SFS and Hoffmann’s partnership in the area of quality tools began over 20 years ago and the companies have worked together ever since to carve out a leading position in the Swiss market. Both are positioned as leading providers in their traditional sectors and have highly loyal, skilled and committed employees whose every activity is focused on their customers’ needs. As family-oriented companies, both SFS and Hoffmann have a great deal in common with respect to their value proposition, values, and corporate culture as well as their long-term orientation. This shared foundation has been pivotal to the collaboration’s success from the very start.
A project team comprised of employees from all affected business areas was assembled to carefully examine all areas of potential synergies connected to the collaboration with Hoffmann and prioritize the realization of that potential. Existing solutions and processes were systematically compared and contrasted to assess where the shared use of existing applications, platforms and processes might offer significant, strategically relevant or economically attractive potential.. These assessments focused on the areas of logistics, product management, cross-selling, financial reporting, information technology, human resources, sustainability as well as marketing and communication. This first phase of intense cooperation was accompanied by regular communications aimed at providing employees with timely information not only on the objectives of this collaboration but also to report on new developments and provide progress reports. The following business related long-term growth potential was identified and efforts to realize that potential will be prioritized in the next few years:
- Penetrate current key accounts and high potential customers with a complementary portfolio of mechanical fastening systems and electronic procurement solutions
- Supply current key accounts outside Switzerland with quality tools
- Optimize the supply chain for Swiss customers by using the procurement and logistics capacities of D&L International
- Evaluate and implement shared, efficient processes and platforms for an optimized customer journey