When data becomes the engine: How STIHL keeps the processes running

How a life-saving measure became a data heartbeat maker at STIHL

Data is the driving force behind functioning marketing and sales processes. But what happens if this suddenly starts to stutter? What if the data infrastructure no longer runs smoothly? And how can a complete standstill be prevented? The STIHL sales headquarters in Dieburg provides an impressive answer.

In the middle of a critical reorganization phase of the data infrastructure, STIHL has proven how important a clear roadmap and an efficient data process are.  

"We needed a solution for market-driven data provision within a very short time. Our departments and customers have very individual requirements, so this project was no easy task."

Andreas Epple, Managing Director
STIHL Vertriebszentrale AG & Co. KG

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ANDREAS STIHL AG has been producing power and garden tools for private use as well as for forestry and construction for almost 100 years.

STIHL is a driver of innovation, always at the cutting edge, and wanted to renew its IT and data infrastructure for high-performance processes. A difficult and protracted reorganization, associated with many hurdles and uncertainties.

For STIHL Vertriebszentrale AG & Co. KG, which is responsible for the German market, this major measure was not without risk. During the long changeover phase, its marketing and sales activities threatened to be implemented on schedule only with considerable additional effort.

STIHL Dieburg had created data structures over the years to suit its own requirements. These were no longer compatible and scalable. An interim solution was needed to stabilize the situation and ensure that the specialist departments were able to work.

STIHL looked for an experienced partner in the field of data management and data optimization for this task. netzwerk P has already successfully guided numerous companies and markets through transformation processes and supported them as a partner and service provider during restructuring. 

STIHL Vertriebszentrale AG & Co. KG (2021)

Employees: over 300

Industry: Sales company for power tools for forestry, agriculture, landscaping, construction and demanding private users

Turnover: > 500 million euros 

ANDREAS STIHL AG has been producing power and garden tools for private use as well as for forestry and construction for almost 100 years.

STIHL is a driver of innovation, always at the cutting edge, and wanted to renew its IT and data infrastructure for high-performance processes. A difficult and protracted reorganization, associated with many hurdles and uncertainties.

For STIHL Vertriebszentrale AG & Co. KG, which is responsible for the German market, this major measure was not without risk. During the long changeover phase, its marketing and sales activities threatened to be implemented on schedule only with considerable additional effort.

STIHL Dieburg had created data structures over the years to suit its own requirements. These were no longer compatible and scalable. An interim solution was needed to stabilize the situation and ensure that the specialist departments were able to work.

STIHL looked for an experienced partner in the field of data management and data optimization for this task. netzwerk P has already successfully guided numerous companies and markets through transformation processes and supported them as a partner and service provider during restructuring. 

Adaptation of the data structures of the German sales company required 

Continued operation of marketing and sales endangered without high manual effort 

Intervention needed in the shortest time

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"In netzwerk P , we found a partner that provided us with reliable support and created an optimal setup for our data infrastructure from the emergency situation. We were particularly impressed by their expertise in data optimization and their high level of product understanding."

Andreas Epple, Managing Director
STIHL Vertriebszentrale AG & Co. KG

Man gives presentation to other team members

With the help of netzwerk P , STIHL Dieburg has managed to ensure the operational reliability of its marketing and sales activities. And even better: the data engine is running more efficiently than ever before. This is because the new system will continue to facilitate the work of all specialist departments in the future. It has become an engine for high-performance data provision.

STIHL Dieburg's new data performance is based on a PIM/MAM system combination. Here, all data flows together via interfaces to existing systems. The system was implemented during ongoing operations without any interruptions.

Today, the departments work in just one system and maintain the same database. Each department can find what it needs for its work here, tailored to its market and customer-specific requirements - thanks to an intelligent roles and rights concept.

Time-consuming, error-prone work, such as the manual maintenance of Excel files, is no longer necessary. Instead, validated data is output. Even complex exports, such as for catalog creation, can be created in the shortest possible time.

In summary, this means that by breaking down data silos, all data can be found in one place. All departments obtain their data from this one location and only maintain it there. All data is validated by the relevant departments via a newly created interface and is therefore correct. The new system has proven its worth and is a "single source of truth".

And this is not the end. Further applications and functions are already being planned. This has turned a transitional or emergency solution into a central system for providing STIHL Dieburg's data. 

With the help of netzwerk P , STIHL Dieburg has managed to ensure the operational reliability of its marketing and sales activities. And even better: the data engine is running more efficiently than ever before. This is because the new system will continue to facilitate the work of all specialist departments in the future. It has become an engine for high-performance data provision.

STIHL Dieburg's new data performance is based on a PIM/MAM system combination. Here, all data flows together via interfaces to existing systems. The system was implemented during ongoing operations without any interruptions.

Today, the departments work in just one system and maintain the same database. Each department can find what it needs for its work here, tailored to its market and customer-specific requirements - thanks to an intelligent roles and rights concept.

Time-consuming, error-prone work, such as the manual maintenance of Excel files, is no longer necessary. Instead, validated data is output. Even complex exports, such as for catalog creation, can be created in the shortest possible time.

In summary, this means that by breaking down data silos, all data can be found in one place. All departments obtain their data from this one location and only maintain it there. All data is validated by the relevant departments via a newly created interface and is therefore correct. The new system has proven its worth and is a "single source of truth".

And this is not the end. Further applications and functions are already being planned. This has turned a transitional or emergency solution into a central system for providing STIHL Dieburg's data. 

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Data optimization MAM
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PIM/MAM system combination

Go-live in only 3 months

Automation of data processes

Dissolution of data silos

Highest data quality

Multiple use of data 

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"The introduction of the MAM/PIM system achieves a high degree of process reliability and data quality in order to play out data automatically and future-proof."

Andreas Epple, Managing Director
STIHL Vertriebszentrale AG & Co. KG

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