Steinpol, who is a leading European manufacturer of pad furniture, trust the bpi Publisher, the cross media publishing and catalogue management solutions for the management for all product data. Therefore, is the cross-media publishing and catalogue management solution used as a connected planning and publishing system for all creating and for the management of international sale documents for all process channels and languages by Steinpol.

Steinpol

Steinpol is a European manufacturer of high-quality sofas and armchairs. They also have 4 branches that belong to them, which are Polsteria, Selection, sit&more and poco. Steinpol has a big focus on high craftsmanship as well as design, precision and detail. The furniture does not just stand out for the incredible quality, but also because of the wide variety of functions the client can choose from. The furniture manufacturer from Poland stands for 30 years of experience. The Steinpol-group delivers into over 30 countries and can proudly count over 8,000 satisfied customers.

bpi Publisher

Continuous product improvement, high finish quality and up to date designs are the daily changes that Steinpol faces. The European business counts on maintained product information, pricelists and type planning in different languages for the marketing of the high-quality products of the presentation of the wide range of products. Therefore, the company decided to go for the bpi Publisher as a central cornerstone for the optimisation of the internal data structure and the future secured designing of the processes.

bpi solutions implement the branch leading software usage with over 30 years of practical experience. Steinpol uses the bpi Publisher as a price leading system. The bpi Publisher convinces in Steinpol’s company with very comfortable price and condition testing with completely automated price export into ERP-System. Overviews on one side provide a report about which prices can be adapted for which products. On the other hand, automated rules, workflows and processes steer the imports and exports as well as the data adjustments between the integrated applications ERP inside, InDesign and bpi Publisher in the night.

The branch solution supports the increase in efficiency of all publishing processes and increases the output without creating any additional costs. Steinpol is able to control all distribution channels with a PIM-system because of the new system. All data is now processed, used and managed profitably. The manual effort that Steinpol had to use before was majorly reduced and made room for more efficient business processes.

bpi was at Germany’s biggest furnishing fair as an impulse provider for the mobile working in the distribution. Further subjects, which keep gaining more meaning in the furniture business, are digital marketing and e-business.  

Inspiring, innovative, impulse giving. With the imm Spring Edition cologne was able to finally send an important statement to the market once again. As a fair that is purely for specialists with a shortened duration, the one time in June happening imm Spring Edition focussed on efficient business and offered the estimated 30,000 branch participants from 116 countries an incredible platform for lucrative business and opportunities and successful networking.  

Bpi solutions finished the imm Spring Edition with a very good result.  More and more businesses are realising the advantages of mobile working in the distribution market and put this realisation into practice in the process. At the imm Spring Edition at the beginning of June, this approach kept being brought up in conversations with the exhibitors. Michael Wilke, bpi’s distribution manager: “The quality of the conversations and the resonance to the presentations were very promising. The subject of mobile working in the distribution department had a lot of encouragement.“

Focus on future-orientated solutions

What does mobile working in the distribution department mean for the business? How client orientated is the furniture industry? Digital marketing and e-business – what is coming for the branch and what will advance the furniture industry? Bpi solution’s CRM-solution has been successfully supporting the furniture market for a lot of years with the comprehensive functions from placement management, the early warning system up to the detailed evaluation and the yearly planning. The mobile version uses the up to date advantages of the sales performers. And compliments the varies possibilities of the sales performer systems. Especially the offline function inspires, which allows the user to access all the data from any location even when there is no internet connection. Mobile CRM means a variety of supported platforms. Therefore, the application is useable by Android, iOS and Windows. In addition to the optimisation of the client relationship, are economic factors reason for the implementation of the general solution.

Inspiration and central access point

With a wide solution offer, which ranges from PIM and catalogue management for all media to the established furniture configurator for all platforms, presents bpi the comprehensive IT-offer of the market. An important subject, which was brought up in pretty much every conversation at the fair, was the subject of digital marketing and e-business in the furniture trade. Burgdigital, solutions partner of bpi solutions, provided useful insights and sustainable strategies, to increase the possible range of communication measure, to make e-commerce strategies reality and to optimise the client relationship. Burgdigital supports a lot of furniture traders, manufacturers and associations to digitalise and with the digital market development with this expertise for multiple years.  

The conversations in cologne were very promising for bpi solutions. Anke Kortkamp, CEO of bpi solutions, knows the importance of the fair in cologne: „With a clear focus on business, inspiration and networking the fair provided us with a good platform and a central access point to our clients and people with interest in the furniture market.”  Henning Kortkamp, CEO of bpi solutions adds: „The feedback was overwhelming. The key is the comprehensive variety of functionality for approaching the clients and the design of worlds of experience. We convinced our conversation partners and bpi solutions was able to substantiate the expectations, provide a head start through future orientated solutions, quality and reliability.“The trade fair duo kitchen living trends and furniture Austria 2023 is described as the most important business event in the furniture and furnishing industry for Austria, southern Germany and their neighbouring countries. On May 3, 2023, it’s that time of year again in Austria: bpi solutions and burgdigital will surprise you with new, innovative IT applications and services at booth 5 in hall 2023 at the Salzburg Exhibition Centre up to and including May 41, 10

The kitchen and furnishing trade fair duo addresses specialist retailers, craftsmen, real estate outfitters and project developers in a target-oriented, trend-oriented and comprehensive manner. It arouses desires in these target groups, both for red-hot product innovations and on the knowledge side. There is hardly any other business event where good business is so closely intertwined with concerted knowledge transfer.

IT specialists for the furniture industry

bpi solutions is one of the long-standing IT service providers in the furniture industry. Since the beginning of the 1980s, bpi solutions has been supporting the entire value chain in the furniture industry with modular solutions. With the CRM solution bpi Sales Performer and the cross-media publishing application bpi Publisher, bpi solutions has been one of the leading IT experts in the furniture industry for years.

Together with burgdigital, bpi solutions will be showcasing the topic of e-commerce this year with comprehensive possibilities and best practice based on Shop ware applications. In addition to the classic topics of CRM, publishing and PIM systems and master data management,
e-commerce promotes the growth of the furniture industry. The market volume of the furniture industry is expected to grow by 6.9% annually. The current analyses also show that even among companies in the industry that already have experience with e-commerce, e-commerce is still seen as a high priority. For example, 78% of them plan to expand their web shop in the next two years. Or upgrade, which is largely based on high customer demand. And for good reason, because web shops offer endless possibilities to display products and product variations online. This makes an online catalogue or web shop much more attractive. At the same time, new e-commerce software technology raises the bar for the buying experience of customers and professional shoppers.

Optimisation of business models

bpi solutions and burgdigital are ready to quickly and efficiently integrate new technologies and competencies that are pressing onto the market into the respective business model. A special role is played by the IT organization, which is constantly confronted with these challenges. The Bielefeld IT experts support companies in mastering today’s and tomorrow’s requirements in a digital world. The organization is also taken into account in the design of customer interaction, the continuous improvement of its processes, the introduction of new IT services. In addition to organizational changes, another focus will be placed on the automation of IT infrastructure and IT operations. After all, companies not only need the right technologies to successfully shape the upheaval, but also the implementation of the necessary concepts for optimal use of the solutions.

bpi solutions and LEADINFO enter into a strategic partnership to jointly support medium-sized companies in optimizing their marketing and sales activities. By using the solutions of both software partners, companies are able to shorten the sales cycle and at the same time increase the average order value.

Lead info B.V.

Lead info B.V. is a young, dynamic company. In less than three years, Lead info has grown from 2 to around 30 employees with 5 nationalities. The company operates from Dusseldorf and Rotterdam. The company has become a leading software company in the Benelux and the DACH region. With the product of the same name, Lead info wants to empower all companies to fill their sales pipeline with high-quality leads, so that they can better compete with their competitors and increase their sales. Lead info supports brands in optimizing their sales activities in compliance with the GDPR. This allows them to concentrate on the essentials: building business relationships.

Strategic Partnership

“The strategic partnership with Lead info is an important building block for the further development of our product portfolio,” say Henning and Anke Kortkamp, Managing Directors at bpi solutions. “bpi solutions with its many years of experience, industry know-how and Lead info as a dynamic company with its unique technology expertise are an excellent match. Together, we will play an important role in positioning SMEs even better for the future.”

Lead info Country Manager DACH Maaike Molenkamp explains: “bpi solutions relies on innovative software solutions. This optimizes the company’s own business and provides customers with innovative, integrated applications. Ambitious companies choose Lead info and we are thrilled that bpi solutions has chosen Lead info. Together, we will always provide customers with the best leads and build and expand business relationships with our solutions.”

From now on, customers with the CRM solutions from bpi solutions, such as the bpi Sales Performer and CAS genesis World, can use the automatic linking of website visitors to existing CRM records, automatically create new visitors in the CRM data records and have them logged. In addition, active notifications can be distributed according to self-definable rules in the company when visitors visit the pages.

Musterring, an internationally renowned and active furnishing brand, has opted for the CRM industry solution Sales Performer furniture and implemented it in 2022. The company is using the CRM application to accelerate sales processes and make customer dialog even more efficient.

Musterring

In 1938, furniture architect Josef Höner bundled the services of designers, manufacturers and dealers under the umbrella of a common brand, which he named Musterring. Today, this trend-setting cooperation system is more up-to-date than ever: Musterring has its brand products manufactured under license by selected, highly qualified production companies according to its own design and quality specifications. The wide-ranging Musterring collection – with a multitude of materials, colors and comfort features – offers a great variety of planning options right up to the design of a completely individual piece of furniture.

bpi Sales Performer furniture

Musterring opted for bpi Sales Performer at the end of 2021 and successfully implemented the project in spring 2022. The company is using the new application to optimize its sales processes and thus meet the challenges of the digital transformation. The CRM solution supports the company in its efforts to constantly improve processes and make even better use of existing data.

Sales Performer furniture networks customer information throughout the company. The country-specific language versions make it easier for users to work at the respective locations. This enables Musterring to address customers and business partners in a targeted manner and to manage addresses, contact persons and interests in a uniform manner.

Clearly defined workflows, responsibilities and escalation rules ensure that every inquiry at Musterring is answered promptly. The bpi Sales Performer convinces with its adaptability and the possibility to process all transactions without media discontinuity. This not only accelerates the service processes in the company, but also improves the quality of the data stock in the long term with the analysis options.

Musterring sees itself even better positioned for current challenges with a wide range of services offered by bpi Sales Performer, from relationship management and placement management to unlimited statistical evaluations.

the year 2022 presented many of us with major challenges. After the peak of the pandemic seemed to be overcome, war broke out in Ukraine. Rising costs posed immense problems for many people and companies.

However, appointments in presence were finally possible again. The combination of digital communication and face-to-face meetings changed working life again in a very positive way.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your trust, your loyalty and the good cooperation and wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and lots of strength and energy for a successful and healthy year 2023.

Yours, Henning and Anke Kortkamp
and the entire bpi solutions team.

PS: Read our Christmas Focus 2022 and find out all the news about bpi, our solutions, products and what to expect next year (directly to downloads).

Voglauer, a traditional manufacturer of natural wood furniture from Austria, uses the advantages of XcalibuR’s bidirectional data exchange to exchange master data and all transaction data quickly, directly and securely between manufacturer and retailer and to offer retailers far-reaching support all the way to the POS.

Voglauer Gschwandtner & Zwilling GmbH

Voglauer Gschwandtner & Zwilling GmbH has been producing furniture and hotel room furnishings of the premium class for the European market for about 90 years. In the best tradition of craftsmanship and with the help of the most modern technology. The small carpenter’s workshop, founded in 1932 by Sebastian Gschwandtner in Abtenau, has become an internationally successful company with 440 employees, which is particularly known for its natural wood furniture. Until today Voglauer is a family-run business.

XcalibuR

For many decades, Voglauer has pursued a very high quality standard in the manufacture and production of natural wood furniture. This claim also does not allow any compromises in data communication with the trading partners. Voglauer relies on the B2B communication solution XcalibuR. In order to make the master data available in the own company from the ERP system Insight from 2020 directly available to the dealers via XcalibuR. In the past, the reconciliation of master data on the manufacturer side with the transaction data (e.g. order / order response) on the dealer side was only possible with a great deal of effort. With XcalibuR, Voglauer and the trading partners can now interact directly. At the same time, XcalibuR solves the problem of configuring and electronically ordering variant articles. Voglauer thus gives retailers the opportunity to significantly shorten the selection and ordering process. To reduce the error rate in the variant selection by the logical-correct compilation considerably.

Today, Voglauer is able to automate processes with XcalibuR and reduce error-prone manual routine work to a minimum. In addition, XcalibuR facilitates the daily work routine at Voglauer through the simple exchange of versioned binary data. Large amounts of data, such as multimedia data, are automatically updated at the trading partners. This is because XcalibuR’s versioning mechanism independently recognizes which data needs to be updated at the partner and which does not.

Dietsch Polstermöbel, a family-run upholstered furniture manufacturer in its fifth generation in Springstille, relies on bpi solutions and the B2B communication solution “XcalibuR” from Diomex Software GmbH & Co. KG in Bad Oeynhausen for the optimization of business processes and data optimization.

Dietsch upholstered furniture

The predecessors of the medium-sized family business Dietsch Polstermöbel GmbH from Schmalkalden were first mentioned in a document in 1877. Today, the modern, future-oriented upholstered furniture company with its state-of-the-art production facility in Springstille employs more than 180 people. The company, now in its fifth generation, has been awarded the “Golden M” by the German Furniture Quality Association for its outstanding quality. The sustainable upholstery collections are offered through selected furniture stores throughout Germany.

XcalibuR

As a manufacturer, Dietsch Polstermöbel is interested in optimizing existing processes on the one hand. On the other hand, to continuously improve the service to the trade and to reduce error rates. This is exactly where XcalibuR comes in. Therefore, the company from Thuringia relies on the advantages of the bidirectional exchange of master and transaction data between industry and retail. Because these are specially designed and optimized for handling flat and configurable products. Dietsch Polstermöbel imports existing IDM data and delivers it to the respective retail partner via an encrypted direct connection. The integration of XcalibuR into various merchandise management systems as well as online stores, mobile applications, etc. allows the data supplied by Dietsch Polstermöbel to be used directly in the retail sector for all multichannel processes.

With the introduction of XcalibuR, processes are optimized. The catalog data provided by Dietsch Polstermöbel maps the entire process with the help of XcalibuR. The goal is the automatic exchange of data from the provision of the individually coordinated catalogs and purchasing conditions at Dietsch Polstermöbel to the recording of order data in the customer dialog at the retail partners and the return of the order data to the production system. Dietsch Polstermöbel reduces transmission errors at the retailer with XcalibuR. Optimizes throughput times noticeably. Utilizes savings potential and further improves service to retail partners.

The well-known furniture brand hülsta consistently thinks digitally and has been aligning traditional processes with new technologies for some time. New on board is now the Sales Performer mobile. The furniture manufacturer from Stadtlohn will start using the mobile CRM solution in mid-October, giving the sales team a smart tool. Whether digital customer files, placement management info or statistics: In the future, the hülsta team in sales will have all important info at their fingertips with just a few clicks.

hülsta

hülsta is one of Germany’s best-known furniture brands. With its diverse collections – all ‘Made in Germany’ – the traditional manufacturer covers almost all furnishing segments. Consumers can find the collections in many furniture stores – in Germany as well as worldwide. The sales team holds many discussions every day and is a close partner to retailers. With the new sales dashboard, this intensive collaboration is now being elevated to a new, digital level that offers numerous added values.

bpi Sales Performer

“The mobile CRM application supports hülsta in its efforts to constantly improve processes and make even better use of existing data. Whether information on market partners, placements or complaints, daily updated data and statistical evaluations. All desired information is immediately accessible. In this way, bpi Sales Performer mobile meets the challenges of the digital transformation, creates synergy effects and increases transparency in daily work,” emphasizes Benjamin Blanck, Director Business Innovation | Hülsta Digital.

He and his colleagues were particularly impressed by the high user-friendliness and usability of the application. Minimal loading times, push notifications and offline content provide more information and transparency.

With the bpi Sales Performer, hülsta already relies on a second tool from bpi. The leading industry solution bpi Publisher has already been in use for some time, and has now been consistently expanded to include the new mobile system.