Bayer, a leading global pharmaceutical company, needed a cohesive digital platform for its extensive consumer health portfolio, spanning 23 unique brands and hundreds of localized sites worldwide. Faced with the expiration of their legacy platform and a lack of centralization, Bayer turned to us for a solution that would unify brand experiences, empower marketing agility, and speed up site creation across all markets.
The Challenge
Bayer required a comprehensive Master Design System that could support all brands, standardize content creation processes, and meet their tight one-year timeline. The goal was to develop a scalable platform that allowed marketers to easily build and edit site content without coding knowledge while achieving a 5x increase in speed-to-market over the legacy system. With a decentralized hosting structure and inconsistent brand implementation across global sites, Bayer needed a robust, unified approach to boost efficiency and brand consistency across their digital estate.
Our Approach
Working closely with Bayer, we designed and deployed an integrated, low-code platform powered by Acquia Site Studio to meet their goals. Here’s how we approached this monumental transformation:
1.Master Design System Implementation
We developed a scalable Master Design System to provide consistent branding and functionality across Bayer’s diverse portfolio. Using ready-made layout patterns and templates, we enabled Bayer’s marketing teams to customize and launch sites efficiently, accommodating both brand-specific needs and local market nuances.
2.Acquia Site Studio Integration
Leveraging our expertise in Acquia Site Studio, we implemented a low-code solution that allowed editors to build pages, update messaging, and publish content quickly. The Style Guide Manager empowered teams to manage multi-brand theming while preserving consistency, offering flexibility within well-defined brand parameters.
3.Centralised Package Management
To streamline maintenance and updates, we implemented a package management solution for seamless deployment of bug fixes and feature enhancements across all sites. This approach ensured stability and reliability, reducing technical overhead and enhancing the overall user experience.
Testimonial
“Working with Bayer on this transformative project underscored the impact of a centralized design system in a global context. Together, we built a dynamic, low-code platform that empowers their marketing teams to act with agility and precision across all brands and markets—setting a strong foundation for future digital growth.”
Julian Tedstone
Managing Director, Coherence
The Outcome
Within a year, we successfully migrated all 23 brands and their localizations onto the new platform. This Master Design System has transformed Bayer’s marketing agility, reducing site build times by 80% and achieving a 100% improvement in speed-to-market. Bayer now enjoys a streamlined, efficient, and scalable digital estate that aligns with their global branding and strategic goals.
About
At Coherence, we specialize in delivering agile, scalable solutions that empower global brands to achieve digital consistency and efficiency. Our partnership with Bayer reflects our commitment to creating transformative, future-ready platforms that drive marketing agility and ensure brand integrity across complex, multi-market portfolios.
