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The innovative project we’re exploring today aims to redefine the way we experience plant-based foods through the introduction of a groundbreaking digital configurator. This state-of-the-art application is designed to make product customization a breeze, enabling users to tailor their plant-based products to their precise preferences. In a matter of minutes, customers can configure their ideal plant-based product, selecting their preferred food category, protein source, and other key properties. The process is seamless, culminating in the option to order a sample of the customized product. By guiding users through this immersive journey, they not only get a glimpse of the extensive customization possibilities but also discover existing products recommended based on their specific choices.
Our client, an integral part of a renowned conglomerate, benefits from decades of experience in the food processing industry. This mid-sized firm, focusing on B2B clients, primarily concentrated on product development, marketing, and sales. With a mission to lead the plant-based food alternatives revolution, the company provides businesses with the essential raw materials and technical expertise required to launch innovative products into the market.
Emerging as a spin-off from a group of family-owned companies with a substantial revenue base, the client sought to position itself as an industry innovator. To achieve this vision, they recognized the need to explore the potential of digital technologies in enhancing their operations.
Upon close collaboration with the client and extensive interviews, it became evident that there were two critical challenges faced by the organization:
Time-to-Market: Historically, customers would request novel products, which would then be custom-tailored. This process often took an average of 12 months, with a range spanning from 9 to 18 months. Implementing Software Product Engineering aimed to streamline this process significantly, reducing the time-to-market.
Project Profitability: The client’s revenue structure displayed a classic 90/10 shape, with a few major accounts and a long tail of smaller customers. In-depth analysis revealed that a significant share of development projects would end in financial losses, as some products failed to materialize or didn’t meet expectations.
Our action plan was to create a digital configurator allowing plant-based food manufacturers to customize or create products effortlessly using various ingredients. The configurator was customized to meet the client’s needs and business model.
Our partners played a crucial role in ideation and concept development, focusing on the following key objectives:
Reduction of Time-to-Market: Through a digital product configurator created with custom software product engineering, we aimed to reduce time-to-market by at least 80%.
Sixfold Increase in Project Margins: We aimed to increase project margins from smaller and mid-sized customers.
Expansion of the Digital Platform: Mid-term plans included expanding the digital platform to include manufacturing partnerships with trusted alliance partners.
Introduction of Innovative Monetization Options: We looked ahead to introduce innovative monetization options to enhance the economic engine of the platform.
Backend Development: Spring Boot, Java 11, Keycloak, Version Control System
Frontend Development: Angular 16, CSS
Database: Microsoft SQL Server
Product Matching: Elasticsearch
Cloud Infrastructure: Microsoft Azure
The application is the world’s first plant-based food configurator, and since its launch, it has continued to evolve and innovate. It has transformed our client’s day-to-day operations significantly. Previously, the process of understanding customer needs and sending samples was lengthy and inefficient. The platform also enables users to save, edit, and share configured samples, or to select from pre-created products. As time goes on, the business insights collected through the Analytics Component will further expedite business processes and provide a deeper understanding of customer needs.
