The UK’s Packaging Giant Refreshes Its Digital Foundation: Macfarlane Partners with Cloudfy to Deliver a Next-Generation, Secure, and Insightful E-commerce Experience.
For the UK’s largest distributor of protective packaging, Macfarlane Packaging, the B2B e-commerce SaaS platform isn’t just a storefront, it’s a critical operational artery. Having successfully run their business on Cloudfy for years, Macfarlane recognised that staying a market leader means proactively refreshing their digital face. They commissioned an upgrade to Cloudfy V4 not to fix problems, but to embrace a modern aesthetic, introduce cutting-edge security, and give their customers richer data through seamless integration. This isn’t just an upgrade; it’s proof that a specialist SaaS platform can evolve continuously, without disruption.
Products: Solution Architecture & Core Components.
Macfarlane’s solution is built on a specialised enterprise architecture designed for complex B2B needs.
- The Core Platform: The latest iteration of the Cloudfy V4 Enterprise SaaS platform, designed for high volume and scalability.
- Deep Integration: Leveraging their existing, rock-solid ERP Integration to guarantee every buyer sees their exact contract pricing and real-time stock availability—the foundation of frictionless ordering.
- Essential B2B Tools: Continued use of foundational modules like PunchOut (critical for institutional buyers) and Advanced Account Management.
- Bespoke Innovation: We partnered to develop two powerful new modules: –
– Two Factor Authentication (2FA): A vital security layer for protecting high-value B2B accounts.
– Power BI Report Integration: A game-changing feature that automatically delivers valuable customer waste reports into the e-commerce portal, turning purchasing data into actionable insights.
What’s Next: Macfarlane is now exploring the adoption of the Cloudfy Mobile App to empower their field sales reps and make ordering possible from anywhere.
The Challenge: A Proactive Leap, Not a Problem Fix.
Why did Macfarlane, with its mission-critical volumes, choose to deepen its investment with Cloudfy? Because they know a generic platform simply can’t handle their complexity.
- A Proven Partnership: The stability of the existing system running for years without major performance or integration issues, spoke volumes. They trust our platform’s reliability.
- B2B DNA: We don’t bolt on B2B features; we build them from the ground up. This specialisation ensures we can manage complexity, like PunchOut and multi-level approvals with native ease.
- Engineered for Evolution: We didn’t need to rebuild their foundation. We executed a seamless, single-deployment upgrade that simultaneously transformed the front-end design and injected powerful new capabilities (like 2FA and BI integration) without disrupting their core ERP sync. This is the advantage of specialist SaaS architecture.
The Solution: A Frictionless, Future-Proof Deployment
The project team focused on zero-disruption integration while delivering a striking front-end transformation.
- Design Delivered: Based on detailed UI/UX wireframes, we rolled out a completely refreshed look across the site, focusing on a clean, modern homepage and a streamlined procurement flow via the new menu and product pages.
- Security Built-In: The introduction of Two-Factor Authentication immediately cemented Macfarlane’s commitment to security, protecting their customers’ accounts from risk.
- Data as a Service: The custom-developed Power BI integration is a key differentiator. It turns purchasing history into a strategic asset, allowing Macfarlane’s customers to access essential waste compliance data with a single click.
- The Continuous Flow: The core integration with their ERP remained unchanged and perfectly functional, proving that essential operational continuity can be maintained even during a major aesthetic overhaul.
Results
- Smooth Transition: The entire upgrade and go-live was completed quickly and efficiently in a single deployment, minimising business disruption.
- Modern Experience Achieved: The design refresh has been well-received, successfully meeting Macfarlane’s goal of providing a contemporary, high-standard digital experience.
- Security Enhanced: The new 2FA module is live, immediately elevating the platform’s security posture for all users.
- Positive Feedback: Macfarlane has confirmed they are happy with the version they are on, validating the successful execution and stability of the Cloudfy V4 platform.
Looking Ahead: The Partnership Continues
Macfarlane is not settling. They view Cloudfy as a continuous innovation partner, not just a vendor.
- Innovation Roadmap: We continue to work through an active backlog of enhancements and new features as part of their retainer agreement, keeping Macfarlane ahead of market trends.
- The Mobile Frontier: They are currently exploring the adoption of the Cloudfy Mobile App, recognising that enabling their sales teams and offering mobile convenience to customers is the next step in driving frictionless efficiency.
- Mastering Complexity: By leveraging Cloudfy’s specialist architecture, Macfarlane is equipped not just to handle the complexity of B2B distribution but to master it, driving scalable growth for years to come.
FAQ Section for Macfarlane Packaging Case Study
Macfarlane's upgrade was driven by a proactive mandate for a digital refresh. While their existing system was stable, the move to Cloudfy V4 allowed them to implement a modern UI/UX redesign and access the latest platform features, including advanced security and data reporting capabilities.
The most significant additions were two custom-developed advanced modules: Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for enhanced B2B account security, and Power BI Report Integration to seamlessly deliver valuable customer waste and compliance data directly within the e-commerce portal.
The upgrade was specifically a platform and design refresh focused on user experience and security. Critically, it leveraged their existing, robust ERP integration, proving that Cloudfy can evolve the front-end experience and add new features without requiring a full, disruptive system migration.
The Power BI integration turns purchasing data into a strategic asset. It allows Macfarlane to automatically provide high-value waste reports and compliance data to their customers via the secure e-commerce portal, positioning the platform as a data resource, not just a place to transact.
Yes. Macfarlane Packaging is an advanced B2B user and continues to leverage essential e-procurement tools, including the PunchOut module, which is vital for seamlessly serving its largest institutional customers and integrating with their external procurement systems.
