To provide more value to their customers, BRZ Deutschland decided to use the internet more actively: They wanted to improve their internal and external communications, as well as, optimize and centralize their processes for purchasing their services. For these reasons BRZ Deutschland searched for a full function, corporate wide, customizable portal, software solution.

The following requirements were defined:

• Improve internal ordering processes for BRZ customers and for BRZ branches to enable the purchase of BRZ products and services online.
• Implement a content management system to be used when re-launching the BRZ website www.brz.de which would publish the content in all media fast and using current employees of the Company. This software must be installed in-house and within the BRZ data center using their existing server architecture.
• Interfaces for data import and export with seamless integration of existing BRZ solution should be included. Additionally, these interfaces must be customizable by employees of BRZ.
• Finally the system is to be delivered by a single software vendor with a proven, effective, efficient, commercially stable, expandable, and innovative technology with a balanced price / performance ratio.

"We evaluated many software vendors and soon decided to choose SITEFORUM. In addition to the substantial functionalities of the integrated SITEFORUM portal applications, we were impressed with the integrated, customization capabilities applicable to our own business processes. We improved our proposal management process very fast." says Stefan Sponsel, Senior Project Manager, BRZ Deutschland.

Successful re-launch of www.brz.de using SITEFORUM Enterprise Suite


With the integrated content management system, the re-launch of the BRZ website has been implemented in a very short time. The built in separation of layout and text was very helpful for revising all of our content. Additionally, multiple, interactive information capabilities have been added. For example: In the menu "Support" registered customers directly initialize a repair order and in the menu "Trainings" they view all the offered seminars and are able to directly purchase them online. In the menu "News" important, branch information may be seen in a clearly shown, news story rotation. At the same time the newest information is displayed on the front page to provide up-to-date news and dynamically changing content displays.



Attaching importance to the story is independent of the media formation of the website. Layout, images, and documents may be fully managed and administered using the SITEFORUM Design Manager.

SITEFORUM Online Shop optimizes the purchase, order, and proposal management

BRZ uses the SITEFORUM Online Shop to sell products which are easily and completely described within the website provided information. These include hardware (such as PCs, Notebooks, Server, Monitors), software (such as operating systems, security software, other applications), integrated solutions (such as networks, desktop PCs), consumable supplies, forms and reference books.

The metadata parameterization has been used to categorize and describe nearly 1000 products. All metadata can be assigned to a product ensuring a fast description and a flexible presentation of all the pertinent product information.



Increased efficiency in proposal management

BRZ Deutschland sales and field service departments use SITEFORUM's Online Shop to create proposals. Here is a summary of the process:

1. Sales personnel sign in and access different functionalities of the online shop (e. g. SITEFORUM Proposal Manager), which can not be seen by end users.
2. All the products can be browsed. Products which fit the proposal desired can be selected and added in the desired amount to the shopping cart.
3. Confirming these selections creates a new proposal including all the items of the shopping cart.
4. The sales personnel can then define a multiplicity of details for this particular proposal:
   • Items can be provided with a default discount (in %).
   • A footer and header can be added.
   • Finally the proposal recipient can be selected out of the customer data base which contains all address data.
5. After saving the proposal, it gets a unique quotation number. The proposal will then be converted to a PDF-file so it can be sent via e-mail or printed and sent by mail. The proposal may also be duplicated to other customers without repeating the whole process over again.
6. In the menu "My Proposals" of the online shop, the customer finds his personalized proposals. All details are displayed so the proposal can be added to the shopping cart whereby the customer can easily complete their purchase.
7. The sales department is continually updated on the status of all the proposals. Items in the proposal can be changed to allow higher discount or different quantities.

The internal processes of BRZ's proposal management are much more efficient through the implementation and use of the SITEFORUM solution:

• Proposals can be created together with the customer.
• Proposals are then customized with respect to the products, amounts, and discounts.
• Customers have instant access to the proposals with no waiting time.
• Customers can purchase proposals at any time and are not limited to the open hours of BRZ.
• BRZ's office resources get released for other activities since the field service members create and administer their proposals themselves.
• Sales personnel are well informed about the status of all proposals at any time.

Enhanced communication to the suppliers

Suppliers have been integrated with their products into the online shop.

As soon as an order has been placed all related suppliers get all their respective information via e-mail. The ordered products are then delivered immediately and directly to the customer. Precious time is saved.

Because of different preferences set within the SITEFORUM online shop additional improvements are achievable, (e. g. different shipping types for different products or catalogues). Payment methods can be set with a maximum limit.

With the available, additional personalization capabilities, it is possible to assign a discount for employees and other special customers.

Enhanced order process

Another challenge was to add a unique number automatically to any customer. The customer number represents a company with many different buyers.

The new SITEFORUM self-enrolment profile resolves this challenge. Customers log on themselves and administer their own user profiles independently.

SITEFORUM is based on published, open standards and offers many interfaces

Beside Java™ SITEFORUM utilizes other state-of-the-art internet technologies such as Tomcat and Apache-Web Servers. In addition, with the SITEFORUM application server, these components enable a high-performance, commercially stable business portal.

SITEFORUM is available for the most operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, SuSE Linux, and Redhat Linux directly, and on SUN Solaris or Apple Mac OS upon request.

The 'openness' of the SITEFORUM solution allows for interfaces to import and export data. For example, every proposal, purchase order, and user data can be exported daily and then made available for use in central accounting systems.

Maximum flexibility, adaptability and on-line updates

Browser based "SITEFORUM Studio", gives BRZ access to the business logic of individual applications and enables them to adjust and extend them. It is also possible to create entirely new applications and add them to their portal network.

With SITEFORUM's Codelager ® Technologies it is possible to get and administer updates at any time. SITEFORUM provides all customers with updates and new versions on a continuous basis through their support programs. Customers are then able to install them using their own schedule. This does not modify adapted applications or modules.

If you have any questions or require further information:

If you have similar requirements and need more information or an individual conversation, we are available to discuss your particular needs and, if you wish, arrange a contact with one of our reference customers.