Modernization of the Timbernet Portal for a Transformed Member Experience
How TIMBER MART revisited its member portal as a central point of its service strategy.
The Context
Timbernet, an Essential Member Portal
Timbernet, developed by TIMBER MART for its independent merchants, is a comprehensive platform designed to optimize operations, access group benefits, and enhance customer service. It centralizes administrative processes, improves efficiency, and provides tools for viewing buying programs, raw material prices, and internal communications.
Main Challenges
After 20+ years, the application no longer met TIMBER MART’s standards for efficiency, user experience, or members' evolving business needs. Once innovative, the Timbernet portal had accumulated significant technical debt, making it difficult to use and maintain, and unable to support the company’s growing ambitions. It was time to modernize this legacy system.
The Solution
Core Objectives
The Timbernet portal is central to TIMBER MART’s strategy to support merchants by optimizing operations and improving customer service. To meet evolving needs, the modernization focused on two key areas: enhancing the human element and redefining the technological foundation.
Prioritizing the Human Element
The modernization highlighted the importance of investing in human capital. The team prioritized improvements in communication with members, enriching the user experience, and increasing the reliability and efficiency of the Buy Guide.
Redefining the Tech Foundation
To support these goals, the portal’s foundation was overhauled. Key upgrades included enhancing software security and maintainability, improving the user experience (UX) through structural redesign, and optimizing the platform for mobile use.
The Results
Timbernet 2.0 is a cornerstone of TIMBER MART's growth strategy, designed to drive improvements across key areas of the business. The updated platform significantly enhances member communication, streamlines the overall user experience, improves the accuracy and reliability of the purchasing guide, increases administrative efficiency, and strengthens software security. These upgrades reposition Timbernet 2.0 as a critical tool in supporting TIMBER MART’s long-term goals and enabling its members to operate more effectively.
Timbernet 2.0 in Numbers
The redesign has delivered a smoother, more efficient experience for users, reflecting the team’s commitment to innovation and usability. Between brand-new capabilities and transformed functions, the new platform includes a total of 126 feature enhancements. These changes ensure the platform meets the evolving needs of its users while providing a solid foundation for future growth and adaptability.
1,500 Users
Serving members, vendors, and employees across three interfaces.
80 Modernized Features
Existing functionalities enhanced for improved performance.
41 Transformed Features
Fundamentally redesigned features offering significant improvements.
5 New Features
Entirely original functionalities introduced for the first time.
The Impact
Within a few months of its launch, the entire overhaul of the new portal has allowed users to fully enjoy the enhanced Timbernet experience. Among them, the new rebate calculator has proven to be the most notable and most used feature. The TIMBER MART team has seen a significant reduction in repetitive tasks related to manual rebate calculations. In addition, the number of phone calls regarding generic questions about material prices has drastically decreased, significantly increasing employee productivity.
Within less than a year of its launch, the platform has seen a substantial growth in registration rates, drawing more members and suppliers to Timbernet 2.0.
Have an Idea for a Project?
