Leading Auto Parts Retailer Modernized with Viva Connections and SharePoint

THE CLIENT Our client is an American automotive aftermarket parts retailer. Almost a century old, it provides automotive replacement parts and accessories. With thousands of stores across the U.S., it's one of the largest auto parts retailers in the country.  THE CHALLENGE The company was grappling with outdated technology that severely hampered their operations. Their legacy system, CT Link, was over two decades old, residing on an Oracle instance that can trace its roots back to the 1990s. As a result, the company lacked experts who could manage the aging system. Moreover, the software was hosted in a data center that they were planning to shut down. This antiquated platform was not only costing the business in terms of potential opportunities but also posed risks in terms of data management and operational efficiency. WHAT WE DID

To address the challenges presented by the legacy software, the company engaged Cyclotron for their expertise in modernizing IT infrastructure. The objective was to transition from CT Link to Viva Connections and SharePoint, ensuring all the data – including static content and documents – was securely transferred.

Some key interventions included:

1. Database Integration: Initial challenges surfaced when trying to connect with the old database. However, the Cyclotron team dedicated numerous hours to understand the issue and provided a manual solution to work around it.

2. Content Management: The Cyclotron team played an instrumental role in guiding the client's teams through the process of content migration. This entailed moving content, building libraries, constructing content, managing quick links, and more. Cyclotron’s hands-on approach ensured that even those unfamiliar with SharePoint could effectively manage content.

3. Training: An emphasis was placed on increasing the team's comfort level with the new system. By the end of the project, the team's confidence with SharePoint skyrocketed. THE RESULT

The client’s system now operates on a modern, unified platform, leveraging their existing Microsoft licenses. The tangible benefits of this shift include:

1. Operational Efficiency: The company successfully transitioned away from an obsolete system to a more secure and robust infrastructure. This has significantly streamlined their operations.

2. Empowered Employees: The hands-on training and support provided by Cyclotron means that their team members can now navigate and manage the SharePoint environment with a high degree of confidence.

3. Enhanced Collaboration: With Microsoft at the helm of their technology solutions, this major retailer is poised for better internal communications and has set the foundation for long-term partnerships.

Reach out to us to learn how we can modernize your outdated system, or help with any other business technology needs.