Lecot is a leading Belgian supplier of tools, fasteners, and architectural hardware. With a broad range of products and a strong focus on service and innovation, Lecot helps professionals in the construction and installation sectors work more efficiently.

To optimize and modernize its growing product information management, Lecot partnered with YellowGround and implemented Stibo Systems STEP as its new Master Data Management (MDM) solution.

The Challenge

Lecot had years of experience with product data management and was already using a PIM application. However, by 2022, it became clear that this application had reached the end of its lifecycle. This not only made it necessary to implement a new system but also presented an opportunity to make MDM a fundamental pillar of its digital transformation. The new system needed to do more than just manage data—it had to contribute to Lecot’s core values.

Key objectives for MDM included:

• More efficient go-to-market with new products
  Lecot is known for its customer-centric approach and ability to provide quick solutions. However, expanding the product range had to go hand in hand with data quality and a well-thought-out product strategy.

• Knowledge sharing via digital platforms
  Lecot’s specialized product knowledge needed to be accessible to customers not only physically but also digitally.

• Flexibility and structure
  The construction and installation industries evolve rapidly, requiring a flexible and maintainable data model that allows new product information to be easily integrated.

• Preparation for the sustainability transition
  Transparency regarding products and processes is becoming increasingly important, including compliance with European regulations such as CSRD and the Digital Product Passport.

• Improved data quality
  With a broad product range, maintaining consistent and accurate product data is challenging but essential for a great customer experience.

Our Approach

Together with Lecot, we worked on a structured implementation of Stibo STEP. Instead of focusing directly on marketing-driven product enrichment, the priority was to maximize MDM’s ROI and ensure an efficient eight-month implementation timeline.

Product Onboarding

A key first step was implementing a product onboarding process, covering the entire lifecycle of a new product—from request to a final orderable product in the ERP system. Several challenges arose:

1. High volume of product requests
   Anyone within the organization could request new products or information, leading to a large number of requests. Efficiency and visibility in processing times were crucial.

2. Preventing data pollution in the ERP system
   Validation steps were integrated into the MDM process to ensure data accuracy.

3. Seamless ERP integration
   Middleware was used to enable real-time and accurate data synchronization between MDM and ERP systems.

Vendor Catalog Strategy

In addition to product onboarding, a vendor catalog strategy was developed, allowing Lecot to manage suppliers’ full catalogs without directly impacting the rest of the organization.

In the long run, this model enables suppliers to take on more responsibility. The data model was designed to keep supplier data separate from Lecot’s internal product data, while still ensuring transparency and structured insights into data changes.

Additionally, new Lecot products now automatically integrate available supplier information, significantly accelerating the creation and enrichment process.

Phase Two: Focus on Product Data Enrichment

After the successful completion of phase one, phase two focused on product data enrichment, essential for customer-facing applications. Within five months, several functionalities were rolled out, including:

• ETIM classification management
  Lecot implemented an extensive, standardized product classification alongside its internal structure. ETIM attributes now form the foundation of product data, enhancing the digital customer experience.

• EAN management
  The management of internal and supplier EAN codes, successor EANs, and purchased EANs was simplified and streamlined.

• Digital Asset Management
  In addition to images such as packshots and mood shots, technical documentation (e.g., safety data sheets and installation manuals) was integrated.

• E-commerce integration
  Through middleware and a CDN, product information was directly linked to Lecot’s e-commerce platforms.

By adopting ETIM as the standard, the entire data model became future-proof, leading to greater consistency, improved product discoverability, and a more efficient supplier onboarding process.

Additionally, adopting ETIM eliminated the need for Lecot to maintain its own data model, resulting in significant time and cost savings.

The Future

While Stibo STEP has already delivered significant improvements, Lecot continues to work with YellowGround on further optimizations. Future roadmap initiatives include:

• Centralized data management across different Lecot entities
• Document generation and integration with Adobe InDesign
• AI-driven marketing content generation
• A supplier portal for direct data submission
• Use of industry-standard file formats, such as BMECat
• Integration with data pools like InstallData and 2BA
• Expansion to other master data domains, such as logistics and customer data

A New Standard in Data Management

Thanks to its collaboration with YellowGround, Lecot has built a strong foundation for future product data management. The implementation of clear workflows not only improved visibility into product status but also significantly enhanced data quality and operational efficiency.

As Charlotte Dermaut, Master Data Manager at Lecot, puts it:

Choosing an MDM solution made us reflect on our existing processes. This gave us the opportunity to make them future-proof, in line with Lecot’s objectives. It provided valuable insights while also being a transformation journey.

With this implementation, Lecot is better equipped than ever to make data-driven decisions and serve customers optimally. The transformation is not yet complete, but the first steps toward future-proof data management have been successfully taken.

Looking for an MDM system for your organization? Contact us, and we’ll be happy to explore a solution that fits your needs and ambitions.