Kenmore: Custom Product Catalog Management
How we built a custom Ruby on Rails application for Kenmore to manage their extensive product catalog with flexible admin interface and scalable architecture.
Overview
Kenmore, one of the most recognized appliance brands in the U.S., partnered with Kwanso to build a custom Ruby on Rails application for managing its extensive product catalog. The solution provided a flexible admin interface to manage products, attributes, categories, and assets — enabling the Kenmore team to keep their digital catalog accurate, up-to-date, and scalable.
The Challenge
Kenmore's legacy catalog systems struggled to keep pace with the demands of a modern e-commerce experience. Their needs included:
- A centralized platform to manage products, categories, and metadata.
- A customizable admin area for non-technical staff to easily update product information.
- Efficient import/export workflows for bulk product updates.
- Support for complex product hierarchies and relationships.
- A scalable framework to support future integrations with APIs and front-end applications.
Our Approach
Kwanso developed a bespoke product catalog management system using Ruby on Rails, with a focus on flexibility, scalability, and usability.
Key Features We Delivered:
Custom Admin Area
- Intuitive UI for product managers to add/edit/delete products.
- Support for categories, product families, and attribute management.
- Asset management for product images and documents.
Catalog APIs
- Exposed endpoints to connect Kenmore's product catalog with external platforms.
- Built JSON feeds to support front-end applications and partner integrations.
Bulk Import/Export
- CSV-based product upload and export for large-scale catalog updates.
- Automated validation to reduce errors during bulk imports.
Search & Filtering
- Custom search tools for admins to quickly locate products.
- Attribute-based filtering for efficient management.
Infrastructure & QA
- Deployed staging and production environments for smooth releases.
- Conducted QA cycles covering product workflows, imports, and admin UX.
Product Catalog Management System
How we built a custom Ruby on Rails application for Kenmore to manage their extensive product catalog with flexible admin interface and scalable architecture.
Kenmore Catalog Hierarchy
The Kenmore product catalog hierarchy
Key Achievements
Streamlined Catalog Management
Admins gained full control over product data without developer involvement.
Improved Efficiency
Bulk import/export significantly reduced manual work and operational overhead.
Scalability
Rails-based architecture supported Kenmore's evolving digital needs.
Integration Ready
APIs enabled future e-commerce and third-party system integrations.
Key Highlights
Custom Ruby on Rails System
Built a bespoke catalog management system tailored to Kenmore's specific needs.
User-Friendly Admin Area
Intuitive interface for non-technical staff to manage products efficiently.
Bulk Import/Export
CSV-based workflows with validation for large-scale catalog updates.
Search & Filtering
Custom search tools and attribute-based filtering for efficient management.
Future-Ready APIs
Designed APIs for future integrations and scalability across platforms.
Tech Stack
Ruby on Rails
PostgreSQL
Redis
Sidekiq
HTML5/CSS3/JS
Heroku/AWS
Ready to Modernize Your Product Catalog?
Let's discuss how we can help you build a custom catalog management system that scales with your business needs.