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Heraeus

A digital experience platform for the Heraeus Group

Digital Experience Platform für Heraeus

A new scalable infrastructure and a consistent customer experience, spanning corporate communications, product marketing, and e-commerce: interactive tools supports the Heraeus Group in redesigning its digital ecosystem and developing a Digital Experience Platform (DXP).

Technologies:

Magnolia DXP, frontend development, and systems integration, including Microsoft Dynamics and Pimcore

Our services

Technical evaluation
Concept development
Strategy
Technical consulting
UX/UI design
Design pattern library
Brand experience
Frontend & application development
Internationalization

About Heraeus

The Heraeus Group is a globally leading technology and family-owned company headquartered in Hanau, Germany. As a broadly diversified portfolio company, the Heraeus Group combines a wide range of businesses in the business areas of Metals & Recycling, Healthcare, Semiconductors & Electronics, and Industrial Applications. With its unique combination of materials expertise and technology know-how, Heraeus currently employs 17,200 employees in 20 operating companies at 100 locations worldwide. Heraeus ranks among the top 10 family-owned companies in Germany and can look back on an almost 400-year corporate history.

Das Wort „Heraeus“ auf einer elektronischen Leiterplatte in einer Produktionsumgebung.

The challenge: customer centricity and a new digital infrastructure

The digital presence of Heraeus has to deliver a great deal: representing the portfolio company in its full diversity while at the same time giving the individual business units the opportunity to be optimally present in their respective markets and act independently.

The digital platform is meant to create a seamless customer experience – from corporate content through product marketing to e-commerce applications. In addition, the digital infrastructure should be made more scalable and enable seamless integration of third-party systems such as ERP, PIM or CRM.

Ein Smartphone, auf dem eine Webseite zu sehen ist, die sich mit einer gedruckten Seite überlagert, auf der eine Hightech-Industriemaschine und ein Text über die weltweite Bereitstellung von Technologie abgebildet sind.

The solution: a modular, digital ecosystem

Based on the requirements of head office, the operating companies, and the needs of the various target groups, a customer-centred digital strategy was developed towards introducing a digital experience platform (DXP), rounded off by a CMS/technology evaluation.
With the implementation of the Magnolia DXP, a central technology is being introduced that orchestrates the group's marketing content, product information and digital services and applications. At the same time, it gives each operating company the flexibility it needs to act individually within its respective business environment and market. Lead generation is a key focus here, as is the digitalisation and automation of business and e-commerce processes along a consistent, overarching brand communication.

The Heraeus umbrella brand is strengthening its presence with the launch of a corporate website that focuses on content such as company tradition, innovation, expansion of business areas, start-ups and employer branding. At the same time, the websites of the operating companies, such as Heraeus Medical, provide information on specific products and services along with the option to quickly get in touch with direct contacts in sales and service. Sales and service processes across all 20 operating companies, such as customer portals or shop systems, are being integrated into the DXP step by step, seamlessly.

Technically innovative through a modular system architecture

The transition from a monolithic to a modular system architecture enables an agile and future-proof digital environment that meets the requirements of the Heraeus Group and its individual business units.  

Two key components are at the heart of the technical setup: the microservice architecture, which decouples and interlinks complex systems while still allowing rapid adaptation to the market needs of individual business units. In addition, the headless CMS, based on API technologies such as REST and GraphQL, ensures seamless omnichannel communication and, by decoupling frontend and backend, delivers flexibility and future-proofing. Besides centralising content creation, the headless architecture allows easy integration of third-party tools such as SEO, tracking, analytics and personalisation in a “best of breed” approach.

Flexible content management with the Magnolia DXP

The centerpiece of the digital system landscape is the Magnolia DXP, which is based on a headless/microservices architecture. The Magnolia DXP enables content to be managed centrally in the cloud and published across multiple channels, while also supporting the management of all document types in different language versions.

With the Magnolia DXP solution, Digital Experience Platforms can be built that consistently address the needs of customers. As a Magnolia Gold Partner, interactive tools delivers extensive projects based on Magnolia.

Thanks to the new Heraeus web solution, we are now better able to offer our customers tailor-made solutions in real time. This has not only made our company more competitive, but has also strengthened our relationship with our customers.
Sina Schittenhelm, Head of Digital Corporate Communication bei der Heraeus Business Solutions GmbH

Design system and efficient development: consistent structure, individual design

The technical setup of the digital experience platform is rounded off by a design system that centralises designs, code and guidelines, providing ready-to-use UI elements for all operating companies of the Heraeus Group.

By implementing an efficient theming solution, individual business units get flexibility to access various design elements and shape their online presence modularly, tailored to target audience. This enables consistent brand presentation across all companies and optimises user experience across various websites and channels. Recurring modules and unified design guidelines help boost efficiency in creating and maintaining content, ensuring overall coherence of Heraeus Group's digital presence.

The corporate website of Heraeus stands out through layout, colours and exclusive modules, emphasising uniqueness of the master brand. Pages of the operating companies share a common structure and modules, but are adapted to respective corporate identity through individual colour schemes. This keeps design of the business units' digital presence consistent yet flexible.

Global presence

The new digital experience platform is also accessible in various languages via the Magnolia content management system and is available in all relevant markets, including China. Thanks to implemented interfaces, all texts can be effortlessly maintained in different languages and delivered on the various country sites. 

The multilingual functionality lets Heraeus Group strengthen its global presence and ensure information and content are available in respective local language wherever needed. This is key step to improving international reach and best supporting needs of global customers.

Your contact person

  • Meike Bölts

    Consultingsynaigy

    Show phone numberShow email address

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