When NorgesGruppen wanted to start selling groceries online through their existing stores, we created a solution that was able to interact with their core systems and business logic, allowing customers to buy their groceries through Meny’s website or app.
NorgesGruppen, Norway’s largest grocery wholesale group, invited us to explore with them how they could become an online retailer. They were looking to sell groceries online through the existing stores that we already know and love. One of the requirements was that the solution was built and continuously developed as a functional prototype. This meant it needed to be able to interact directly with the core systems and business logic of NorgesGruppen. This task was rather complex, as we needed to make the golden oldies of legacy systems play nice with the inexperienced teens of service innovation and rapid development.
To sustain speed, security and data integrity, we created a sandbox next to the Digital Services Platform (DSP), with a snapshot of production data contained in a secure environment. This allowed the team to go after problems with a magnifying glass and to explore possibilities in a realistic context, while leaving core systems in peace. By separating our work streams and granting each team their independence, we were able to move fast, side by side, and reduce time to market. Meny’s e-commerce solution was first set free as a prototype in our own backyard, so we could get feedback on the whole value chain and customer journey as early as possible. After a period of taking notes, raising our hand and improving, we launched a beta version on a sub domain to Meny, separate from existing marketing channels.
As soon as NorgesGruppen decided it was time to open their arms and welcome the solution into the real world, we integrated the sandboxed beta solution, the DSP, and Meny’s existing marketing channels, web and mobile app.
Now, more people than ever are shopping at Meny, and six months into 2019 Meny is growing three times faster than the Norwegian grocery market in general.
To start your online shopping, simply enter Meny’s website or download the app in App Store or Google Play.