How we are Shaping the Future of our Product with Strong IT Architecture

Our fulfillmenttools platform features a powerful order routing engine designed to make optimal routing decisions for order processing.Our Next Generation Order Management encompasses additional functionalities that enhance the fulfillment process for retailers and brands This requires a stable yet flexible IT architecture. As an IT architect, I design and define these architectures to efficiently support business processes while ensuring scalability and security for the future. But what does this entail in practice?

At fulfillmenttools, we utilize a flexible and efficient architectural setup where multiple IT architects oversee different teams and collaborate on shared central tasks. While we collectively manage essential core topics, we establish distinct responsibilities when technical differentiation is beneficial. This approach enables each architect to concentrate on their specialized areas while fostering close collaboration across teams. 

This structured division ensures comprehensive coverage of all key areas of our platform.  It includes our DOMS with its order routing, inventory orchestration with inventory processing, order fulfillment for operational processes such as picking and packing along with analytics, cloud and our core area. This approach guarantees holistic and efficient support for all essential components of our system. 

A powerful Distributed Order Management System (DOMS) serves as the backbone of efficient fulfillment. It manages orders across different sales channels, optimizes stock levels and facilitates seamless order processing. The architecture of this system demands distinct domain delineations and close collaboration among the dedicated IT architects.

The role of an IT architect varies across companies. Fundamentally, an IT architect designs and refines a company’s IT infrastructure, focusing on technology, networks, hardware, software, and data protection. They plan and establish architectures to effectively support business processes, ensuring scalability and security for the future.

In small to medium-sized companies, there is often one IT architect whohandles a range of architectural tasks. As companies grow, the likelihood of having additional or specialized architect roles increases.

At fulfillmenttools, each IT architect has authority over their specific domain. To ensure seamless interaction, we continually synchronize our solutions both technologically and conceptually. approach is essential for developing a DOMS that adapts to market demands, ensures scalability, and delivers an optimal fulfillment experience for customers. This approach is essential for developing a DOMS that adapts to market demands, ensures scalability, and delivers an optimal fulfillment experience for customers. 

Despite having distinct domains, they need to function as a cohesive product externally. Our goal is to provide a consistent, end-to-end user experience—whether it’s for customers utilizing our APIs or internal stakeholders depending on our solutions.

The daily work of an IT architect at fulfillmenttools involves versatility and coordination:

• • Participating in daily stand-ups with the teams
  • Coordinating roadmap topics and strategic initiatives
  • Conducting sync meetings with developers, e.g. to clarify implementation details
  • Developing new innovative concepts, selecting technologies, and engaging in strategic planning to ensure our product’s future viability
  • Communicating technical concepts to teams, sales, professional services and management
  • Ensuring quality assurance

Beyond professional and technical expertise, strong communication skills are crucial. An IT architect bridges the gap between technical and business requirements, makes decisions (even unpopular ones) and ensures that the IT strategy aligns with the company’s long-term goals.

Acting as a bridge between IT, business and sales, the IT architect is a pivotal driver of innovation and strategic IT decisions. This role demands a high degree of flexibility, as frequent  topic changes and interdisciplinary coordination are routine.

Target group-oriented communication is crucial for conveying complex information effectively. Developers require technical specifics, while management  seeks understanding of strategic and economic implications. Relevance is key: understanding what your audience truly needs to know. Clear, concise messages based on the elevator pitch principle are effective for delivering information quickly. Additionally, successful communication hinges on flexibility—the ability to answer questions and adapt your explanatory style to the context.

Ultimately, as IT architects at fulfillmenttools, we are far more than just technologists. We actively shape the future of the company together with the entire team.