Hills strikes deal with Cognizant to upgrade e-commerce

Distributor Hills Limited has hired US-based professional services provider Cognizant to upgrade its e-commerce platform and improve other parts of the business.

Cognizant will develop a new e-commerce platform to replace the customer portal that was developed in-house developed. The new system will feature real-time inventory and self-service capabilities allowing users to access customer statements, invoices, pricing, online payments and delivery information.

“We are pleased to be chosen by Hills to help them on their journey to provide even better technology solutions to schools, hospitals, homes and businesses,” Cognizant head of ANZ John Burgin said.

“Winning in the digital economy requires that business leaders use the latest technologies to improve productivity, consumer experiences, business processes and core IT infrastructure.”

The distributor also sought some input and feedback through internal and external surveys, aiming to generate more engagement with customers and vendors while also employing a different way to promote vendor products, Hills marketing manager Farzeen Quadir-Hegde told CRN.

“The digital transformation initiative is integral to our ‘back to growth’ strategy,” Hills chief executive David Lenz said. “The digital experience is critical in our endeavour to transform Hills from a product-centric to a customer-centric company.”

Cognizant will employ a managed service model to improve Hill's operational agility and save costs. Hills announced in August that it would cease working with third-party supply chains by early 2018, opting instead to control its own supply chain. 

“Customers will see improvements in our level of service, our product range and our engagement in the market,” Lenz said.

“Cognizant’s expertise in systems, technology and business operations will help us create world-class capabilities to better compete in today’s digital economy.”

The planned go-live date for the new e-commerce website will be sometime in early 2018.

There will also be changes in warehousing and dispatch processes.