Case Study: Remmers

The Remmers Group, founded by Bernhard Remmers in 1949 and based in northwestern Germany, has built a reputation as a specialist in the production of construction chemicals, wood paints and varnishes, and industrial coatings. The company works with 1,500 highly qualified specialists, and boasts 16 international branches, sales partners in 30 countries, and a reputation as the leading brand in its industry.

Remmers also has a proud history of helping to build and train the next generation of tradesmen, planners and other industrial workers. The company’s Bernhard Remmers Academy is dedicated to the education of new workers and the creation of new and innovative building and industrial materials and techniques, helping to further bolster their strong brand image.

While Remmers built a strong brand image over more than half a century in the industrial and construction supply space, it was struggling to continue and build on that legacy in the digital era.

The company was plagued by outdated and inefficient enrichment and product information management solutions and processes, resulting in inconsistent, inaccurate, and incomplete product data reaching customers. This was only made more complicated by the company’s wide range of sales channels, which include a print catalog, eCommerce sites, as well as stores and sites run by trade partners, and its need for printed labels that appear on products. This led to a slow-time-to market, as employees struggled to meet the rising demands on product information, and was unable to efficiently or effectively manage digital assets such as photos and videos.

These problems were intensified by the changes that had come to the industrial and construction supply industry. New regulations and legislation, increasing expectations from customers, and a rising tide of competition meant that the need for timely, high-quality information was at an all-time high. Even the company’s growth into international markets caused issues, as the need for information that was translated and tailored to fit the needs of new markets became critical.

Soon, as the demands on its product information processes piled up and international markets cried out for better product information, Remmers decided to adopt a PIM system in order to provide accurate, consistent, and complete product information to customers.