Gardy

• automate catalogs in FrameMaker
• implement CMS at customer for datamaintenance in multiple languages 
• automate the website
• integration with CAD system
• deeplink productinfo to wholesalers

What we did

Gardy has astonished the entire electro -technical community by releasing their catalog on print and on the Internet. Gardy acts as an Application Service provider. Next to the products themselves, Gardy offers the customers a host of tools to facilitate the choice and selection of products, making the process more efficient. Gardy even offers a way of managing projects by means of the Internet

It all starts with the production of an electrical bleu-print schematic of a house. This drawing is imported via the Internet, whilst assembling the products specified by the drawing , and collecting them in the order basket. Next the installer is able to refine his selection of products even more. For a switch, he defines the number of poles, short-circuit current, the curve, etc. All products have certain classification on which the installer can make a specific selection.
The next step is to transfer the project to the order basket and send the order or apply the order.

But the most striking fact is that all suppliers of electrical components are listed next to one another and thus allowing the installer to choose freely the supplier that suits him the most.

For more details on this extraordinary project, please refer to our November 2000 newsletter or contact Gardy directly on their website at www.gardy.com.

Challenge

The aging Gardy project has been revamped. So there was little history in publishing to be noted. The Gardy company eventually came to Guideline in search of a solution that would permit them to publish their catalogue towards paper, using multiple languages. Next to this they also wanted to be able to generate a website, without having to bother with technical background-knowledge on ASP, PHP, HTML or XML. The only explicit demand was complete independence when it came to maintaining and publishing the catalogue.

Approach

A prototype, containing a small selection of products stored in the xCS.content database, was crafted following a newly designed lay-out. All of the catalogue pages have been setup automatically via the xCS.press software following a predefined lay-out. The same procedure applied to the website part. By using the data stored in the system Guideline offered to make a prototype for a dynamic website. After the prototype phase, a grand-scale project was initiated to store all data into the database, together with pictures, tech info and product specifications.

Solution

To fulfil to the publication needs, Gardy chose the X-Channel Solutions. Taking the lack of a detailed and functional product information system into account, although there was an extensive SAP system available, they decided to store specific info, which was added in the catalogue and on the site, into the xCS.content database as well. From time to time, the CMS database is synchronised with the SAP system, to update prices, add new products, barcodes, packaging, etc.
As a direct result of the website, there's also CD-Rom version available to Gardy representatives. Since the Internet and CD-Rom parts were basically the same, by using the Stentor software, it was just a matter of days before they completed this medium.

Benefits

The solution based on X-Channel Solutions surely paid of for Gardy. The updating and maintaining process is fully controllable. In fact, Gardy is able to add and publish new product information on a daily basis, towards print ánd Internet.
Next to the ease of use of the software, Gardy also fared well financially. Updating and maintaining data has become an easy and very affordable process compared to a conventional way of setting up catalogues in a DTP environment and changing HTML source code to make adjustments to the website.
Full control and flexibility when it comes to publishing the right data at the right time, at any time will give Gardy the edge over fellow competitors.