Platform Modernisation 

Kyocera Document Solutions is a Japanese company specialising in the production of printers and electronic devices for copying, scanning and document management, headquartered in Kyoto. Kyocera is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of office printers and is active in many markets in Europe, America and Asia. 

Kyocera faced the challenge of modernising its global CQ4 platform, which was plagued by numerous issues, including unintuitive and fragmented user paths, and an outdated and difficult-to-manage content management system (CMS). As a result, local sales offices were forced to create disparate, non-standard solutions, resulting in a lack of consistency, version control issues and difficulty tracking the effectiveness of digital initiatives. The client needed a modern, centrally managed solution that would ensure a consistent look and feel of websites across different markets, while allowing for easy customisation of local content. 

The primary goal of the project was to modernize Kyocera’s digital platform, based on Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) technology, to improve content management across various markets and simplify the publication processes. 

Another key objective was to speed up the time-to-market for new products by creating a platform that allowed faster and more efficient control over their release. 

The platform also needed to integrate with an external Product Information Management (PIM) system and support local branches in personalizing messages and tailoring content to meet customer needs. 

The primary goal of the project was to support Kyocera’s key business objectives, such as improving the efficiency of content management across multiple markets and enhancing brand consistency.  

Another important aspect was to speed up the process of bringing new products to market and improve the end-user experience, which would have a direct impact on lead generation and increased sales. 

The platform aimed to create a more consistent and intuitive user experience across different markets by eliminating the scattered user paths and navigation difficulties that existed in the previous version. The new platform was designed to increase user engagement by providing easier access to information and more personalised content tailored to their needs and preferences. 

One of the key objectives of the project was to integrate with the existing Product Information Management (PIM) system, allowing the customer’s centralised product data management to continue while using AEM’s CMS capabilities for content presentation. 

Another key element was the implementation of a modern file management system to provide easier access to drivers, user manuals and other resources, significantly improving the end-user experience. 

As part of the project, the platform was integrated with several external systems, including Adobe Analytics, which enabled better monitoring and analysis of user behaviour, and Commerce Connector, which supported e-commerce processes. 

In addition, integration with the user management system (LDAP) enabled secure management of registration and login processes on Kyocera’s websites. 

The platform was designed to be easily scalable to other markets, allowing for centralised content management and a consistent brand image across different regions. 

The well-designed architecture of the content management system and centralised database also made the rebranding process seamless, ensuring a consistent look and feel across all markets. 

Our team undertook a comprehensive project involving both the design and implementation of a new digital platform for Kyocera.

Key tasks included:

• Developing a web application to showcase products and updates based on the Multi Site Manager system, which allows the management of numerous local websites across the Americas, Europe and Japan. 
• Implementing a system for sharing over tens of thousands of files between markets, significantly improving document management and file download processes. 
• Worked on the front-end part of the application, which consisted mainly of the presentation layer and functionalities such as the search engine. The use of modern technologies such as React.js and SCSS enabled the creation of a responsive and user-friendly platform. 

Our team was responsible for managing the entire implementation process, including planning, coordinating tasks and testing various platform components.

We also carried out an upgrade of AEM from version 6.3 to 6.5, which involved setting up a new team and resolving numerous technical issues that arose during the upgrade process. The next step is to prepare the platform for migration to the cloud to increase its flexibility and scalability. 

Read more about our approach to implementing complex CMS solutions.

The key assumptions of the project were based on the need to create a centrally managed platform that would meet the needs of different markets while ensuring consistency and flexibility. 

A key element was to retain the existing Product Information Management (PIM) system and integrate it with the new CMS. This would allow product data to be managed without having to transfer it directly into the CMS. In addition, the platform had to provide a modern and intuitive user experience, improve performance and enable the visual rebranding of the brand. 

The project was delivered using an agile approach, which allowed for flexible adaptation to the client’s current needs and rapid response to changing requirements. Regular iterations and testing at each stage of the project were essential to ensure the high quality of the final solution. 

 To increase efficiency and consistency, our team used agile methodologies, which facilitated the automation of many processes related to the implementation and maintenance of the platform. 

One of the key takeaways from the project was the shift from a product specification-focused model to an end-user-centric approach. 

The entire system was designed around the key buying motivations of Kyocera’s customers, resulting in an increase in lead generation. The easy-to-use and flexible solution allowed local offices to tailor content to the specific needs of their markets, resulting in a more personalised and engaging user experience. 

The SYZYGY team designed and built a new CMS for Kyocera based on the latest version of AEM. The focus was on accelerating publishing processes and content personalisation strategies, which significantly improved lead generation results. 

The platform was designed to enable greater flexibility and collaboration with local offices, ensuring a consistent and intuitive brand experience worldwide. 

As part of the project, the platform was also integrated with systems such as LDAP (for authentication) and Salesforce Pardot (for marketing automation) to further support content personalisation and management. 

One of the key challenges was managing the complex process of upgrading AEM from version 6.3 to 6.5. The high level of component customisation and the intricate system architecture made the upgrade an exceptionally difficult task, requiring precise planning and coordination. 

In addition, integration with the external PIM system, with which the team had no previous experience, required a thorough understanding of its functionality and adaptation to the specific requirements of the project. 

During the project, many decisions had to be made regarding the infrastructure of the application. It was decided to create a flexible architecture that could be easily integrated with other regions.  

Another challenge was to implement a modern front-end layer. Despite recommendations to use older technologies, the team opted to use modern tools such as React.js and SASS, which proved to be the right choice and allowed the development of a more dynamic and scalable solution. 

The project also brought other significant benefits, such as: 

• Rebranding: Thanks to the centralised code and thoughtful architecture, the rebranding process ran smoothly across all markets, which was well received by the client. 

• Increased site traffic: The download centre created by the SYZYGY team now generates 50% of Kyocera’s website traffic, highlighting its critical role in delivering value to users. 

• SEO: SEO metrics, including Core Web Vitals, have improved significantly and Kyocera’s Visibility Index has increased significantly since the end of 2021. 

• Scalability: The platform proved ready to scale to other markets, with the ability to support 20 language versions, facilitating Kyocera’s global operations. 

The project we undertook for Kyocera delivered significant technology and business benefits. By deploying a modern platform based on Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), Kyocera was able to streamline content management across global markets, accelerate product launches, and improve the consistency and efficiency of marketing communications. 

The new platform not only improved performance and usability, but also enabled easy customisation of content to meet local needs, resulting in increased lead generation and positive brand perception in international markets. 

We also provided Kyocera with a set of guidelines and principles for the new brand identity that can be used across all platforms and devices, and in other markets in the future. 

Leave us your email so we can arrange a meeting. We understand that the process of implementing an Enterprise CMS can be complex and requires careful planning. We want to understand your needs in order to provide a solution that best meets your organisation’s expectations, especially in terms of integration with existing systems.  

During our meeting we will discuss: 

• Current challenges: What difficulties are you facing with content management? 

• Integrations: What systems and tools do you need to integrate with the new CMS? 

• Technical requirements: What functionality is critical to your organisation? 

• Expected benefits: What goals do you want to achieve by implementing the new system? 

We will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the details and plan the next steps.