Hybris has become one of the best-known e-commerce platforms thanks to its unique features. It powers online stores of giants like Adidas, Nike, Samsung, and Vodafone. It is no wonder that research firm Gartner named Hybris as a leading platform for digital commerce in 2017.
So, what makes it so unique? Let’s find out about its eight distinctive features.
Why should businesses consider SAP Hybris?
I’ve had hands-on experience with Hybris at N-iX when our company developed an e-commerce platform for a British MVNO Lebara. I have to say this platform is expensive, so it’s not suitable for tiny businesses. They simply cannot afford it (and probably don’t need all of its features).
Still, Hybris is a good option for midsize e-commerce organizations. The technology offers eight benefits that make it one of the most efficient and effective e-commerce platforms. We’ll talk about that in a moment.
Moreover, Hybris is part of SAP, meaning we’ll see more features and functionality added in the future.
The 8 benefits of SAP Hybris for e-commerce businesses
1. Accelerators
Hybris has built-in accelerators that optimize website performance according to the nature of your e-commerce business. Here are some examples:
- Accelerators for B2C that include direct engagement with customers, multi-language and multichannel functionalities.
- Additional B2B accelerators are built to handle large volumes of transactions, deals, and fragmented payments.
- Accelerators for Telco companies that allow bundling products, services, and subscriptions into a single purchase.
- Hybris Commerce China Accelerator tailored to demands of the Chinese market.
2. Cockpits
- Product Cockpit Module is a great tool that helps different users structure and organize product info and catalogs the way they want them.
- With Import Cockpit, users can set import mappings and schedules.
- Web Content Management System (WCMS) designed precisely for e-commerce.
- Integration options for various payment systems.
- Customer Service Cockpit.
- Build Framework.
- Back-office Administration Cockpit.
3. Customization
The solution is highly flexible, which offers businesses unique customization opportunities. SAP Hybris outperforms most of the competing B2B platforms when it comes to efficiency and scalability. Its back-office Administration Cockpit has business logic and consists of reasonably independent components (most of them are plug-and-play).
4. Modular structure
Hybris e-commerce platform is integrated, but modular. Each module is relatively independent, which makes the solution highly flexible and convenient to use.
5. Multi-language, multi-vendor, and multichannel
Gartner named SAP Hybris one of the top-performing e-commerce platforms for its multichannel campaign management. SAP Hybris Commerce has an optional Omni Commerce Connect module. It enables omnichannel operations for businesses that want to stay connected with their customers across a multitude of channels. Omni Commerce Connect allows people to leverage new channels and touchpoints, thus improving customer interactions and boosting conversion rates.
In today’s digital world, there is a multitude of sales and communication channels, including company websites, iOS and Android applications, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, email newsletters, call centers, programmatic advertising and more.
6. Big data ready
Given the huge workloads of modern e-commerce websites, Hybris is an excellent option when it comes to handling a high load and coping with multiple streams of big data. The platform effectively manages a vast scope of orders (B2B) and processes (B2C).
Hybris persistence layer manages the database. This feature allows companies to handle periods of intense demand effectively and support myriads of customers and products in real time.
7. Contextual experiences
Hybris allows creating contextual experiences and interacting with your customers across various channels. With contextual experiences, businesses can deliver relevant content and valuable offers on time.
It means knowing your customers better and engaging with them throughout their user journeys. This results in better customer satisfaction.
8. Integration with SAP software
Hybris integrates with both legacy SAP products and the latest editions of various SAP solutions. The SAP/Hybris integration framework offers the following extension options:
- Hybris is part of the SAP software ecosystem. The German company is further pushing various integrations, bringing more capabilities into its CMS in an attempt to lure businesses away from Salesforce, Oracle and Microsoft.
- Data exchange between the two systems using Hybris Data Hub and web services.
- Companies can further extend Hybris e-commerce platform with various add-ons, e.g., SAP Hybris Marketing. This feature offers real-time analytics of customers’ behaviors and aggregates data about the shoppers. Additionally, SAP Hybris Marketing allows businesses to build customer profiles on the fly, segment clients into meaningful categories, create recommendations for the marketing team and so on.
Wrap-up
SAP Hybris is one of the most efficient solutions for e-commerce companies. The platform effectively handles a high load and periods of intense demand. Hybris allows businesses to capitalize on multi-language, multi-vendor and multichannel opportunities. It is flexible and easy to adapt to various business demands.
Hybris consists of highly independent modules offering many customization options. This goes a long way towards delivering relevant contextual user experiences and boosting customer satisfaction rates.
