Over the course of a year, our team implemented a large-scale ERP project for Automodern, a leading European diesel engine manufacturer that integrates auto parts supply, dealer networks, and service centers.
We have created a unified digital ecosystem and service platform that integrates customer, warehouse, financial, and online sales management, ensuring a high level of automation, transparency, and control over all business processes.
Challenges and Solutions
AutoModern is a major European diesel company with a well-developed network of branches, a wide product range, and a complex flow structure. The business unites various categories of clients and partners – wholesalers, auto repair shops, dealers, agents, and suppliers.
As the company grew, the existing off-the-shelf and cloud-based solutions no longer met the scale of operations and the specifics of AutoModern's business processes. Customer, sales, warehouse, and financial data were housed in disparate systems, complicating inventory control, increasing the risk of documentation errors, and slowing down the processing of orders and requests. The company needed a unified digital platform fully adapted to its business model, user role structure, and operational logic.
An additional challenge was the complexity of working with various client categories – wholesale companies, auto repair shops, dealers, and agents. Moreover, a single user could simultaneously assume multiple roles (for example, agent and supplier, or agent and client), requiring a flexible access rights management model and personalized interfaces for each role. Without a unified digital platform, centralized management of such interactions was difficult.
Based on an analysis of AutoModern's business processes , a comprehensive ERP ecosystem was proposed and implemented for the company, consolidating several interconnected digital products:
● B2B CRM system – a central module for managing users, transactions, and documents throughout the entire transaction cycle: from order to invoice and return. The system implements a flexible role and access rights model, a multi-level document structure, and automated settlements, which ensures control over the entire transaction cycle, reduces the number of document errors, and accelerates order processing;
● User personal accounts – specialized interfaces for clients, agents, and partners with the ability to switch roles. Users work in a single system without duplicating accounts, which increases the transparency and efficiency of interaction;
● a public website with a product catalog – an online showcase with automatic synchronization of product range via API, providing centralized management of product range and content without manual duplication of data;
● The administrative panel is a centralized management tool for content, products, users, equipment, and news, with full integration with CRM. This solution will help ensure control of all digital channels and the ability to scale the system without the need for additional technical resources.
After the architecture and functional model were approved, the project moved to the development and implementation stage.
Tech stack
The Automodern system needed to be designed to be scalable and modular, integrating CRM, inventory management, finance, personal accounts, and a public website. Therefore, we selected a technology stack that ensures stable operation, flexible development, and integration of all ecosystem components.
● Monolithic architecture with separation into domains. The core business logic is implemented in a single ERP system, divided into functional domains: CRM, finance, warehouses, document management, and analytics. The public website is located in a separate system that interacts with the ERP via an API. For businesses, this means high system stability, predictable performance, and the ability to develop the website independently of the internal ERP logic.
● REST API. For data synchronization between CRM, personal accounts, and the public website, including automatic uploading of products and inventory to the catalog. This ensures that all channels work with a single data source, minimizing duplication of information and errors.
● Socket connection. Necessary for implementing internal chat and instant notifications about system events. This ensures real-time information exchange and speeds up interaction between managers, agents, and clients.
● Wagtail-based CMS. The CMS enables the creation of an administrative control panel for a public website, including content management, news, blogs, and equipment. The solution allows businesses to independently manage content without the help of developers and keep their online storefront updated.
● Frontend on Vue.js. The CRM system and dashboard interfaces are implemented using Vue.js. The framework enables the creation of a modular component architecture with support for reactive data, dynamic filtering, analytics widgets, and interactive tables. Using Vue.js allowed us to create high-performance interfaces with flexible access role management and instant data updates without page refreshes. This ensures a comfortable user experience even with large volumes of information and complex business scenarios.
● Online payments and delivery. The system supports online payment scenarios for orders, with the option to specify a delivery address directly during checkout. This simplifies the customer journey from product selection to purchase, minimizes the workload on managers, and speeds up order processing.
● Warehouse logistics and supplier interaction. Mechanisms for product receipt and supplier management are provided, from receiving inventory to onward sales to customers. The system supports the movement of goods between warehouses, inventory control, and product movement history. This allows the company to accurately track product flows and provide clear warehouse analytics.
How we organized the development process
The AutoModern ERP system was developed in stages, with detailed planning and regular synchronization with the client's team. Below are the key stages of the solution's creation and implementation.
1. Collection and analysis of requirements.
Based on an analysis of AutoModern's business processes, customer needs, and the company's operating model, functional requirements for the system were developed. The target architecture for the B2B CRM, agent and customer personal accounts, and integration principles with the public website and administrative panel were defined.
2. Design.
User interface logic and system interaction scenarios for various roles were designed. A multi-level access rights model was developed for managers and employees, allowing for flexible permissions for CRM, warehouse, finance, HR, analytics, and document management modules.
To manage inventory, a structured data model with categories, brands, and pricing parameters was implemented. Additionally, integration with the public website was provided via an open API, allowing for catalog synchronization and providing customers with up-to-date access to product and equipment information.
3. Design.
Intuitive user interfaces have been developed for each ERP system module, tailored to the roles and workflows of various user categories. Particular attention has been paid to personal accounts, where users can view orders, invoices, and settlements, configure payment details, interact with chats, and receive prompt notifications about document changes.
Specialized interfaces for managing warehouse operations, financial data, and analytical reporting were implemented, with flexible filtering, sorting, and reporting capabilities by brand, category, country, and currency. This approach reduced the operational burden on the AutoModern team, accelerated data management, and ensured ease of use for all roles – managers, partners, and customers.
4. Technical development.
The project implemented the server and client components of the ERP ecosystem. The backend is built on the Django + FastAPI architecture: Django provides the core business logic, administrative functions, and data management, while FastAPI is responsible for high-performance API layers and integration interactions.
The CRM and personal account frontends were developed using Vue.js, enabling the creation of dynamic user interfaces with a flexible access role system, data filtering, and analytics widgets. Modules for personnel management, warehouse operations, supplier interaction, and price list processing via Excel import were implemented, as well as bank account and cash register setup. Processing of orders, invoices, and returns was automated.
The public website is built using Django + Wagtail, allowing for centralized content management without developer intervention. The client-side interface is implemented using native web technologies to ensure high page loading speeds and stable catalog operation. Additionally, analytical modules have been developed to track revenue across various categories – products, clients, brands, agents, and countries.
As a result, AutoModern received a unified digital platform for managing key business processes – procurement, inventory, finance, and analytics. The system reduced manual operations, increased data transparency, and simplified management decision-making.
5. QA testing.
Following the implementation of each module, comprehensive testing of the ERP system was conducted, covering key functional areas: document flow, analytics, financial transactions, personal accounts, chat, and the WebSocket-based messaging system. Additionally, end-to-end business scenarios for interaction with clients and suppliers were tested, including importing items and price lists, creating orders, invoices, and return transactions. As a result, the system demonstrates stable operation even under high load, and the applied QA approach minimized the risk of errors after go-live and ensured the continuity of AutoModern's business processes.
Functionality
The ERP system was developed to comprehensively optimize the operations of all AutoModern divisions, reduce the volume of routine operations, and improve the speed of management decision-making. The key features of the implemented solution are presented below.
Processing customer requests
The client places an order on the website or registers in their personal account. Based on the entered data, the system automatically generates an electronic client profile containing all related information: orders, proformas, invoices, settlements, and interaction history. A manager is assigned a task to process the request within the CRM processes.
Business benefits: reduced processing time; reduced volume of manual operations and associated errors; timely response to customer requests; and improved service quality.
Carrying out operations with documents
Managers create orders, proformas, invoices, and product returns directly in the system. The ERP tracks inventory movements across warehouses (receipts, transfers, and write-offs), automatically updates financial settlements with counterparties, and stores the entire transaction history in the CRM.
Business benefits: a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of operational activity; reduced risk of documentation errors; effective control of warehouse and financial transactions in a single digital environment.
Formation of results
The AutoModern ERP ecosystem automatically generates electronic documents, including invoices and reports, in standardized formats for subsequent processing and archiving. Managers and clients have access to document uploads, payment history and settlement history with counterparties, and profitability analytics across various categories – products, brands, agents, and countries.
Business benefits: reduced document and reporting time; prompt analysis of sales and financial performance; strategic decision-making based on reliable and up-to-date data.
Ensuring transparency
The ERP system allows clients and agents to monitor order status, warehouse balances, inventory movements, and financial transactions in real time. Each user receives personalized notifications about document changes, order processing progress, balance updates, and settlement transactions.
Business benefit: Management and staff always have up-to-date information to monitor processes and make timely decisions, while operational transparency and interdepartmental interaction are enhanced.
Invoicing
The generation and accounting of payments for goods and services is implemented directly within the ERP system. Users create incoming and outgoing payments linked to the company's bank accounts and cash registers. The system supports various price categories, markups, and special pricing conditions for wholesale and retail customers, ensuring the accuracy of financial transactions and the automation of settlements.
Business benefits: accurate and transparent accounting of settlements with clients and suppliers; reduced financial risks; increased manageability and transparency of cash flows.
Administration
Users with administrator and manager roles have expanded access rights to manage the system and the company's digital resources. The multifunctional administrative panel provides centralized management of website content, product inventory, equipment, news, and key product items, as well as monitoring the operation of all ERP ecosystem modules.
Business benefits: centralized process and content management; reduced dependence on IT resources during operational changes; accelerated product range and business data updates; increased overall company operational efficiency.
Result
As part of a large-scale transformation of AutoModern's digital infrastructure, a corporate ERP system was implemented, increasing the efficiency of all company operational processes. The solution comprehensively optimized key areas of daily operations – order processing, payment accounting, warehouse management, and financial flows – and ensured their operation within a unified digital environment.
To ensure process continuity, end-to-end data synchronization was implemented between all ERP modules and the company's digital platforms. As a result, users can now work in their personal accounts, administrative panel, and public website, seamlessly switching between web and mobile interfaces without data loss or operational integrity.
The implementation of the ERP ecosystem has accelerated order processing, reduced the risk of errors in documentation and financial transactions, and provided management with transparent operational and financial analytics for informed decision-making. As a result , the company's manageability, operational efficiency, and financial stability have improved.
