Retail & Consumer

From scattered systems to one strong platform

How we helped Biblioteksentralen build for the future

Strategy & Advisory,

NoA Ignite — The digital consultancy that delivers

Challenge
Biblioteksentralen’s systems were outdated. Digital solutions and data were built as monoliths. The legacy tools made the work cumbersome, staff felt unproductive, and the customers were often left confused. Rising license and operational costs and process inefficiency made change urgent.
Solution
We built a modern, connected platform. Two new online stores improved the customer experience for both Biblioteksentralens direct customers and the customers of their daughter company, BS Eurobib. A fresh ERP and CRM streamlined operations. A national metadatabase, Sanity, and Omnium tied everything together.
Impact
Librarians are now able to place the right order faster. Staff face less manual work. Leaders act on clearer insights. Costs are lower, efficiency higher, and efficient operations are already bringing results in both lower costs and higher customer satisfaction. The new solution has also proven essential for growth, already helping them win new contracts.
Tech
- CMS
  Sanity
- OMS and E-commerce engine
  Omnium
- ERP System
  Netsuite
- CRM
  Salesforce
- Product Discovery
  Algolia

Fragmented systems and rising costs

Biblioteksentralen’s digital setup had reached its breaking point. Each product line, like books, journals, and equipment, lived in its own separate online store. That meant fractured customer journeys, more clicks, and difficulties of getting a complete view of orders, often leaving customers confused and frustrated.

Behind the scenes, the picture was just as complex. Old systems demanded high maintenance. Data lived in silos, which made updates slow and unreliable. Everyday tasks like managing product information or following up on customers became time-consuming and costly.

And with one of their core systems approaching the end of life, the risks of staying idle grew too big to ignore. Without a reset, Biblioteksentralen faced higher costs, heavier admin, and fewer opportunities to innovate. To keep supporting libraries in their mission, they needed a stronger technical foundation.

Building an integrated platform

We started with deep pre-studies to define exactly what was needed. The blueprint was to build an integrated platform, connecting e-commerce, with ERP, CRM, and book data. The project launched with the commerce accelerator, Adapt, using Sanity as CMS with prebuilt content blocks in the storefront, Omnium as pre-integrated OMS and e-commerce engine. The e-commerce platform is hosted in Cloudflare with Fastly CDN and uses Salesforce as CRM. All designed to work seamlessly with a new NetSuite ERP backbone and the database for book metadata.

Then came delivery. We launched new web shops for both BS Eurobib and Biblioteksentralen’s core operations. Modern UX-design met robust technical architecture, supported by reliable integrations. At the same time, we supported the creation of a new metadata database (BMDB). It now provides Norwegian libraries with higher-quality data and easier reuse.

For CRM, we laid the groundwork and implemented Salesforce ensuring a solid fit from day one.

Through every step, the focus stayed on collaboration and knowledge transfer. Strategy, design, and tech, connected and delivered for the long run.

A stronger foundation for libraries

This transformation reshaped how Biblioteksentralen works and how libraries access its services.

Today, the organization runs on a consolidated, headless and cloud-based platform. Web shops bseurobib.no and bibliotekenes.no now deliver a unified, user-friendly experience. Search is stronger, product presentation clearer, and navigation easier. For libraries, that means faster orders, better customer experience and simpler workdays.

Inside the organization, workflows are streamlined. Product management, content updates, sales, and customer follow-up are structured and, in many cases, automated. Manual effort is reduced. Errors are fewer. Employees gain time for higher-value work, while operational and maintenance costs drop over the long term.

Salesforce now provides the 360-degree customer view the team had been missing. That unlocks targeted communication, sharper segmentation, and a more data-driven approach to service. The metadata well established an authoritative source for Norwegian libraries. Data quality is higher, and reuse is effortless.

The new architecture, built on Omnium, Sanity, and powered by our accelerator Adapt, is ready for tomorrow as future needs change and technology advances. Adding services is faster. Testing new concepts is easier. Biblioteksentralen is no longer held back by outdated tools. It has the flexibility to adapt, grow, and keep leading knowledge sharing into the future.