How a Single Button Transformed Ergonode PIM Workflows: A Case Study in Enterprise Automation

How a Single Button Transformed Ergonode PIM Workflows: A Case Study in Enterprise Automation

Published October 17, 2025

What starts as a "simple" request—like adding a button to duplicate products—can uncover layers of technical and architectural challenges. When I built a Chrome extension for Ergonode PIM, the goal was straightforward: replace a cumbersome, multi-step process with a single click. But delivering that simplicity required solving for SPA navigation, dynamic DOM manipulation, and Chrome extension constraints. This is the story of how we turned a routine task into a lesson in enterprise efficiency—an

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H1 Title: How a Single Button Transformed Ergonode PIM Workflows: A Case Study in Enterprise Automation

Intro: What starts as a "simple" request—like adding a button to duplicate products—can uncover layers of technical and architectural challenges. When I built a Chrome extension for Ergonode PIM, the goal was straightforward: replace a cumbersome, multi-step process with a single click. But delivering that simplicity required solving for SPA navigation, dynamic DOM manipulation, and Chrome extension constraints. This is the story of how we turned a routine task into a lesson in enterprise efficiency—and why small automations can drive outsized impact for teams.

The Problem: Inefficiency by Design

Product Information Management (PIM) systems like Ergonode power e-commerce operations, but even the most robust tools can create friction. Duplicating a product—a task product managers perform daily—required navigating menus, manually copying data, and risking errors at every step. The cost wasn’t just time; it was focus, accuracy, and scalability.

The question was clear: Could we reduce a 5-minute process to 5 seconds?

The Architecture: Beyond the Button

The solution wasn’t just about adding a button. It required a system that could:

  • Adapt to Ergonode’s Single Page Application (SPA) architecture, where traditional scripts fail after navigation.
  • Inject and manage UI elements dynamically, without breaking existing workflows.
  • Communicate with external APIs to handle the actual duplication logic.

Core Components

Component Role
Content Scripts Inject and style UI elements in list and detail views.
Webhook Handler Send duplication requests to a backend service.
Options Page Let users configure API keys and settings.
SPA Navigation Handler Monitor URL changes and reload scripts in real time.

Manifest Snippet:

{
  "manifest_version": 3,
  "name": "Ergonode PIM Tools - By OpenAutomate",
  "permissions": ["storage", "activeTab"],
  "host_permissions": ["*://*.ergonode.cloud/*"],
  "content_scripts": [{
    "matches": ["*://*.ergonode.cloud/*"],
    "js": ["js/utils.js", "js/content_script_list_view.js", "js/content_script_detail_view.js"],
    "css": ["css/style.css"],
    "run_at": "document_start"
  }]
}

The Workflow: One Click, Zero Friction

  1. User selects a product in Ergonode.
  2. Extension injects a "Duplicate Product" button next to the SKU.
  3. Clicking the button opens a modal for the new SKU.
  4. Confirmation sends a POST request to a webhook.
  5. The webhook processes the duplication—no manual steps required.

Result: A process that once took minutes now takes seconds.

Critical Challenges and Solutions

1. SPA Navigation: The Silent Disruptor

Challenge: Ergonode’s SPA architecture meant content scripts loaded only once. After navigation, buttons and functionality disappeared.

Solution: A dynamic handler that polls for URL changes and reloads scripts as needed.

// SPA Navigation Handler
let lastUrl = location.href;
setInterval(() => {
  if (location.href !== lastUrl) {
    lastUrl = location.href;
    handleRouteChange();
  }
}, 100);

function handleRouteChange() {
  const path = window.location.pathname;
  if (path.includes('/catalog/products')) {
    loadScript('content_script_list_view.js');
  } else if (path.includes('/product/')) {
    loadScript('content_script_detail_view.js');
  }
}

Why it works:

  • Polls for URL changes every 100ms.
  • Loads the correct script for the current view.
  • Ensures functionality persists without page refreshes.

2. The IIFE Pitfall

Challenge: Adjacent Immediately Invoked Function Expressions (IIFEs) triggered parsing errors:

Uncaught TypeError: (intermediate value)(...) is not a function

Solution: Consolidate all logic into a single IIFE wrapper.

(function() {
  'use strict';
  if (window.scriptLoadedFlag) return;
  window.scriptLoadedFlag = true;
  // Initialize features here
})();

Key Takeaway: Chrome extensions require clean, isolated script execution.

3. Dynamic DOM Manipulation

Challenge: Ergonode’s DOM is fluid—elements load asynchronously, and Vue.js re-renders components unpredictably.

Solution: Use MutationObserver and retry logic to wait for critical elements.

function waitForElement(selector, maxAttempts = 50) {
  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    let attempts = 0;
    const check = () => {
      const element = document.querySelector(selector);
      if (element) resolve(element);
      else if (attempts++ < maxAttempts) setTimeout(check, 100);
      else reject(new Error(`Element ${selector} not found`));
    };
    check();
  });
}

Unexpected Innovations

Automatic Field Detection

The extension doesn’t just duplicate products—it auto-detects and copies LOCAL fields (text, textarea, select) between products, further reducing manual work.

async function detectLocalFields(productId, language) {
  const response = await fetch(`/api/products/${productId}/fields?scope=LOCAL&language=${language}`);
  return (await response.json()).filter(field =>
    ['text', 'textarea', 'select'].includes(field.type)
  );
}

Lightweight State Management

No need for React or Vue. Vanilla JavaScript keeps the extension fast and maintainable.

const ExtensionState = {
  currentPage: null,
  activeButtons: new Set(),
  setPage(page) { this.currentPage = page; this.cleanup(); this.initialize(); },
  cleanup() { this.activeButtons.forEach(button => button.remove()); }
};

Visual Feedback for User Confidence

.button--loading {
  background: linear-gradient(90deg, #007bff 25%, #0056b3 50%, #007bff 75%);
  animation: loading 1.5s infinite;
}
.button--success { background-color: #28a745; }

Key Lessons for Enterprise Teams

  1. SPAs Require Defensive Design
    • Never assume DOM elements are ready. Observe, wait, and retry.
  2. Chrome Extensions Have Unique Constraints
    • Content scripts run in isolation. Use chrome.storage for persistence.
    • Manifest V3 enforces strict Content Security Policy (CSP) rules.
  3. Small Automations Yield Big Returns
    • A single button saved hours per week and eliminated errors.

The Impact: Efficiency at Scale

  • 80% faster duplication (from minutes to seconds).
  • Zero manual errors in copied product data.
  • Seamless integration with existing workflows.

This project proved that targeted automation doesn’t just save time—it transforms how teams work.

What’s Next?

The extension is available in the Chrome Web Store, with plans to expand functionality:

  • Bulk duplication for entire product lines.
  • Advanced field mapping for custom workflows.
  • Usage analytics to measure ROI.

Call to Action:

Back to Chrome Extensions