Sector(s)
Team Members
Metalcenter operates as a B2B distributor which specializes in wholesale metal supply by connecting small market participants to large market participants. They envisioned an operation which would surpass the basic principles of a standard web shop because they sought to develop a marketplace that addresses the specific requirements of the metal sector.
About the project
Cheppers accepted the responsibility of designing the User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) for the project. We worked closely with the Metalcenter team - because they possessed extensive industry knowledge -through interview sessions and continuous consultation to develop the platform. We implemented an ongoing process of design adjustment through continuous testing and feedback integration.
The platform features multiple essential elements which include:
- Product Catalog: A well-structured and searchable catalog that enables users to locate the metal materials they require easily.
- Company Directory: Users can search a comprehensive directory of metal industry companies to discover and connect with potential suppliers or business partners.
- Custom Quote Request: Users benefit from the ability to request quotes from multiple suppliers simultaneously through their custom-filled cart which brings competitive advantage to their procurement process.
- Modern, Responsive UI: The platform features a mobile-friendly design and intuitive B2B interface which serves the needs of the metal sector users.
We focused on creating an interface that matched the particular workflow patterns of the industry while ensuring usability and clarity. Our design approach created an efficient experience which functions well for standard customers and suppliers while managing complex elements with straightforward functionality.
Results and Impact
The new Metalcenter platform has become a forward-thinking digital solution for a traditionally offline industry. It made procurement easier while simplifying supplier discovery and introduced transparency and competitiveness to the metal trade.
The customized quote request tool let buyers acquire several offers at once thus improving their sourcing efficiency and shortening their purchasing schedules. The searchable company directory enabled new business connections which brought forth opportunities that were previously inaccessible.
The platform’s modern navigation system together with its responsive interface has led to better user engagement and adoption. Metalcenter established a digital sales channel which operates alongside traditional methods thus making the company a leader in B2B metal trading innovation.
The project demonstrates how B2B businesses in specific sectors can implement digital transformation while maintaining their distinctive operational logic. The partnership between Cheppers and Metalcenter led to the conversion of industrial expertise into a contemporary competitive marketplace platform.
Why Drupal was chosen
The goal was to establish an online platform which would act as a centralized marketplace where suppliers could connect with buyers more effectively. A solution was envisioned which would enable users to browse product catalogs and search for companies and implement a unique quote request system that lets users present their shopping carts to multiple suppliers.
The challenge involved developing this concept into a user-friendly, industry-aware and scalable digital product that could replicate the complex operations of the metal trading ecosystem since most of these operations took place offline or through personal networks.
Technical Specifications
Drupal version:
Key modules/theme/distribution used:
To build a scalable and user-friendly B2B marketplace specifically for the metal industry, we leveraged a suite of key contributed modules. The Commerce module and its extensions (such as Commerce Stock, Product Tax, and Feeds) allowed us to create a robust product catalog with stock management and tax handling, while Better Exposed Filters and Facets (along with Pretty Paths) enabled intuitive, dynamic filtering of large datasets across the product and company directories. The Elasticsearch Connector enhanced search performance across catalog and directory listings. Redis was used to boost caching and performance for authenticated and anonymous users. Webform supported custom quote request flows, and modules like Flag and Mailchimp helped with user interaction and engagement. Tamper, Feeds, and Commerce Feeds provided flexible import pipelines for onboarding product data, and Google Tag was integrated for tracking user behavior to inform iterative design improvements.
