How Kellox Scaled 800,000 SKUs on WooCommerce

Introduction

Kellox is Norway’s largest importer of land and sea motorized products. They serve dealerships and retailers with motorcycles, ATVs, boats, parts and accessories. Faced with a sprawling catalog of over 800,000 SKUs on Magento, Kellox struggled with slow pages, complex ERP syncing, and a rigid front end. They partnered with Maksimer to migrate to WooCommerce, trim load times, and unlock tailored B2B self-service features.

Migration from Magento to WooCommerce

In 2019 Kellox reached out to Maksimer for a full platform overhaul. They chose WooCommerce based on Maksimer’s prior experience and its ability to integrate with complex ERPs. The process began with data mapping, module auditing, and custom API endpoints. It handle high volume of product data so the team could transfer rules and pricing logic without losing a beat. This step set the stage for better performance and more flexibility.

Tight ERP and PIM Integration

At the core of the new setup lies seamless data flow between WooCommerce, Navision ERP, and PimCore PIM. Any update in Navision travels through secure APIs to WooCommerce in near realtime. PimCore holds enriched product info like images, sliders and categorization. Categories in PimCore sync automatically to WooCommerce via API calls. This tight loop ensures customers see current contract prices and accurate stock levels at all times.

Custom SaaS Solutions and Caching

Maksimer built a bespoke SaaS layer on top of WooCommerce to store contract pricing, filter tables, and custom search chains. They added a caching system that stores price lookups and search results based on individual accounts. As customers browse, the site pulls cached data instead of running heavy queries on every page load. The result is consistent sub-two-second pages even when millions of records are at play.

Managing 800,000 SKU Catalog

Handling a catalog of this size is no small feat. On the backend, Maksimer optimized plugins to batch-process updates. They leverage WooCommerce lookup tables to index stock status and contract prices. When Kellox triggers a sync, the system can update up to 500,000 products in one go. This reduces sync windows from hours down to minutes, keeping operations smooth and data fresh.

Tailored B2B Portal Features

Each Kellox client sees a customized portal based on their contract. Customers log in to view exclusive pricing, available models, backorders, invoices, and warranty forms. They can track past orders, download image banks, and register their vehicles. If someone searches for an older model, the site automatically redirects them through a custom search chain to the latest version. This B2B self-service model cut support tickets and improved order accuracy.

Performance and Scalability

Maintaining under two-second page loads across worldwide dealers was a top priority. Maksimer tuned database queries, deployed object caching, and optimized server settings. They stress tested using real SKUs to identify bottlenecks and adjusted code accordingly. The final architecture balanced fast I/O operations with memory caching, delivering a consistent experience under heavy load.

Collaboration and Workflow

Kellox’s internal IT team exposed APIs from Navision, while Maksimer handled development in WordPress and WooCommerce. Weekly sprints focused on specs defined jointly, and shared test plans kept deployments safe. This agile approach, coupled with regular check-ins, kept the project on track and ensured no feature slipped through the cracks. Both teams took ownership of their areas, creating a transparent process.

Outcome and Impact

Since going live, Kellox has seen faster order processing and fewer manual interventions. The self-service portal means account managers can place orders on the go, with no delay. Internal operations now sync automatically, freeing up staff time for higher value tasks. The site’s speed and reliability also boosted customer satisfaction scores across dealerships in Norway and beyond.

Next Steps

Moving forward, Kellox plans to expand brand-specific community hubs on the platform and roll out automated marketing tools. With the robust foundation in place, new modules can roll out quickly. This project not only solved immediate pain points but also created a blueprint for future growth.