For six months, SICK’s Partner Portal has been accessible for clients of the distribution partner Püttmann KG as well. SICK insight interviewed general manager Dipl.-Ing. Bernhard Püttmann and Dr. Peter Müller-Haude, who is in charge of IT at the distributor, about their experiences and the benefits to customers.

SICK insight: What are the core competencies of Püttmann KG?

Bernhard Püttmann: Founded in 1930, today our company has a staff of 14 employees and serves as an agency and distributor for well-known suppliers. Our special competence is concentrated in the areas of sensor technology, factory automation, identification systems, and safety technology. By offering this portfolio, our company aims at being a competent partner with comprehensive knowledge of products for industries active in mechanical engineering, production, and equipment cabinet construction. In this context, for numerous clients we act as a single-source supplier of the product spectrum in question.

SICK insight: Why are you participating as a distributor in SICK’s Portal Partner Program?

Bernhard Püttmann: We wish to serve our customers in the best possible way, not only with goods but also with information. By participating in SICK’s Portal Partner Program our clients can take
advantage of the same opportunities that SICK offers to its direct customers: product search, application support, inventory check, inquiry on product data, download functions, and much more. By using these possibilities, our clients simplify their operating processes, e.g. the compilation of internal demand requirements as a basis for inquiries.

SICK insight: And what are the resulting advantages for the Püttmann Company?

Dr. Müller-Haude: To begin with, they are associated with the area of IT. Püttmann does not need its own shop solution because via SICK’s Partner Portal, we are connected directly to SICK’s product database. Its maintenance is carried out at SICK – not creating any work for us but always providing our clients and us with access to up-to-date information. Another advantage is the fact that the Partner
Portal is open and we had a chance to extend it by adding our database, i.e. the Püttmann client finds our entire product range in the shop at puettmann.com. This makes the solution an efficient instrument for fostering client loyalty.

SICK insight: How extensive does a distributor’s IT department have to be in order to participate in SICK’s Portal Partner Program?

Dr. Müller-Haude: The IT department you are asking about is standing in front of you: I am it. Of course, a series of commercial, technology- and Internet-related details had to be cleared up within the Püttmann team and with SICK; however, the next distributor will likely be spared many aspects emerging from the forward project planning that lasted nearly one year, because as the first partner we definitely did a lot of pioneering work, e.g. regarding the consideration of pricing rules. The software runs completely on the Internet, which makes the loading of data or the completion of test runs very easy. Thomas Burger from SICK’s Vertriebs-GmbH in Düsseldorf and his competent IT colleagues from Waldkirch were always available very promptly throughout the entire development and implementation stage. As a result, the project required my full attention only during certain phases, i.e. it did not turn into a full-time job for me, giving me a chance to take care of other assignments. And now that everything is up and running, the only effort left is some supplementing and updating here and there.

SICK insight: How would you sum up this initiative? And what will or should the future bring?

Bernhard Püttmann: The decision to take part in SICK’s Portal Partner Program was right. Our clients are using the possibilities
that direct access offers them.For them, the search for information has not only become easier and faster, but it is available twenty-four seven. To us this represents a relief in the area of administration, e.g. concerning the mailing of documentation, enabling us to use more resources toward improving the quality of service, e.g. with respect to advice on application technology. Fulfilling future wishes is not just up to SICK and Püttmann. In order to achieve uniformity of the computer systems or, respectively, the different ERP systems, others will have to do their homework on connectivity and interfaces. As far as our clients go, a bit of fine tuning or the odd service extension here and there would be helpful, for example, regarding quantity inquiries or online reservation of products.
However, that is a matter we need to tackle together with SICK.

SICK insight: Thank you for taking the time to talk to us.