Joval Wines

Transforming B2B Ecommerce for Australia’s largest on-premise wine distributor

Category: Design SprintTechnologyB2BEcommerce
Scope of work: Design SprintDesign Strategy & ConsultationUser ResearchUX DesignUI DesignPrototypingTesting & Validation
Product: Winesource B2B Trade Portal
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A globally recognised, best-in-class, B2B customer platform that simply works for the business.

As a leader in the wine and liquor industry, Joval Wines own a B2B trade portal called Winesource. With the previous state experiencing performance and usability issues, Joval Wines required a holistic solution that would bring stakeholders together to align vision towards a future state of Winesource becoming a transformational, engaging and meaningful experience.

Relab advised for a 4-Week Design Sprint program that allowed the business to co-design, participate and importantly – gather honest feedback directly from the voice of their customers. Within a few weeks time, the team successfully concluded a lean, human-centred discovery process, full of invaluable insights. Relab continued to consult Joval Wines and their implementation partner (Aligent) during the platform build and delivery stage to produce the intended output.

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The user needs

In the fast-paced world of B2B wine distribution, wholesalers and retailers face numerous challenges when sourcing products. Disjointed, inefficient ordering systems lead to operational delays, user frustration, and missed sales opportunities. The trade portal at Joval Wines, Winesource, was struggling with performance bottlenecks, usability concerns, and an outdated user experience that hindered its potential.

With customer expectations rising and competition growing, there was an urgent need for a seamless, intuitive digital experience that would cater to both the practical and strategic needs of its users. Customers required a platform that allowed them to efficiently browse, order, and manage stock with minimal effort, while sales teams needed a tool that empowered them to engage clients effectively. To remain competitive and meet business goals, a user-centric solution was crucial to delivering both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

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The business needs

Joval Wines is a key player in the wine and liquor distribution industry, supplying some of the finest products to on-premise venues across Australia. As the largest distributor in this space, Joval Wines is committed to delivering exceptional service and ensuring its trade customers can access their product offerings seamlessly.

However, the previous version of the Winesource B2B trade portal was falling short of this vision. Performance issues, a lack of user engagement, and operational inefficiencies were impacting the platform’s potential to meet business goals. The need for a comprehensive transformation became clear – one that would align the digital experience with Joval Wines’ mission to provide an intuitive, engaging, and reliable service for their customers. By redesigning Winesource, the business aimed to drive higher user satisfaction, streamline transactions, and create a platform that truly supported its long-term growth strategy.

Our approach
Driving transformation through collaborative, human-centred Design Sprints.

To address the challenges of the previous Winesource platform, we began by thoroughly examining the customer journey and the platform’s performance. This included conducting user interviews, reviewing system analytics and identifying key pain points experienced by trade customers and internal stakeholders alike.

With these insights, Relab recommended a structured 4-week Design Sprint anchored by Design Thinking and Google Ventures methodology. This process allowed Joval Wines to bring together cross-functional teams to collaborate and align on a shared vision. The sprint involved rapid prototyping and direct user testing with actual customers, which provided critical feedback and validation early in the project.

The outcomes were invaluable. We uncovered practical solutions to improve usability and streamline the ordering process while reinforcing Joval Wines' commitment to customer satisfaction. Relab continued to consult with Joval Wines and their implementation partner, Aligent, during the build and delivery phases, ensuring that the final platform met both the business and customer needs. Winesource is now positioned as a powerful B2B tool, enabling a seamless, efficient experience for all users.

Human-centred Process
Integration of the challenge and the audience

Empathy with user needs is essential to Winesource’s transformation. Through targeted user research and feedback loops, we delved into the specific pain points faced by trade customers, from navigating product catalogs to managing orders and repeat orders efficiently. This deep understanding allowed us to shape a platform that not only solves immediate challenges but also creates a seamless and engaging experience, ensuring the solution resonates with the real needs of its users.

Strategic & Tactical Approach
Mapping user journey for successful engagements

By conducting in-depth journey mapping sessions, we identified key touchpoints and opportunities to enhance user interactions across the entire ordering process. This strategic map highlighted critical pain points and at the same time, uncovered opportunities for optimised efficiency and engagement. The outcome guided the rest of the process, ensuring that each stage of the customer journey was designed to meet both business objectives and customer expectations.

Rapid Discovery & Design

Accelerating insights, ideation and validation with Design Sprints

We believe in rapid, collaborative problem-solving to deliver high-impact results. For Winesource, the 4-week Design Sprint program uncovered critical insights and validate complex ideas quickly. By involving key stakeholders from Joval Wines and real trade customers, we were able to gather immediate, actionable feedback and iterate on designs in a fast-paced, yet structured environment. This approach allowed us to test assumptions, prioritise features, and ensure the final product would not only meet user needs but also drive measurable business outcomes.

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Discovery to prototyping only within 4 weeks time
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Enabled cross-functional alignment with a shared vision
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Every decision was rooted in genuine customer needs

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Measurable Insights
Customers' needs at the forefront of the solution

By integrating customer feedback at every stage of the design process, we identified key features that would enhance usability and streamline ordering. This focus on customer needs led to the creation of an intuitive interface, simplified navigation, and efficient order management tools, all tailored to improve the overall experience. By placing customers at the heart of the solution, the business is empowered to foster stronger relationships with its customers, driving engagement and satisfaction in a competitive marketplace.

Award Winning Platform
Mid-Market B2B Ecommerce Distributor of the Year

In 2024, Joval Wines' commitment to excellence in the B2B ecommerce space was recognised when Winesource was awarded the Mid-Market B2B Ecommerce Distributor of the Year by the B2B Ecommerce Association. This prestigious accolade highlights the platform's innovative features and exceptional user experience, which have set a new standard in the industry.

Transformative Outcomes

Elevating B2B Excellence with Joval Wines' Winesource

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International industry recognition

The prestigious B2B Ecommerce award with competition from global finalists, affirms Winesource's exceptional and innovative approach in the B2B landscape. Being the only Australian contender in this category highlights the platform's commitment to excellence and sets a benchmark in the industry.

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Enhanced customer engagement

By placing customer needs at the forefront, Winesource was redesigned to offer a streamlined, intuitive interface that significantly improved usability. This enhancement not only drove higher customer satisfaction but also fostered deeper engagement with the platform, that ultimately builds long-term loyalty.

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Optimised operational efficiency

The transformation led to optimised order management and transaction processes, empowering customers with tools that simplify their workflows. While benefiting customers, it also enhances the business' performance, solidifying its position as a leader in wine distribution.

Our design sprint process with Relab has been instrumental in the success of our globally recognised customer portal. Alvin and team were great to work with and really engaged our stakeholders and key customers in co-designing a great solution. The result is a customer experience that is frictionless and intuitive.
Andrew StonehamChief Information Officer, Joval Group

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