FC Union Berlin is one of Germany’s most inspiring football clubs, known for its deep connection with fans and community-driven initiatives. Rising from an underdog status to competing in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League, the club has built a strong and loyal fan base. The Union Zeughaus brand operates four physical stores, a mobile shop, and an international webshop to serve its fanbase worldwide. As the club’s retail presence grew, so did the need for a more seamless connection between online and offline shopping experiences, ensuring that both fans and store employees could interact with the brand effortlessly.
Tailored POS solutions for seamless online & offline retail integration
Collaborative development approach
Radikal worked closely with Union Berlin’s e-commerce and digital project teams to develop a tailored solution. The project involved a dedicated team, including experts in Shopify development and app development using Gadget. Union Berlin’s existing POS system provided a strong foundation, and Radikal refined the setup with custom applications using Gadget to further streamline operations.
Jersey and brick configurator
One of the key implementations in POS was the jersey configurator, which allowed fans to create their own football jerseys in-store by selecting a name, player, shirt type, and size. The integration ensured that the configurator worked smoothly both online and offline.
In addition, a brick configurator was introduced, enabling fans to purchase personalized stadium bricks for placement in the club’s Tunnel of Fame, located under the iconic scoreboard. Each brick features an individual engraving, dedicated to a special person or moment, further strengthening the club’s community connection.
Blacklist integration
To maintain brand integrity, Radikal developed a blacklist integration, preventing inappropriate names being used on jerseys. This system operates through a custom frontend portal within Shopify, allowing the club to control restricted words and ensure compliance with brand standards.
Streamlining membership & reward systems
Membership discounts and reward tracking were also significantly improved. A new scanning system for membership cards was implemented, allowing store managers to quickly verify member status for discounts while ensuring restricted products remained excluded.
This streamlined the in-store purchasing process and reduced errors. Additionally, Shopify products are now automatically synchronized between the online store and cash registers, reducing manual data entry and improving operational efficiency.
Improved back-office management
A key component of the solution was the development of a fully customized admin dashboard powered by Gadget. This dashboard was tailored to Union Berlin’s specific needs, offering real-time data insights that enhanced back-office management. Store managers could now monitor sales, inventory, and customer interactions more effectively, enabling better decision-making.
Efficiency for store managers
Custom POS tiles were introduced to improve the user experience for store managers. These tiles simplified navigation and allowed for quicker transaction processing, reducing training time for new employees and increasing efficiency. The membership card integration was further enhanced by enabling card scanning instead of manual data entry, allowing customers to receive their benefits more quickly and accurately.
Conclusion
Radikal’s ability to develop custom POS solutions and integrate them seamlessly with Shopify has transformed Union Berlin’s retail operations. By eliminating manual inefficiencies and enhancing customer engagement, Union Berlin is now better positioned to serve its passionate fan base both online and in-store.
This case study highlights Radikal’s expertise in building custom Shopify POS apps, strong collaboration and delivering tailored solutions that drive business impact.
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