The Böcker Phenomenon: Mechanical Engineers Take the Digital Summit by Storm.

• Initial situation

Böcker Maschinenwerke GmbH - a leading manufacturer of access technology - has grown enormously in terms of infrastructure over the last ten years. New production lines have been built, assembly halls expanded and the current construction of a new logistics hall has set the course for future growth.

The share of indirect purchasing is over 15 % . The relevant product groups include consumables and supplies, PPE, energy, waste disposal, office supplies, facility services, packaging, general investments and much more. The goals pursued with digitalization were clearly defined:

• To reduce the proportion of maverick buying in order to present costs transparently and digitally in a "purchase to pay" process

• Creating synergies to generate new tenders

• Centralization of independent procurement for all locations throughout Germany

• Definition of standards and determination of the product range (e.g. in the area of PPE)

Objective:
Standardise processes, reduce operational expenses

With the rollout of simple system, Böcker has gradually brought transparency and controllability to indirect procurement across all locations and based on a system.

Functions used:

• Approval workflows

• Use of one-off suppliers for rare special items

• In-house catalogs as a strategic lever

• OCI catalogs

"Our process costs per order have been halved in certain areas thanks to the use of simple system."

Automation in the warehouse:
Dispensing machines with system connection

A particular lever at Böcker is the use of automatic goods dispensers, linked to simple system.

This is how it works:

• Withdrawal takes place via the vending machine terminal (e.g. PPE, tools)

• When the reorder level is reached, an order is automatically triggered - directly via simple system

• Manual BANFs or emails are no longer necessary - two fewer process steps

"Process optimisation with automated goods issuing machines relieves the burden on operational purchasing."

At Böcker, simple system is connected to a Tool24 from the Hoffmann Group. simple system is not tied to specific hardware (vending machines) - any software-capable solution can be integrated. The integration into the existing IT infrastructure required close coordination with internal IT and external partners - but has proven to be successful.

"In the past, the foreman had to inform the purchasing department - today the machine orders itself."

The human challenge:
Change requires conviction

A key issue during implementation was not the technology - but the mindset.
"A new digital solution is a challenge for employees at first, but with sustained use and support during onboarding, the benefits are recognized and accepted."

Böcker has created a high level of acceptance for the use of simple system among the team with clear communication of the benefits, dialog at eye level and simple training documents.

Strategic further development

Böcker Purchasing plans to use simple system even more widely in the future:

• OCI Punch-Outs for more convenient item searches with strategic suppliers

• Expansion of in-house catalogs for better control and bundling

• Greater use of the platform for new tenders and volume analyses

Conclusion: Don't talk. Do it.

The most important piece of advice from a purchasing perspective at Böcker:
"Just get started - start, learn from it, optimise."
The introduction of simple system at Böcker shows:

• Digitalization is not a vision, but a reality thanks to structured implementation

• Automation saves time, reduces costs and creates transparency

• Indirect procurement can be scaled with a practical system and a clear goal

Vending machines + e-procurement platform = a working solution - already in use today.

Practical example: Böcker automates stock removal with goods issuing machines and simple system

Böcker Maschinenwerke GmbH, a modern and innovative medium-sized company with around 600 employees, relies on automated solutions in the area of C-parts:
→ Vending machines, intelligently connected to simple system

How do vending machines work in principle?

Vending machines are like digital self-service warehouses. They work according to a simple principle:

1. Access control: employees authenticate themselves (e.g. with an employee card, PIN or RFID).

2. Selection & removal: Required items - from PPE and tools to small parts - are selected and removed.

3. Automatic booking: The withdrawal is automatically documented (cost center, user, time, etc.).

4. Reordering: As soon as a defined minimum stock level is reached, the system triggers an order - fully automatically.

The role of simple system at Böcker

Böcker uses the simple system interface to the vending machines to automate reordering.

• Define threshold values: Minimum stock levels per item are defined in the system

• Track consumption: Withdrawals are automatically recorded and reported to the system

• Trigger orders: simple system automatically creates an order with the stored supplier if stock levels fall below the thresholds

• Integration of workflows: Approvals or budget limits can also be taken into account

This creates a seamless digital process.

Advantages for Böcker - and others

Efficiency & control:

• No manual stock checks

• No "forgotten" reordering

• Reduced shrinkage thanks to clear allocation

• Higher availability of critical materials

Simple scalability:

• Vending machines can be used across multiple locations

• Suppliers remain flexible - simple system is supplier-independent

Fewer errors, more transparency:

• Every access is registered

• Every consumption can be controlled

• Storage costs can be better calculated

Saves time in everyday life:

• No handwritten withdrawal lists

• No Excel tables

• No order slips

Challenges & lessons learned

As expected, the rollout brought with it a number of challenges - the integration of suppliers in particular proved to be demanding:

• Not every supplier immediately had an electronic catalog on the platform
• The lack of digital mapping initially slowed down the full automation potential

The solution:

• Proactive supplier management

• Internal catalogs and article master data maintenance via simple system

• Combination of full-range and specialty suppliers

Which hardware works with simple system?

The platform is hardware-independent. This means that

• Tool24

• PickOne

• SAM Urai

• LISTA or other vending systems

• Manual storage locations with barcode/scanner can also be integrated

• Mobile favorites lists supplement access outside the vending machine

The central requirement: there must be an interface or an export format that reports material consumption - simple system takes care of the rest.

Why vending machines with simple system are a powerful combination

In many companies, there is enormous potential for optimization in the warehouse - especially in the area of C-parts, PPE and consumables.
With vending machines, picking finally becomes traceable. With simple system, reordering is automated, efficient and fully documented.

• No media breaks

• No uncontrolled growth

• No forgetting

Böcker has shown the way.

• The combination of hardware, clear processes and digital ordering creates a robust, future-proof solution.

• Scalable, secure, economical.