes much more efficient. It focuses on the essential features, ensuring perfect alignment with the needs of users,« Sascha Weyers, Group Leader OOS at Messe Düsseldorf, comments on the project.
The successful collaboration will be continued: In the upcoming third phase of the service partner portal project, numerous new features and optimisations will be introduced, including enhanced dashboards for Messe Düsseldorf's service partners and administrators. In addition, there are plans to move the entire B2B marketplace to SAP Commerce Cloud.
About Messe Düsseldorf
Founded in 1947, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH is one of the world's leading trade fair companies with more than 800 employees and a modern exhibition centre of around 300,000 m². It organises around 70 trade fairs every year, including several leading international events such as MEDICA and ProWein. A global network of partners fosters the company's international growth. In 2023, Messe Düsseldorf generated sales of over 300 million euros – proof of its key role in the global trade fair industry.
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