large_michael_wolfframm.jpg

medium_michael_wolfframm.jpg

small_michael_wolfframm.jpg

thumbnail_michael_wolfframm.jpg

michael_wolfframm.jpg

Director Consulting

## The Stadtwerke Schwerte (SWS) Group of Companies grows further 
Stadtwerke Schwerte pursues the goal of offering its customers not only the supply of electricity, gas and heat, but also a modern and sustainable all-round supply of energy, telecommunications, leisure and drainage. High on their priority list is to provide their customers with a better overview of existing contracts, give individual and better offers from Stadtwerke Schwerte (SWS) as well as inform about current events such as disruptions or planned maintenance work in the supply area. Together with con|energy ag, consultant for the energy industry, the digital strategy of the group of companies was realigned.  

Those responsible in marketing and sales have recognized that they can only achieve their goals if they upgrade their IT landscape for targeted marketing campaigns and more automation. The Essen-based digital agency communicode AG, recently a cooperation partner of con|energy, was able to convince the municipal utilities with its full-service portfolio and its iterative, agile way of working for conception and implementation. Alongside the digital strategy, a pilot project was set up that has the greatest business value with a reasonable budget for the group of companies and could be implemented in an adequate time. 

## Starting Point: Data in Abundance 
The group of companies already offers a variety of services in B2B and B2C. Many citizens of Schwerte are customers of diverse companies of SWS. Every company manages its own, historically evolved IT landscape for its business activity with information about customers and contracts, as well as data about infrastructure and technology. Besides the data itself, there is also the knowledge of data and its structures that is spread. What data is actually there and how can they reasonably be linked? Which gas customer also has an electricity contract? Which household has a fiber optic cable, which is not used yet? These and many other questions have been difficult to deal with. In this initial situation, it was actually not possible to make marketing target-oriented and automated. In order to be able to reach our customers with relevant information and attractive offers, a holistic picture of them is a first necessity. Michaela Zorn-Koritzius | Head of Marketing, Stadtwerke Schwerte (SWS) 

Diagram showing data consolidation and utilization in four steps: consolidation and analysis, evaluation and segmentation, campaign planning and execution, and fully automated marketing. Below: Comparison with the digital strategy of Stadtwerke Schwerte.

large_data-consolidation-and-utilization.png

medium_data-consolidation-and-utilization.png

small_data-consolidation-and-utilization.png

thumbnail_data-consolidation-and-utilization.png

data-consolidation-and-utilization.png

In this initial situation, it was factually impossible to design marketing in a targeted and automated way. In order to reach our customers with relevant information and attractive offers, we first need a holistic picture of them.

## Proof of Concept: consolidated data from all business areas 
Based on these findings, the communicode consultants, together with the Schwerter people, set the goals for the first project:     

- Development of a customer data management platform as middleware for the data sources 
- Link relevant data from distributed systems sensibly and sustainably 
- Compliance with the legal framework for unbundling business and the GDPR 

True to the principle to realize the greatest business value for the company as quickly as possible, 4 out of a large number of application scenarios from the B2C area were defined for a PoC. 

1. 360 degree customer profile (Golden Customer Record) 
2. Easy to Use PowerSearch in Google style with a consolidated search index 
3. Data selection & mining 
4. Incident history: current and past incidents across all systems  

What are your goals?Performance on Demand - benefit from our experience from this and other projects for your digital strategy. 

Performance on Demand - benefit from our experience from this and other projects for your digital strategy.

What are your goals?

What are your goals? Contact Case Study

## 3 Steps to the Golden Customer Record: 
First, the project team analyzed the essential core systems in order to consolidate the relevant information in a data model. With the infuniq framework, communicode provided the suitable platform for importing, normalizing and matching the data. 
The recipe for success: agile working method and a focus on the bare essentials. 
With agile methods and the expertise for data modeling from communicode, a quick start in the implementation was possible. For the prototype, functions with high business value were first described and accordingly prioritized during implementation. 

## Golden Customer Record 
The project was successfully implemented within 4 phases of 2 weeks each. The experts from the departments of Stadtwerke Schwerte (SWS) were part of the project team right from the start. The team planned interruptions in advance so as not to impair the daily business of the municipal utilities. Thanks to the close cooperation within the team and transparency throughout the project, the new functions and processes were quickly learned and checked for quality. The system is ready for use and the first data selections via PowerSearch were carried out together. 

Circular diagram for “Golden Customer Records”: In the center, a circle with “Golden Customer Record.” On the outside, three steps with icons: technical consolidation, data normalization, and matching. Arrows connect the steps in the circle.

large_golden-customer-record-en.png

medium_golden-customer-record-en.png

small_golden-customer-record-en.png

thumbnail_golden-customer-record-en.png

golden-customer-record-en.png

The first goal on the way to marketing automation at Stadtwerke was to deal with the data on a global level. Since no one at SWS had an overall view of the various systems, this was necessary. Now it is possible to analyse the actual state quasi playfully and measures can be taken to improve the data quality.



Screenshot einer Selektor-Konfiguration mit Suchfiltern auf der linken Seite und einer Ergebnisvorschau auf der rechten Seite. Die Tabelle zeigt Kundendaten wie Kunden-Nummer, Adresse, Typ, Status sowie Aktivitätsangaben für Strom, Wasser und Gas.

stadtwerke-schwerte-case-study-gallery-2-2800x1750-72.jpg

stadtwerke-schwerte-case-study-gallery-1-2800x1750-72.jpg

roadmap_agile.jpg

## Available data with high enterprise value 
An important milestone for marketing and sales has been reached. The new infuniq CDM platform opens up both business opportunities and savings potential for municipal utilities. The task now is to consolidate data selections and continue data mining. The real business value lies in the consolidation of this data and is realized when a marketing automation tool is implemented. 


Simply download the case study from Stadtwerke Schwerte. (2 MB) 

Case Study Stadtwerke Schwerte englisch als PDF

Referenzen_Stadtwerke_Schwerte_2020_EN.pdf

Download PDF

Stadtwerke Schwerte GmbH

thumbnail_stadtwerke-schwerte-logo-2800x1750-72.png

stadtwerke-schwerte-logo-2800x1750-72.png

Today, Stadtwerke Schwerte, founded 1868 as a gasworks, is a modern supplier that is responsible and passionate about shaping modern city life in Schwerte. The social, economic and ecological needs of the region are their top priority so that the citizens feel comfortable in their city. Internet, telephony and cable TV have also been offered via the Elementmedia subsidiary since 2011. In addition, the Schwerte public baths and city drainage service also belong to the group of companies. 

Modern building belonging to Schwerte municipal utilities with glass and metal facade, in front of which are three large glass frames in the outdoor area. To the left is an older brick building. Above is the ‘Stadtwerke Schwerte’ logo.

large_stadtwerke-schwerte-case-study-en.jpg

medium_stadtwerke-schwerte-case-study-en.jpg

small_stadtwerke-schwerte-case-study-en.jpg

thumbnail_stadtwerke-schwerte-case-study-en.jpg

stadtwerke-schwerte-case-study-en.jpg

1868 als Gaswerk gegründet, sind die Stadtwerke Schwerte heute ein moderner Versorger, der verantwortungsbewusst und leidenschaftlich das Schwerter Stadtleben mitgestaltet. Dabei stehen die sozialen, ökonomischen und ökologischen Bedürfnisse der Region an oberster Stelle, damit sich die Schwerter in ihrer Stadt wohlfühlen. Über das Tochterunternehmen Elementmedia werden seit 2011 auch Internet, Telefonie und Kabelfernsehen angeboten. Zur Unternehmensgruppe gehören außerdem das Stadtbad Schwerte sowie die Stadtentwässerung.

Von verteilten Daten zum Golden Customer Record

From distributed data to Golden Customer Record

##With power and ingenuity into the future

MENNEKES' ambitions go beyond existing on the market. Together with its dedicated employees, the company wants to actively contribute to new and sustainable energy solutions and play a key role in driving forward the development of new eMobility standards. MENNEKES plug solutions are already the standard for all electric cars throughout Europe. The owner-managed company is characterized by its innovative character, above all thanks to its short decision-making processes and the inner unity of values of its employees. Now the next big step is to follow. From being an industrial supplier of award-winning connectors, the company wants to become a solution provider and also be a competent partner for its customers when it comes to optimizing processes and infrastructure. However, the digital transformation is not just about new products and services. Internal processes are also to be digitalized. Although the transformation process has already begun thanks to the foresight of those responsible at MENNEKES, it is set to gain momentum through the central organization and provision of digital assets. Together with MENNEKES, communicode's consultants developed a roadmap to successfully implement a sensibly structured digital asset management project (DAM) and thus initiate the course adjustment.


##The initial situation: digital assets wherever you look

To fulfill its new role as a solution provider for charging infrastructures in the eMobility sector, MENNEKES has already developed its own billing system - an all-in-one solution for billing all charges of one or more electric vehicles. Several transformation projects are underway at MENNEKES to further digitalize the business areas. Digital asset management is a high priority because those responsible have become aware of the historically grown amount of marketing and product information. The different company divisions also use different storage structures for their assets. Around 4,000 product graphics in 2D and 3D versions and at least 15,000 other files are delivered from several file servers via SFTP server, e-mail or external storage devices as required.

The timeliness of the assets themselves is crucial for the prompt and up-to-date delivery of information and marketing content across the various channels. Compliance with the corporate identity (CI) should also be ensured in this context. This is exactly where MENNEKES and communicode come in together and establish a central DAM system to provide media faster, in the best quality and in all required formats. The cross-company release processes and workflows are controlled more efficiently in this way and thus lead to an optimized utilization of existing resources. Intelligent digital asset management supports all areas of the company in satisfying customers and partners alike and ensuring a CI-compliant external image.

Diagram of Celum ContentHub: Central platform in the middle, connected to systems and roles such as CDN, SAP PCM, TYPO3 website, Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Office, as well as internal users, asset management, external agency, and photographer.

medium_solution-design-mennekes.jpg

small_solution-design-mennekes.jpg

thumbnail_solution-design-mennekes.jpg

solution-design-mennekes.jpg

**In a joint workshop, communicode AG and MENNEKES identified the following milestones for the digital realignment:**

- Development and implementation of a future-proof DAM system
- Installation of InDesign Link
- Establishment of a metadata model
- Establishment of a user/authorization concept
- Setting up the various download formats
- Connecting the business units to the new asset management system
- Integration of an interface to SAP Commerce


In order to achieve the corporate goals at MENNEKES efficiently and promptly on a result-oriented path, communicode determined the elementary processes and incorporated them into the DAM concept.

Pie chart of the Celum ContentHub with four areas: content assets, channels, systems, and users & processes, each with examples such as file formats, SAP Commerce, TYPO3, and marketing roles.

medium_mennekes-celum-content-hub-en.jpg

small_mennekes-celum-content-hub-en.jpg

thumbnail_mennekes-celum-content-hub-en.jpg

mennekes-celum-content-hub-en.jpg

The DAM system to be used must meet requirements for data management, various user concepts, data conversion and scalability for expanding workflows at enterprise level. Connections to creative programs such as InDesign and links to relevant metadata are particularly important. The required system should also have the ability to control release processes and file import as required. For communicode, this is a requirement profile for which CELUM is ideally suited as a DAM system.

##The direct line to success: Agile stage victories achieved

After analyzing the enterprise requirements, communicode recommended CELUM as a suitable DAM system for administration. Thanks to communicode's iteration-based working method, all adjustments can be made in the background during ongoing operations at MENNEKES. Following the basic installation of CELUM, communicode implemented all important additional functions. This primarily included the connection to the Adobe Creative Suite and the SAP store of MENNEKES as well as the link to a Content Delivery Network (CDN). This allows the assets to be provided in all desired formats across all channels. Thanks to the transparent communication of the desired workflows and content processes by MENNEKES, the project milestones were quickly defined.

The exchange with the decision-makers at MENNEKES proved to be a challenge of its own due to its purely virtual nature, but this was quickly overcome thanks to mutual transparency and a well-structured ticket system. Pain points were quickly identified and controlling was all the more efficient.

##Get to the assets

With the CELUM installation and the setup of all important standards and connections, the media and files as well as their metadata can now be maintained in all relevant places. In addition, the system is linked to Typo3 Connect in order to connect the company website itself to the new asset network and ensure orderly data exchange. In the next phase of the project, SAP PCM will be integrated into the overall project so that the e-commerce sector at MENNEKES can also benefit directly from the current assets.

Project roadmap with phases: analysis & conception, project steps, final migration, and further development. Additional levels for training, continuous release, and change management. Timeline until go-live after 3–4 months.

medium_case-study-mennekes-roadmap-en.jpg

small_case-study-mennekes-roadmap-en.jpg

thumbnail_case-study-mennekes-roadmap-en.jpg

case-study-mennekes-roadmap-en.jpg

##About CELUM

CELUM is a high-performance and integrative system that fits perfectly into communicode's range of solutions. It fulfills the current enterprise requirements of companies in terms of performance, usability, function, support and further development. With CELUM, digital asset management becomes a simple and above all efficient component of the corporate process structure.

All digital assets, from product graphics to pure information sheets, are orchestrated and provided via CELUM, which primarily makes asset management itself leaner and saves costs through shorter provision paths and the avoidance of outdated duplicates.

Download the case study from MENNEKES GmbH & Co. KG. (0.5 MB)

reference-mennekes.pdf

MENNEKES GmbH & Co.KG

thumbnail_logo_mennekes.png

logo_mennekes.png

Since its foundation in 1935, MENNEKES has stood for genuine inventiveness and future-proof industrial plugs and sockets and entered the electromobility sector in 2008. To date, the family-owned company's product range includes more than 15,000 different connectors and eMobility solutions, both for series applications and for individual user cases. Thanks to the manpower of over 1,200 employees, MENNEKES is one of the world's leading manufacturers of CEE three-phase connectors and is still far from the end of its remarkable history.


Close-up of a Mennekes charging station with a blue charging cable for electric vehicles plugged in. Above it is the Mennekes logo with the slogan “My Power Connection.”

large_mennekes-en.jpeg

medium_mennekes-en.jpeg

small_mennekes-en.jpeg

thumbnail_mennekes-en.jpeg

mennekes-en.jpeg

Seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 1935 steht MENNEKES für echten Erfindergeist und zukunftsfähige Industriesteckvorrichtungen und hat 2008 den Schritt in den Geschäftsbereich der Elektromobilität getan. Bis heute umfasst das Sortiment des Familienunternehmens mehr als 15.000 verschiedene Steckvorrichtungen und E-Mobility-Lösungen, sowohl für die Serienanwendung als auch für individuelle Anwenderfälle. Dank der Manpower von über 1.200 Mitarbeitern ist MENNEKES ein weltweit führender Hersteller von CEE-Drehstromsteckern und steht damit noch längst nicht am Ende ihrer bemerkenswerten Geschichte. 

Wenn Energie und Innovation zusammenfinden: MENNEKES

When energy and innovation come together: MENNEKES

## Thalia: A Leading Omnichannel Retailer 
Thalia has been networking its sales channels for many years and is constantly driving forward the digital transformation. In addition to more than 350 bookstores, there are a large number of online services that currently offer around 10 million products. Spurred on by impulses from culture and society, new offers for customers are constantly being created. Among other things, the company is a member of the tolino alliance, which was founded in 2013 and has since been joined by more than 2,000 bookshops internationally. Thus, the tolino e-reader family has become well established in this country as an alternative to the Kindle. 

In the future, significantly more books and articles are to be marketed online. The organisation of this growing portfolio of products and services across the entire value chain poses an immense challenge. A networked infrastructure that is powerful and user-friendly is necessary for this. Aware of this, Thalia's management launched the redevelopment of its in-house PIM platform. The overriding premise: Instead of a monolithic software, diverse applications for specialized services are to be introduced. 

## A Look Behind the Scenes – Millions are at Stake Here  
Different Thalia departments spread across countries work with over 300 million data records, hundreds of attributes and dozens of channels every day – and the trend is rising. Over time, millions more items need to be organized. Approximately 35 data suppliers report bibliographic article data. To optimize data quality, additional manufacturers and external agencies are to be directly connected to the IT in the future. 

All data flows together in the in-house PIM system, where it is refined and distributed to the sales channels. It forms the starting point for continuous performance and process optimization at Thalia. In the meantime, the functional progress in application development had brought the existing system to its limits and it needed to be renewed.


Graphic illustrating the three-step data management process: import, qualification, and matching of data. In the center is the “Golden Record product detail page,” surrounded by symbols for data sources such as text, images, prices, and people.

large_thalia-projectworkflow-dataenrichment.png

medium_thalia-projectworkflow-dataenrichment.png

small_thalia-projectworkflow-dataenrichment.png

thumbnail_thalia-projectworkflow-dataenrichment.png

thalia-projectworkflow-dataenrichment.png

## Making Good Things Even Better: With New Technology and a User-friendly UI 
The Thalia development team had already set the technological course with the single-page application approach based on Vue.js. Now the task was to find the right partner who had the necessary experience with the special features and requirements of an enterprise PIM system and at the same time was able to design a user interface according to modern standards for such a platform – user-friendly and powerful, so that intuitive and at the same time professional work would be possible for years to come. With a clear strategy, many years of interdisciplinary experience around the topics of product information management, user experience/user interface and agile working culture, communicode was able to convince in the pitch. 

## Intelligent Product Management Through Optimal User Experience 
PIM systems are used for mass processing of product information and have two main perspectives: manual and automated processes. An optimal user experience empowers the user in demanding manual tasks and automates recurring activities. The following goals and measures were defined for the initial project: 

- Design of a sustainable PIM strategy for Thalia 
- Analysis and modelling of business value driven workflows  
- Design of a modern operating and design concept 
- Development and implementation of the initial product backlog 

The initial aim of the project described here was to design a sustainable PIM strategy. Understanding the tasks of individual roles at Thalia on the one hand as well as the goals of the company on the other hand is the art here. Relevant business processes were examined and modeled by communicode to derive new, effective user journeys – PIM experts and UX designers worked hand in hand here.

Are you planning a project and have questions? Make an appointment now.

 Let's talk about it

Contact in general

## A Heart for the User Paired with Strategic Thinking  
The resulting concept particularly highlights the view of individual roles in the company on data, processes and channels and makes them transparent by means of the new operating concept and user experience. communicode developed a product backlog, in which the entire PIM platform was described based on around 100 user stories. Together with the stakeholders and users at Thalia, communicode's PIM consultants and designers identified the following main topics: 

- Search & Retrieval 
- Content Creation
- Content Enrichment
- Content Publication
- System Administration 

Based on these findings, communicode designed the corresponding information architecture and relevant application scenarios. Automation potentials for redundancy avoidance and process optimisation are consistently used to make product management more intelligent, clearer and more efficient. Thus, the new PIM application becomes more intuitive and versatile and improves workflows and coordination processes. The project supports and promotes the continuously progressing change management process at Thalia. 

Graphic shows workflow for UX development at Thalia: UX backlog, UX design information structure, and design look & feel. Below that, handover of artifacts and interface and backend development. Note on the right: “Support from communicode.”

large_thalia-projectworkflow-userexperience .png

medium_thalia-projectworkflow-userexperience .png

small_thalia-projectworkflow-userexperience .png

thumbnail_thalia-projectworkflow-userexperience .png

thalia-projectworkflow-userexperience .png

## Designing a System 
Following the workshop and prototyping phase, communicode designed a UI component system for the look and feel of the new Thalia PIM, which forms the foundation of the user interface and internalises the Corporate Design. These UI components can be found in the Thalia development framework. 


## Rich wireframe with Vue.js 
Vue.js was chosen by Thalia because the framework is based on Google's Material Design and is therefore particularly suitable for browser-based applications. As a so-called progressive framework, both smaller prototypes and larger, more complex applications can be developed with it. 

One of the greatest strengths of the Vue Design System is what we like to call rich wireframe: Already in the prototyping phase, a wireframe is created that comes very close to the UI in its appearance. This ensures an agile interdisciplinary workflow from the conception of pages and components to the technical implementation, and the user interface can follow the functional progress at any time. 



## Agile to the Goal: Tools for Successful Collaboration 
Prompt collaboration and regular incremental results require an organisational environment which is as agile as possible. Here, Jira was recommended for project tracking and Gallery.io for presentation, feedback management, documentation and developer hand-offs. Furthermore, a common UI component system was used to avoid friction losses between design (communicode) and development (Thalia). 


The intuitive usability of the new PIM interface is of central importance to us - especially against the background of the mass of article data. In communicode, we have found the right partner, who was able to provide us with optimal support due to their paired know-how of product information management and UX. The result was immediately well received - both by the using departments as well as by the implementing development team. Due to its versatility and expandability, this solution will give us great pleasure for a long time to come.

Thalia data maintenance view for the book “Dunkle Halunken” by Terry Pratchett. On the left is a list of attributes, in the middle title, author, publisher, description, and review, and on the right book cover and ISBN and price information.

thalia-product-detailpage.jpg

Jira backlog for Thalia UX design with task list in the middle, colored labels for epics, and detail area on the right for task “THAL-36 Save search queries.” Navigation menu on the left with options such as backlog and sprints.

thalia-product-backlog.jpg

Download the case study "Thalia: The epitome of future-oriented reading worlds" here.

reference-thalia.pdf

Thalia Bücher GmbH

thumbnail_thalia-casestudy-logo.png

thalia-casestudy-logo.png

Founded in 1919, Thalia has been Europe's most important family-run bookselling company since its merger with Mayersche Buchhandlung. Its mission: reading should remain present in people's lives and customers should always find the right reading wherever they are. The unique mix of personal advice, inspiring product ranges and innovative digital solutions creates seamless shopping experiences. 

Close-up of an open book with soft sunlight illuminating the pages. Above it is the Thalia logo with a green silhouette and blue lettering “Thalia” on a light background.

large_thalia-en.jpg

medium_thalia-en.jpg

small_thalia-en.jpg

thumbnail_thalia-en.jpg

thalia-en.jpg

1919 gegründet, ist Thalia seit dem Zusammenschluss mit der Mayerschen Buchhandlung Europas bedeutendstes familiengeführtes Buchhandelsunternehmen. Seine Mission: Das Lesen soll im Leben der Menschen präsent bleiben und Kunden sollen immer und überall die passende Lektüre finden. Der einzigartige Mix aus persönlicher Beratung, inspirierenden Sortimenten und innovativen digitalen Lösungen bildet nahtlos ineinandergreifende Einkaufserlebnisse.

Thalia –  Inbegriff für zukunftsweisende Lesewelten 

Thalia – the Epitome of Forward-looking Reading Worlds 

Vorwerk is breaking new sales ground with its online marketing platform based on SAP Hybris. 

With Twercs, Vorwerk offers a tool set in a tool box with a charging function for the do-it-yourself home improvement and handicraft market, which shows off its special charm with a variety of creative kits tailored to it. With the corresponding materials and building instructions, the Vorwerk customer also gets the well-known guarantee of success in DIY. 

Just in time for the product launch, communicode provided a marketing platform based on SAP Hybris, which depicts all business processes in a digital and integrated way. With this, Vorwerk opened up a further sales channel with online trade, in addition to direct sales via parties and sales in the store. 

-     Interactive solution for e-commerce and party direct sales 
-     Mapping of the Vorwerk sales organisation 
-     Integration with SAP byDesign 

Since the go-live, new functions and marketing are on the agenda, which we design together with the TWERCS team and integrate iteratively . 

Vorwerk & Co. KG

thumbnail_Vorwerk.png

Vorwerk.png

The long-established company from Wuppertal is breaking new sales channels with its online marketing platform based on SAP Hybris.

Vorwerk tool set on a wooden table with cordless devices such as a cordless screwdriver and hot glue gun in white and green. Toolbox with Vorwerk logo in the background.

large_vorwerk-case-study-en.jpg

medium_vorwerk-case-study-en.jpg

small_vorwerk-case-study-en.jpg

thumbnail_vorwerk-case-study-en.jpg

vorwerk-case-study-en.jpg

Das Traditionsunternehmen aus Wuppertal geht mit seiner Online-Marketingplattform auf Basis von SAP Hybris neue Vertriebswege.

404 error

Loading...