Business Summary
BYK-Chemie GmbH is an international manufacturer of specialty additives and measuring instruments headquartered in Wesel.
The previous internal portal had grown over time and was increasingly reaching its limits.
Together with dotSource, BYK strategically repositioned its product portal.
The result is a modern and scalable platform for structured internal product knowledge.
Client | BYK-Chemie GmbH |
Industry | |
Technology | Custom Software, Storyblok, Microsoft Azure |
Focus | Content Management, System Integration, API Management |
How BYK Benefits from Its New MACH-Based Product Platform
with a low-maintenance MACH architecture
thanks to a modern search function and an intuitive web interface
based on the integration of Storyblok's content management system (CMS)
thanks to an efficient search function and direct access to documents
Project Overview
About BYK
BYK-Chemie GmbH has been developing and manufacturing speciality additives and measuring instruments since 1873, improving the properties of products across numerous industries. Additives are substances that make materials, for example, more stable, more durable or easier to process.
As part of the ALTANA Group, the company has 2,500 employees at sites in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, China. the USA, India, Japan and Brazil. Through close collaboration with its customers, BYK drives innovation and delivers solutions for demanding use cases.
Initial Situation
For conversations with customers, employees had previously used an internal portal to access additives, successor products and relevant documents from the product information management (PIM) system via the search portal integrated into Contentserv. However, the portal was used not only by sales, but also by research and development, product management, marketing and customer service, making it the go-to source for product information and documents throughout the company. Although the solution served its purpose well for a long time, it increasingly reached its functional and technological limits. As support and licences were due to expire, a prompt replacement became necessary.
Challenges
The goal was a future-proof platform with intuitive usability, high-performance search and optimal PIM integration. As part of the tender process, BYK defined specific requirements for the new solution.
It was to be implemented on the basis of modern MACH principles – with Microservices, an API-first approach, Cloud-native infrastructure and Headless technology. In addition, structured product presentation along with the associated documents was required. The search function needed to be powerful, enabling employees to access relevant product information quickly.
Systematically Embedding AI Across the Company
Clearly Structured Multi-Stream Approach
Thanks to precise requirements from the outset, dotSource was able to begin implementation straight away and managed the project using a multi-stream approach. Front end, back end, interface development and infrastructure were developed in parallel and in close coordination.
Agile Collaboration
The various expert teams worked in an agile way using Scrum methodology. This meant that dotSource was able to accommodate new requirements at any time and integrate them directly into the ongoing implementation processe. Moreover, the project allowed BYK to gain initial experience with modern web architectures.
Headless CMS Implementation
dotSource provided support in implementing the CMS. Storyblok, selected by BYK as its headless CMS, lays a modern foundation that enables the company's departments to flexibly manage editorial content.
MACH Principles
The practical implementation of such a product portal – with a decoupled front end, back end and a flexible API layer – also serves as a prototype for further development. On this basis, additional features such as ordering processes, customer relationship management (CRM) integrations and knowledge bases can be easily integrated and modified in the future.
High-Performance Search
The product search has been completely redesigned. Instead of searching directly in the PIM system, product data is transferred to a separate Azure search index. Documents are provided independently via cloud storage. This takes the pressure of the PIM system and ensures that the portal remains responsive and stable – even when handling large volumes of data.
Future-Proof Foundation
Furthermore, the portal serves as a blueprint for further digitalisation initiatives. Additional features such as CRM integrations or ordering processes can be incorporated in the future. The established MACH architecture and centralised API management make it possible to add new systems in a structured way and enhance existing components.
Structured Knowledge: Ready for the Future
With the new product portal, BYK has created a modern and globally accessible platform that provides employees with targeted support in their day-to-day work. Via a centralised search function, users can systematically explore and compare additives, product groups and product families – together with all their variants.
Relevant documents such as data sheets, presentations and specifications are available directly and – if required – can be downloaded as a bundle. BYK's departments manage content independently, with 600 to 700 active users per month underlining the high level of acceptance.
The portal also forms the basis for further digital expansion and ongoing optimisation.
Take the Next Step and Benefit from a Cutting-Edge Product Portal
- Clearly structured knowledge management for fast access to relevant information
- Transparency regarding product information and documents across your business
- Scalable structures that grow with your requirements
- MACH-based architecture for maximum flexibility and future viability
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