Digitalisation of the Construction Industry

In order to meet the demands of a fast-moving, digital world, builders’ merchants and construction equipment manufacturers must transfer interaction with their customers from analogue to digital. The possibilities to generate added value for customers and business partners are almost unlimited.

From e-commerce platforms with special features for B2B and B2C, networked devices (IoT) and artificial intelligence to virtual and augmented reality: digital tools can not only simplify processes in the construction industry, but also significantly improve them.

Companies that know how to harness the opportunities offered by modern technologies gain an enormous competitive advantage. Our clients, such as Würth, hagebau, PERI and BayWa, who are now among the pioneers in their industry, are proof of this. Work with us and become a digital pioneer!

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E-Commerce Platforms with That Extra Something

The e-commerce systems of our clients are far more than just product lists with a purchase function. In order to meet the needs of the construction industry and to generate added value for users beyond the purchase, they include various features, for example:

• 3G optimisation for excellent performance, even in regions with weak mobile infrastructure
• rights & roles systems for efficient internal approval processes
• the mapping of customer-specific prices and conditions as well as region-specific delivery conditions
• channel linking to ensure optimum interaction of online shop and brick-and-mortar store

Self-Services Facilitate Everyday Routines of Your Customers & Employees

Not only do self-services increase customer satisfaction, but they also reduce the workload of your field service and customer service staff. The customers of our clients already benefit from:

• a comprehensive »My Account« area, including online order tracking as well as online invoice and order overview
• convenient reordering of consumer goods, e.g. through delivery subscriptions, photographing/scanning or fully automated thanks to sensor technology
• the possibility to assign their own order numbers for more efficient ordering and billing processes
• fewer device failures thanks to fault reports via networked devices

Content Makes Complex Products Tangible

Products of the construction industry are often complex, expensive and require an explanation. Moreover, the need for information changes frequently throughout the life cycle of a product because new groups of people constantly come into contact with it and therefore have different support needs. Target-group-specific content, such as videos with installation instructions, informative podcasts with industry insiders, live streams for product demonstrations and subsequent Q&A sessions, familiarises your target group with these products and creates trust as well as close relationships with customers.

Our experts support you in:

• creating the technological basis with a modern CMS system
• developing and practically implementing your content marketing strategy
• distributing content across your various channels, e.g. social media

Configurators for More Efficient Sales Processes

Products such as scaffolds or ventilation systems can be configured individually. Due to their complexity, comprehensive consulting services and detailed information are required, which makes it much more difficult to sell these products.

Not only can online configurators support customers step by step in the planning process, but they also have the potential to provide your production department with all the necessary order information and thus automate production to a high degree. Furthermore, you gain valuable data that can be used for the further development of products and services.

Modern headless e-commerce and CMS systems make it easy to connect configurators.

IoT Lets Your Devices Speak

Thanks to the unstoppable proliferation of the Internet and mobile devices, continuously improving network connectivity and sophisticated sensor technology, devices can be linked together more and more effectively.

Networked vending machines for consumables are already a reality: sensors connected to the Internet record the removal of products. This way, inventory and financial data can be updated in real time and reorders can be triggered in good time.

Data collected via sensors is also the basis for predictive analytics. You can, for example, inform your customers in good time that maintenance or repairs are due and thus prevent machine downtime. This type of service is a big step towards becoming a proactive company.

Visualisation with Virtual & Augmented Reality

Virtual reality allows for impressive presentations of complex products or your future building project, e.g. at trade fairs or in showrooms. Using immersive technologies also offers great potential within the company. For example, AR applications can be used in the field of product development for early visualisation of building components and mechanical relationships.

Moreover, extended reality is already used for employee training by some companies. Employees point the camera of their tablet at a building component or look at it through smart glasses. Additional explanations, 3D objects or videos, which can be controlled by the training leader, are then superimposed on the real picture. Our digital consultants are happy to advise you!