One+All

We began with a discovery workshop to understand One+All's requirements, establish priorities and agree the objectives for the project.

A key consideration was the integration with the client's existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Rather than assume a straightforward connection would be possible, we carried out an exploration phase to assess the available options and determine the right technology stack.

We then developed the portal in phases, allowing One+All's customers to start benefiting from the system before the wider project was complete. This phased approach also gave us the flexibility to build on the initial platform as the business's requirements evolved.

The underlying integration was designed to make the most useful data available to the website without exposing the entire ERP database. We filtered and transformed the information required for the online experience, while creating a process for orders placed through the portal to be converted into electronic data interchange (EDI) files that the ERP could use to create orders directly.

This established the foundations for a more connected ordering process, with scope to introduce further functionality and integrations over time.

Keeping a vast product catalogue in sync

One+All's catalogue presented a significant technical challenge, with 22,519 products and 3,464,843 product variants to manage.

To keep product information current, we built a synchronisation process that pulled data from the ERP on an hourly basis. Handling this volume of information so frequently required considerable optimisation to make the process fast, reliable and efficient.

Our development team improved the synchronisation process through several iterations. By refining how data was retrieved, filtering out unnecessary updates, batching records and processing work in parallel, we reduced a typical synchronisation run from 12 hours to 22 minutes.

This meant product information could be updated much more promptly, while making the process more robust and reducing the risk of one problematic record holding up the wider sync. It also created a stronger foundation for further development.

Building a connected ordering experience

The portal evolved beyond a basic online ordering tool as One+All's requirements grew.

Initially, product imagery came from the third-party Kitbuilder platform, requiring a REST API integration and image transformations to make the assets suitable for the website. This integration was later moved to One+All's own internal REST API.

We also expanded the data available through the portal, including customer purchasing reports, stock levels and expected delivery dates for future stock. These additions gave customers better access to the information they needed to plan and manage their orders.

As the platform matured, we opened up the API we had developed to One+All's customers, enabling them to access product information and place orders through their own point-of-sale (POS) and stock management systems.

This created opportunities to connect One+All's ordering infrastructure with the systems its customers already relied on, rather than requiring every interaction to happen manually through the portal.

Continuing the digital transformation

The partnership has continued to evolve beyond the original ordering portal, with additional applications and integrations developed over time.

Project timeline

• April 2020: Work began on the online ordering portal

• January 2021: Work began on the single sign-on (SSO) application

• March 2021: Online ordering portal launched

• August 2021: SSO application launched

• July 2023: Work began on The Making Of spin-off site

• July 2024: The Making Of site launched

• March 2025: Work began on the Pricing application

• June 2025: Customer-facing API integrations launched

• October 2026: Pricing application launch expected

The latest phase involves moving away from direct reliance on the client's ERP system towards its own microservice API architecture. This work is in progress, with the aim of simplifying the technology landscape and creating a more flexible foundation for future development.

The impact became even clearer during One+All's busiest trading period.

The back-to-school season, which typically runs from July to September, accounts for the highest volume of orders. During the 2025 season, the portal handled 75% of all day-to-day orders, processing more than £800,000 in orders during August alone.

These results demonstrate how the portal became an important part of One+All's day-to-day operations, helping the business handle substantial order volumes while giving customers greater flexibility.

The technical foundations have also enabled the platform to evolve, from product and stock information to customer-facing API integrations. Rather than delivering a standalone website, the project established a connected digital service that One+All can continue to build on.

One+All's digital transformation demonstrates the value of looking beyond the initial website brief. By understanding the business's operational needs, working through complex integration challenges and releasing functionality in phases, we helped establish a more efficient ordering process and a platform capable of supporting future development.

For businesses managing extensive product catalogues, complex B2B ordering and established internal systems, the right solution isn't always an off-the-shelf ecommerce platform. Sometimes it's a bespoke digital experience designed around how the business and its customers actually work.