Implementing a global multi-language web application for Delphi Autoparts built on cloud-based PaaS infrastructure.
The Business challenge
With a presence in more than 150 countries, and a global network of ~2750 service centres, Delphi Autoparts provides Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specification end-to-end automotive solutions from components to sophisticated software. However, the existing web platform was increasingly unfit for the forward-thinking business, presenting numerous challenges:
- The existing legacy web application was dated, difficult to manage and update and was monolithic in its architecture. As a result, Delphi was losing market visibility and share to its competitors and affecting sales through Delphi’s huge global network of distributors and installers.
- Lead-generation performance was poor and lacked integration with the Salesforce CRM used by the territory-based sales teams across the globe.
- The legacy platform was hindering digital marketing efforts and lacked robust data-capture and analysis capabilities.
- Technical training for installers was sporadic and uncoordinated and technical information for customers was hard to find or missing.
Objectives
Delphi Autoparts (part of BorgWarner) needed a partner to design, develop and implement a completely new global, multi-language website. The site would showcase Delphi’s huge range of automotive parts and services, provide a comprehensive technical resource library and installer training portal, as well as providing a complete digital directory of their global distributor and installer networks.
The large-scale project should also migrate, improve and translate many thousands of pages of content, guides, videos and product image assets, whilst maintaining and improving Delphi’s hard won search-engine rankings and global traffic profile.
Insights
Through discovery calls with Delphi’s global sales teams, Rika identified a key pain point around a lack of brand consistency and quality of content across the various global territories. This necessitated the design and development of well-defined templates and operational methodologies to be baked into the design and implementation of the platform. This would ensure the Delphi brand presentation was always consistent and high-quality, across the entire organisation.
Approach
Rika led the end-to-end design, development and deployment of a fully-customised web application built on Progress Software’s Sitefinity Cloud Enterprise Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) infrastructure and integrated Digital Experience Platform. This included:
Agile Methodology for Project Execution
Included development of Epics and User Stories to capture all functional, technical and operational requirements across the myriad stakeholders.
Platform selection, procurement and configuration
Full analysis and selection of the strategic technology platform for Delphi/BorgWarner including comparison of functionality, DevOps and development and Total Cost of Ownership across the potential vendors. The selected cloud infrastructure dramatically reduced internal IT dependencies and associated costs.
Definition of Development and QA Processes
Configuration of the DevOps pipelines, testing and quality assurance processes to allow for continuous integration, testing and deployment of the emergent solution.
Content Production, Migration and Translation
Multi-locale management and execution of all content production and migration, including translations for eight languages, whilst specific focus on maintaining organic search indexing quality.
3rd Party Systems Integration
Implementation of integration with Salesforce for all lead-capture and nurture requirements, and integration with 3rd-party Parts inventory systems across locales.
Re-imagined UX
Implementation of UX and UI component libraries and theming, providing prospects, customers and installers with a localised, information-rich, easy-to-use web-based resource.
Training and onboarding
Supporting Delphi HQ and regional teams globally to embed best practices for platform administration and content delivery.
Deliverables
- Progress Software Sitefinity Cloud infrastructure
- UX wireframes, UI component libraries
- DevOps CI/CD Pipelines and Audit Trail
- Web Application development and 3rd-party integrations
- Fully migrated and translated content and image/video assets
- User Stories and Test Plans
- Full handover of infrastructure, code and assets
- User onboarding and training across locales