Key points
Numendo supports Sphering Group in defining its unique product repository and deploying the Quable PIM solution. Through the intervention of a senior project director, Numendo designed the target European data model, handled mapping and data recovery for the France perimeter, and secured the tech switchover under a tight schedule, ensuring zero service disruption for the group’s e-commerce operations.
18.000
harmonized product references
15
secured days of dual operation
Introduction
Sphering Group: building a single European product repository while securing operational continuity
A leading industrial player in the European chimney flue and ventilation market, Sphering relies on its leading brands — Apros, eka, Eurotip, Joncoux, Lorflex, MK, and SFL — to offer wide ranges of technical and high-performing solutions, supported by its testing and innovation laboratory, WeLab®.
With a catalogue of around 18,000 references, the group initiated a major strategic shift: deploying a single product repository (PIM) at group level. The objective of this approach is to define a group product nomenclature, standardize data creation, and pave the way for e-commerce across all its markets.
Recommended by Quable, Numendo was chosen to support Sphering Group on this structuring project, starting with a critical first phase focused on defining a Group data model and then migrating the existing data for the French scope.
A leading industrial player in the European chimney flue and ventilation market, Sphering relies on its leading brands — Apros, eka, Eurotip, Joncoux, Lorflex, MK, and SFL — to offer wide ranges of technical and high-performing solutions, supported by its testing and innovation laboratory, WeLab®.
With a catalogue of around 18,000 references, the group initiated a major strategic shift: deploying a single product repository (PIM) at group level. The objective of this approach is to define a group product nomenclature, standardize data creation, and pave the way for e-commerce across all its markets.
Recommended by Quable, Numendo was chosen to support Sphering Group on this structuring project, starting with a critical first phase focused on defining a Group data model and then migrating the existing data for the French scope.
Context & Challenge
A tight schedule and technical heterogeneity
The project was launched in a particularly demanding context, marked by a very constrained timeline. Sphering Group absolutely had to deploy its new solution before the end of its contract with the previous tool, set for June 30, 2026.
From the start, a major objective was defined by Emmanuel Thommerel, Head of IT: ensure a transition with no service interruption. To achieve this, it was essential to have at least 15 days of simultaneous operation between the two solutions. This overlap period was designed to secure the switchover, validate the proper functioning of the new platform, and guarantee business continuity for all users.
This challenge, met within particularly tight deadlines, was a key success factor for the project and demonstrates the mobilization of the teams around a shared objective: carrying out a fast, controlled transformation with no impact on business teams.
Beyond timeline constraints, the project also had to address several organizational and technical challenges. Sphering Group’s multi-BU structure, where each country has its own information system, required a detailed understanding of processes and data flows.
One of the key challenges was to accurately map the data model in order to distinguish reference information managed within local ERPs from marketing data managed in Quable. This clarification work was essential to guarantee the quality, consistency, and governance of product data.
At the same time, business continuity was an absolute priority. The teams ensured that the daily operation of the two French e-commerce sites was secured throughout the project, so that the transition to the new platform would have no impact on operations or commercial activity.
The project was launched in a particularly demanding context, marked by a very constrained timeline. Sphering Group absolutely had to deploy its new solution before the end of its contract with the previous tool, set for June 30, 2026.
From the start, a major objective was defined by Emmanuel Thommerel, Head of IT: ensure a transition with no service interruption. To achieve this, it was essential to have at least 15 days of simultaneous operation between the two solutions. This overlap period was designed to secure the switchover, validate the proper functioning of the new platform, and guarantee business continuity for all users.
This challenge, met within particularly tight deadlines, was a key success factor for the project and demonstrates the mobilization of the teams around a shared objective: carrying out a fast, controlled transformation with no impact on business teams.
Beyond timeline constraints, the project also had to address several organizational and technical challenges. Sphering Group’s multi-BU structure, where each country has its own information system, required a detailed understanding of processes and data flows.
One of the key challenges was to accurately map the data model in order to distinguish reference information managed within local ERPs from marketing data managed in Quable. This clarification work was essential to guarantee the quality, consistency, and governance of product data.
At the same time, business continuity was an absolute priority. The teams ensured that the daily operation of the two French e-commerce sites was secured throughout the project, so that the transition to the new platform would have no impact on operations or commercial activity.
For a project so crucial to the European future of our group, I wasn’t looking for a vendor, but a partner. That is exactly what I found with Numendo right from the bidding phase. The teams showed great responsiveness and were able to listen to our constraints while daring to challenge us on the data model. Thanks to Nicolas’s technical expertise and senior posture, we met all our schedule commitments, with the necessary overlap to secure our e-commerce. It is a fluid, efficient collaboration, and an excellent first step before deploying our repository across the rest of the group.
intervention
Delivery: co-design and technical control in service of the Group
Launched in the autumn, the project was based on a genuine co-construction approach between Sphering Group’s teams and Numendo’s experts. Far beyond a simple migration, this collaboration was an opportunity to rethink the product data model to support the Group’s development ambitions.
The teams designed a new product hierarchy incorporating a group-level data layer, while harmonizing the model for all Business Units. In France, significant mapping work was carried out upstream to ensure a smooth correspondence between the old repository and this new European structure, facilitating the transition to the new PIM.
Nicolas, senior consultant at Numendo, played a decisive role throughout the project. His support made it possible to challenge technical choices, work closely with the vendor, and design a robust, scalable data architecture adapted to the Group’s challenges.
Finally, the French teams, already familiar with PIM usage, quickly adopted the new tool. Change management therefore focused on adoption of the new interface and new working methods, encouraging rapid adoption and natural upskilling of users.
Launched in the autumn, the project was based on a genuine co-construction approach between Sphering Group’s teams and Numendo’s experts. Far beyond a simple migration, this collaboration was an opportunity to rethink the product data model to support the Group’s development ambitions.
The teams designed a new product hierarchy incorporating a group-level data layer, while harmonizing the model for all Business Units. In France, significant mapping work was carried out upstream to ensure a smooth correspondence between the old repository and this new European structure, facilitating the transition to the new PIM.
Nicolas, senior consultant at Numendo, played a decisive role throughout the project. His support made it possible to challenge technical choices, work closely with the vendor, and design a robust, scalable data architecture adapted to the Group’s challenges.
Finally, the French teams, already familiar with PIM usage, quickly adopted the new tool. Change management therefore focused on adoption of the new interface and new working methods, encouraging rapid adoption and natural upskilling of users.
Results
A smooth and successful transition
Deployment of the solution for the French scope was successfully completed in mid-June 2026. The go-live, confirmed on June 17, fully met the initial objective: guarantee 15 days of simultaneous operation with the old system before its final shutdown, ensuring a transition with no service interruption.
This success illustrates the quality of collaboration between the Sphering Group, Numendo, and Quable teams. Thanks to a high level of alignment, the project ran particularly smoothly.
Beyond this first production launch, the project now serves as a reference for the entire group. After a stabilization and feedback period, this new harmonized product repository is intended to be gradually deployed in the five other European countries. This new stage will strengthen data consistency, share best practices, and support Sphering Group’s digital transformation at European scale.
Deployment of the solution for the French scope was successfully completed in mid-June 2026. The go-live, confirmed on June 17, fully met the initial objective: guarantee 15 days of simultaneous operation with the old system before its final shutdown, ensuring a transition with no service interruption.
This success illustrates the quality of collaboration between the Sphering Group, Numendo, and Quable teams. Thanks to a high level of alignment, the project ran particularly smoothly.
Beyond this first production launch, the project now serves as a reference for the entire group. After a stabilization and feedback period, this new harmonized product repository is intended to be gradually deployed in the five other European countries. This new stage will strengthen data consistency, share best practices, and support Sphering Group’s digital transformation at European scale.
