KLÖCKNER & CO ENTERS INTO COLLABORATION WITH SOFTWARE PROVIDER SAGE
Duisburg, Germany, February 29, 2016 – In the process of digitalizing its entire supply and service chain, Klöckner & Co is increasingly linking up with suppliers and customers for electronic data interchange. A key aspect of this strategy is direct integration with Klöckner customers’ ERP systems using suitable interfaces – for example, for easier electronic access to the large Klöckner & Co product catalog so as to automate order processes. To this end, the international steel and metal distributor has now joined forces in Germany with one of the market leaders for integrated accounting, payroll and payments systems, Sage Software (www.sage.de). The goal is to work in harness with the software provider in marketing an edition of the Sage Office Line accounting and ERP system specially preconfigured for steel and metal processors.
Gisbert Rühl, CEO of Klöckner & Co SE: “The collaboration has great potential. This solution lets Klöckner customers professionally manage their business processes on attractive terms while giving them online access through the system to our extensive range of steel and metal products.”
Andreas Zipser, Managing Director at Sage: “For us, small to mid-size processors of steel and metal products are a key customer segment in which we hope to further grow our business. With our new solution, we can help companies move forward in digitalizing their business processes and gain even greater success as a result. In Klöckner & Co, we have found a prestigious partner combining the necessary industry know-how with extensive digital competencies.”
Following a several-month development phase dedicated to analyzing the needs of Klöckner customers and replicating them in the software, the solution is now being implemented with initial test customers. The solution’s joint marketing launch – in which Klöckner & Co and Sage will be working hand in hand – is slated for the first half of 2016.
About Klöckner & Co:
Klöckner & Co is one of the largest producer-independent distributors of steel and metal products and one of the leading steel service center companies worldwide. Based on its distribution and service network of around 220 locations in 15 countries, the Group supplies more than 150,000 customers. In addition to companies in the construction industry as well as machinery and mechanical engineering, Klöckner & Co serves customers in the automotive and chemical industry, in shipbuilding and in fields of household appliances, consumer goods and energy. Currently Klöckner & Co has around 9,600 employees. The Group had sales of around €6.5 billion in fiscal 2014.
The shares of Klöckner & Co SE are admitted to trading on the regulated market segment (Regulierter Markt) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse) with further post-admission obligations (Prime Standard). Klöckner & Co shares are listed in the MDAX®-Index of Deutsche Börse.
ISIN: DE000KC01000; WKN: KC0100; Common Code: 025808576.
Contact person Klöckner & Co SE:
Christian Pokropp – Press Spokesperson
Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Telephone: +49 (0) 203-307-2050
Fax: +49 (0) 203-307-5025
Email: christian.pokropp@kloeckner.com
About Sage:
Sage is the market leader for integrated accounting, payroll and payment systems, supporting the ambition of the world’s entrepreneurs. Sage began as a small business in the UK 30 years ago and over 13,000 colleagues now support millions of entrepreneurs across 23 countries as they power the global economy. Sage reinvents and simplifies business accounting through brilliant technology, working with a thriving community of entrepreneurs, business owners, tradespeople, accountants, partners and developers. And as a FTSE 100 business, Sage is active in supporting local communities and invests in making a real difference through the philanthropy of the Sage Foundation.
For further information, visit www.sage.de
Contact person Sage Software GmbH: Sage Software GmbH, Jörg Wassink, Phone: +49 (0) 69-50007-1130, E-mail: presse@sage.de