Colours & Coatings: Digitalization in the Paint Industry

For over 50 years, Colours & Coatings has been a key player in the Dutch paint industry. With seven physical stores and a growing digital presence, the paint wholesaler serves various business customers (B2B), including professional painters, auto body repair shops, and industrial sprayers. However, maintaining their outdated Microsoft Dynamics AX2009 environment made it increasingly challenging to keep their systems up-to-date and meet the growing digital demands of their customers. This created a need for modernization, including a new ERP system and digital services such as order apps and customer portals.

DynamicWeb was selected as the solution due to its integrated platform for eCommerce, CMS, PIM, and email marketing, along with standard integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations. In collaboration with Bluedesk, a new website was launched, along with a customer and partner portal that retrieves product information in real-time from the PIM and ERP system. With the introduction of an order app and the efficient integration of digital processes, Colours & Coatings has accelerated its digital transformation, providing customers with a better experience.

Currently, Colours & Coatings operates on an outdated Microsoft Dynamics AX2009 environment, which made it increasingly difficult to find people with the right knowledge to maintain the system, especially given the numerous custom solutions. Additionally, their customers wanted more self-service capabilities via apps or portals, such as managing orders, invoicing, and inventory information.

The outdated ERP environment and the complexity of the custom fields created a need for modernization and a shift to a new system.

Colours & Coatings evaluated several platforms, including Sana eCommerce and Shoxl as potential solutions. None of these providers could offer the flexibility and scalability of DynamicWeb. Moreover, DynamicWeb uniquely allows for non-vendor-locked implementation.

With this in mind, DynamicWeb was chosen because of:

• A single platform for everything: offering simplicity and lower costs with integrated eCommerce, CMS, PIM, and soon email marketing.
• Standard integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations: a seamless link with the new ERP system.
• User-friendly and flexible with integrations: DynamicWeb is easy to use and can integrate seamlessly with other solutions needed by Colours & Coatings, such as logistics and invoicing systems.
• Local presence with international support: DynamicWeb provides the ideal mix of local support through its Dutch office, enabling fast and personal collaboration, while its international network offers scalable support and robust development capabilities.

Together with Bluedesk, Colours & Coatings implemented the DynamicWeb Composable Commerce Suite. This included developing a new website and a customer and partner portal, where all necessary product data is directly retrieved from the PIM system and ERP system (Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O). This ensures a single source of truth and simplifies managing complex products, such as custom paint.

The integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O, set to be implemented in 2025, plays a key role in the company’s digitalization. Order information, customer data, and inventory statuses are now synchronized in real time between the eCommerce platform and the ERP system, making processes like orders and deliveries more efficient.

Additionally, an order app was introduced, allowing customers to place orders directly into the platform via Zebra scanners. The new system streamlines operational processes and provides customers with a user-friendly experience, both online and in physical stores.

Colours & Coatings has opted for a fully integrated payment system by connecting with Payt and Twikey. Payt was chosen based on a strategy to use the best software (best of breed), which also has standard integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O. This integration optimizes internal processes and ensures a smooth, user-friendly experience for the customer.

The integration with Twikey further simplifies the payment process for customers, allowing them to decide if they want to use direct debit, with the entire process of granting and revoking direct debit authorizations fully automated, requiring no human intervention. These solutions streamline the financial process, enhance customer experience, and contribute to a more efficient cash flow and customer satisfaction.

The key result so far is that Colours & Coatings now has a user-friendly, clear, and scalable platform. This has accelerated the company's overall digital transformation. Thanks to DynamicWeb's flexibility, customers can now more easily place orders, consult product information, and take advantage of new digital services. Furthermore, the standard integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations will lead to a more efficient operational process.