Case Study - Making Documentation a Sales Tool: How We Turned Product Specs into a Competitive Edge

The Situation Before Our Intervention

Residence Supply offers premium lighting and design products, catering to both retail customers and interior design professionals. As their catalog expanded, they began receiving frequent requests for technical product documentation—things like spec sheets with detailed materials, dimensions, installation instructions, and certifications. The issue? They had no scalable system for delivering these documents. Every request required manually assembling a PDF—pulling information from different product fields, formatting it, and merging additional documents like install guides or compliance certificates. This wasn’t just inefficient—it was unsustainable as the product line grew and more trade clients came on board. They needed a solution that would be automated, professional, and easy to access—something Shopify didn’t offer out of the box.

Solving the Problems

To address the challenge, we designed and developed a custom Shopify app that automates the entire process, tailored to the specific needs of Residence Supply.

1. Automated PDF Spec Sheet Generator

   We built a system that dynamically pulls product data—including title, description, variants, images, and key custom metafields (like materials, voltage, dimensions, and certifications). With one click, it compiles everything into a branded, well-formatted PDF spec sheet.

2. Support for Extra Attachments

   To give even more value, we added functionality that allows staff to upload and merge additional PDFs—such as installation guides or certification reports—into the final document. This ensures all relevant technical documentation is packaged together and ready to download.

3. Frontend Access for Customers

   We added a “Download Spec Sheet” button directly on each product page (e.g., the Shibui Pendant Light), so customers and trade professionals can instantly access the full spec sheet without submitting a request or waiting for support.

Outcome

Our custom solution delivered immediate, high-impact results:

• Massive Time Savings Manual spec sheet creation was eliminated, freeing up hours of staff time and reducing the risk of errors or inconsistencies.

• Professional & Consistent Branding

  All PDFs are generated in a clean, branded format that reflects the premium feel of Residence Supply’s product line—building trust and credibility with trade clients.

• Improved Customer Experience

  End users, designers, and contractors can now instantly download the documentation they need—streamlining project planning and boosting buyer confidence.

• Increased Trust & Sales Enablement

  Offering transparent, easily accessible technical specs elevated the perceived value of each product and made Residence Supply a more trusted partner for professionals.

The Key Takeaway

When you’re selling high-end, specification-driven products, access to technical documentation isn’t a bonus—it’s a necessity.By automating the creation and delivery of spec sheets, we helped Residence Supply do more than just save time—we turned documentation into a competitive advantage, improving user experience, strengthening brand trust, and enabling scale. The lesson? Even “boring” backend tools can drive real business results—when they’re built with purpose.

Results: Time-saving automation, elevated customer experience, enhanced perceived product value.

Services provided