Make it easy to buy online
The Relationship
LBi has been Waterstone's design and technology partner since November 2007. We won the account on the back of our strong relationship with their parent company, HMV Group. Our relationship spans engagements in digital strategy, web design and build, search engine optimisation, technology design and implementation, user research, testing, and quality assurance. The partnership is currently delivering a state-of-the-art platform replacement that will allow Waterstone's to support its growing online community.
The Work
Waterstone's had been operating on the same technical platform for years. Their current online transaction volumes and growth targets go beyond the capability of that platform, resulting in failures during peak transaction periods. They needed a more robust search engine to surface products, as well as better ways to manage and merchandise them.
The challenge was to replace the book specialist's technology platform with a cutting-edge offering, without significant impact to current trading volumes.
LBi guided Waterstone's through the selection process, finally selecting Endeca as the search partner and Hybris as the e-commerce and product information management partner.
The Outcome
LBi has implemented the search engine replacement and Products Information Management (PIM) system, and is currently designing the new platform architecture; LBi will also manage the build, implementation and testing of the new platform, due to go live in August 2010.
Tags: client, digital strategy, featured, QA, SEO, tech, testing, Waterstone's, Web design