Comarch Document Management and Exchange Platform for Leroy Merlin

Project background

Leroy Merlin's strategy is based on three fundamental pillars:

The customer
The collaborator
The partner

To reinforce this approach, the company has implemented a relational strategy called "Supplier Partner", with the aim of building lasting, transparent relationships with its suppliers. This strategy includes facilitating exchanges through digitization (aiming for zero paper), guaranteeing optimum fluidity and reliability. A dedicated support team handles suppliers' day-to-day requests, in collaboration with experts, to guarantee a rapid, high-quality response. Leroy Merlin is also keen to keep a close eye on the satisfaction of its partners to ensure harmonious and productive relationships.

Issues and challenges addressed by the project with Comarch

Faced with growing challenges, such as industrializing the deployment of existing messages (ORDERS, ORDCHG, INVOIC, DESADV) and the need for a new communication protocol (AS2), Leroy Merlin launched a call for tenders in 2016. The aim was to find a partner capable of managing a fleet of 2,500 suppliers, 10% of which are renewed every year. With the previous provider no longer meeting expectations, it was imperative to find a more robust and adaptable solution.

Choosing the Comarch solution

Comarch stood out thanks to a number of strengths that were crucial in meeting Leroy Merlin's requirements. First, its international support proved essential for Leroy Merlin, which works with mainly international suppliers. The robustness of Comarch's tools makes it possible to manage substantial volumes. What's more, the technical solutions proposed, such as AS2 and SFTP, offered greater flexibility than previous systems (X400 only).

Despite a few necessary adjustments during implementation, Comarch's flexibility on technical and business controls helped avoid negative impacts, such as carrier delays in the warehouse. Comarch was already well known within the Adéo Group, which facilitated the integration of its solutions.

Next steps

Leroy Merlin has no intention of stopping there. Among the projects currently under discussion, the implementation of the Finance Act by 2026 is a priority. New message requirements, such as transport orders and inventories, are also on the cards. Support for new partners, particularly for the most complex messages such as DESADV, remains a major area of development for the future.

In short, Leroy Merlin continues to innovate and strengthen its relationships with its partners to offer the best possible service to its customers.