Due to the rights system, certain users may only access selected information. The single sign-on function makes it easy to switch between applications, while a demilitarized zone (DMZ) protects against hackers. In-depth changes regarding authentication in the CMS and the new PHP framework FLOW prevent confidential information from being transferred from the intranet to the Internet. The results of a satisfaction survey conducted on the portal at the end of the project show that Deutsche Post's branch partners are impressed by the portal: Three times more employees took part in the survey than in previous years and the portal itself received 8.1 out of a possible 10 points.

Introducing a platform based on TYPO3

With around 26,000 retail outlets and over 7,000 points of sale for letter and parcel stamps, Deutsche Post has one of the largest networks of retail outlets in Germany. The branches, most of which are integrated into retail outlets, are operated exclusively by cooperation partners. In order to support them, a new platform based on TYPO3 was to be introduced. This was because the old partner portal had reached its technical limits.

The challenge

Connecting the partner portal to SAP

Deutsche Post's requirements for the partner portal were high: it was to include numerous components, including an e-learning area, an area for test checks and a multi-layered information area. The comprehensive functionalities of the new portal should enable employees to serve and inform their customers much better. In addition, the portal was to be connected to SAP and the branch IT system, support a rights system and offer a single sign-on function. To protect the intranet and Deutsche Post's branch IT systems from unauthorized access from the Internet, there was also to be no direct connection to the Internet.

More about our SAP integration

The solution: an agile approach

When developing the partner portal for Deutsche Post, punkt.de relied on agile processes: Instead of creating a comprehensive catalog of requirements with all specifications in advance of the project, the TYPO3 experts implemented small sub-components in a 14-day cycle. This allowed the first results to be delivered after just two weeks. And the quality of the code was impressive: The error rate was only 0.5 percent - the industry standard is three percent. This high quality was made possible by a fully automated deployment process: new code was tested automatically so that the developers could correct any errors and only then release new elements.

The information area of the new portal now also offers employees in the partner branches a FAQ list and a search function that allows them to find texts, pdf documents and files more quickly and easily. And the rights system ensures that specific user groups only have access to information that has been approved for them. As the partner portal can be accessed both via an authorized Internet connection and via the branch IT system, punkt.de has implemented a single sign-on function: users only have to log into the portal once and can then switch between the systems without further authentication, for example to reorder stamps via an external tool. The necessary protection against hackers is provided by a demilitarized zone that separates the intranet and the Internet via a firewall. This allows users to access the Internet while the intranet and branch IT system are protected. In addition, in-depth changes to the authentication of the CMS and the PHP framework FLOW prevent confidential editorial content from being transferred from the intranet to the internet.