stahlmarkt 09 | 2019

Steel distribution & Service centres 41
was the case years ago. For that reason, we
are constantly analyzing the market and listening
to our partners and customers.
For example, our new EMW portal, which
enables customers today to retrieve all
order data bundled. Users can view orders,
check whether they are ready for delivery
or delivered, or access current and past
transactions directly via their order number.
Further services are already in planning.
That is one reason why we – for example
– entered a strategic cooperation with fabrikado,
a Cloud-based Internet platform
with immediate cost calculation, optimized
ordering processes, production and delivery
on the customer and supplier side. At the
heart of the platform is an intelligent algorithm,
the basis of which minimizes the
entire supply chain process and, through
machine learning, permanently adapts the
logic of the platform to the volatile
demands of the market. It allows us to integrate
processes into our ERP systems and
create complicated offers in seconds. That
is what the customer expects today and we
are well prepared for it.
EMW has an extensive stock of metal sheets.
SM: Where do you see the greatest
opportunities?
MM: We are in a unique situation, because
we have a strong position within the Schäfer
Werke Group, which provides us with synergies
in production, development sales and
other areas. Saying this, we are still one of
Europe’s largest independent Steel Service
Centres with great market experience. Both
Slit strip coils ready for processing.
aspects make us optimistic for future
developments
Two future topics or trends are very
important to us. First is mobility. What will
the mobility concepts of the future look like
and what impact will this have on steel
consumption? Second is the digital transformation
and evolution. To what extent will
digitization processes and platforms determine
the future of our business? Both trends
can be dangerous for any organization. But
we see more opportunities to act successfully
on the market with optimized, changed or
new business models.
Logistics are playing an increasingly important role for steel service centres.
steel market 01.2019