When Major Widgets, a single Mom and Pop operation that ran an auto parts supply store, decided to buy three more auto part supply stores, they knew they'd have to change their business model and integrate the systems located in all four stores.

Major Widgets, and each of the three stores it bought, routinely supply a number of auto repair shops that are located near them. Each store delivers parts to customers free-of-charge, as long as the customer is located within twenty-five miles of the store. Each store has its own database for storing auto repair customer accounts, store inventory, and part suppliers.

Business was done over the phone, but now Major Widgets wants to implement an online order service to enable their auto repair customers to order parts more quickly and efficiently. The Web-based service will coordinate orders and deliveries, bill customers, track and update each store's inventory, and order parts from suppliers. Customers can use it to check the status of their orders.

All four stores also sell parts over-the-counter to walk-in customers, for whom they do not typically establish customer accounts. Each of the in-store ordering systems will also tie into its store's central order processing system.

In the long run, Major Widgets wants to centralize order processing and inventory maintenance for all of its stores. Doing so would make it easier to maintain inventory at an optimal level at each store and to analyze business trends in their network of stores. To minimize down time and impact on its resources, Major Widgets' plans to implement these changes in incremental phases.