What particularly characterized Kloepfel Consulting in 2023?<\/h3>\n
Marc: In 2023, there were significant changes at Kloepfel Consulting Germany in order to respond to a changing world and prepare our customers for the future. To this end, we expanded our management team. Since last summer, our long-standing Senior Partners Alexander Hornikel and Thanh-Duy Tran have been Country Managers with power of attorney and members of the Management Board of Kloepfel Consulting Germany.<\/p>\n
With the new structure of the management board, we at Kloepfel Consulting Germany want to further advance strategic topics such as interim management, digitalization, risk management and sustainability.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Duran and I are focusing more intensively on our strategic growth, cooperation and internationalization. For example, Kloepfel Consulting is now also launching in France. Duran is also very successfully expanding the EPSA business in Germany around subsidies such as the research allowance.<\/p>\n
How has the consulting business developed? What was particularly in demand?<\/h3>\n
Duran: Operationally, in 2023, we once again had more consulting projects for procurement optimization, where, as you know, we exclusively operate on a success-based model. Due to the recently sharp increase in purchasing prices driven by inflation, many companies must now focus on optimizing prices again, as well as addressing issues such as reducing inventory levels and working capital management. This is a very important topic for our clients. For example, there is still a lot of capital tied up in inventory, while on the other hand, loans are difficult to obtain or too expensive.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, due to demand, we are expanding the fields of Interim Management and Executive Search to quickly provide our clients with suitable specialized and managerial staff on short notice. In this context, we cover the areas of procurement, supply chain management, and logistics, while Kloepfel Services takes care of German-speaking purchasers from Eastern Europe who remotely handle procurement activities for companies in the DACH region.<\/p>\n
Marc: However, the past years have also shown that we are no longer just cost optimizers for our clients. Instead, we accompany many companies over an extended period to permanently strengthen their procurement and supply chains. This is evident, for example, in our logistics division, which has developed very well. In these challenging times, our clients rely on us as their long-term companion. This means that we are not only active for a few months but strengthen our clients’ logistics as a long-term partner with our networks, experts, databases, and tools. Our subsidiary, Kloepfel 4PL, for example, already handles the disposition and logistics processing for numerous medium-sized companies.<\/p>\n
Projects lasting several months have become long-term missions.<\/h3>\n
Duran: Exactly. The world, the challenges and also the opportunities are changing rapidly. There are always new geopolitical issues, but also new disruptive innovations that have a direct impact on our customers’ supply chains. It is therefore our mission to help our customers avoid risks and exploit opportunities on an ongoing basis.<\/p>\n
There are also major opportunities for companies in the form of government subsidies. More and more companies are putting the topic of subsidies on their radar. As this area and the application process pose major hurdles for many customers, demand for EPSA Germany’s consulting services has risen sharply and we will grow accordingly in 2024. Last year, we already advised over 100 clients in the area of subsidies, and we want to increase this number fivefold this year.<\/p>\n
What does the association with the EPSA Group mean for your customers?<\/h3>\n
Marc: Our alliance with all sister companies, including EPSA Germany, brings together companies and experts from a wide range of disciplines. They are all united by the mission of making SMEs and large companies strong in difficult times. What sets us apart is that we offer consulting services for purchasing, logistics, supply chain management, digitalization and funding as well as engineering from a single source. Our customers benefit from international networks, state-of-the-art tools, short distances and therefore high efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability. The dialog with companies from other European countries brings us many new ideas and opportunities. For example, in the next few days we will be setting up a German branch with a French EPSA company, a service provider for ESG\/sustainable procurement.<\/p>\n
What are the most important issues for SMEs and large companies in 2024?<\/h3>\n
Marc: Decoupling from China is a key challenge for SMEs and large companies in order to reduce and, if necessary, eliminate dependencies. The pure purchase price no longer counts and there are great suppliers outside of China, for example in Eastern Europe, Turkey or Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Many people became aware of risk management in 2020 at the latest with Covid and then in 2022 with the war in Ukraine, but it became even more acute in 2023.<\/p>\n
Another important topic is sustainability. The Supply Chain Duty of Care Act (LkSG) poses major challenges for supply chain management as a whole. These will continue to increase, as the relevant laws and regulations will continue to be expanded in the future.<\/p>\n
Duran: In order to get a handle on all these issues, procurement and supply chains need to become more transparent and resilient through digitalization. We will therefore continue to expand the digital area of our network.<\/p>\n
How can companies improve their risk management in 2024?<\/h3>\n
Marc: Risk management and the introduction of appropriate digital tools will determine the future of companies. Supply chains must be designed in such a way that they remain flexible and can react quickly in special situations. Accordingly, procurement markets and alternative suppliers must be explored in the context of (de)globalization, taking into account delivery times, price, reliability and service.<\/p>\n
How do you support companies in complying with the requirements of the Supply Chain Act?<\/h3>\n
Duran: It’s not just about the current regulations, as the requirements for sustainable supply chains will steadily increase as laws become stricter. The Kloepfel Group, together with our parent company EPSA, is well prepared for this issue. One example is the founding of Ekodev Deutschland.<\/p>\n
The French consulting company has been specializing in climate protection and corporate social responsibility (CSR) for over 25 years, when this was not yet as big an issue as it is today. It offers services in the areas of CSR, climate, mobility, biodiversity and training to support the economy in its sustainable transformation.<\/p>\n
We also work with special sustainability platforms such as IntegrityNext and Prewave. These monitor social media, for example, and sound the alarm early on if regional unrest develops so that companies can take appropriate countermeasures. This is just one of many functions with which these platforms help to manage sustainability issues.<\/p>\n
What goals has the Kloepfel Group set itself for the coming year 2024?<\/h3>\n
Marc: We are not simply adapting our services to the markets and global developments. Rather, we are looking far beyond the horizon. Our mission is to support local companies as a long-term partner in striving for and expanding technological leadership by taking our customers’ supplier and supply chain management and (technical) purchasing to a new level.<\/p>\n
Technological leadership means market leadership.<\/h3>\n
Duran: Exactly – from automotive, chemicals and mechanical engineering to the consumer goods industry. Our customers are no longer interested in short-term optimization projects, but are building with us on long-term transformations to lead technologies and markets. Innovative suppliers and start-ups play a key role in this. EPSA procures the necessary funding to finance research and development.<\/p>\n
Marc: You always have to remember to be open, to question yourself and not to resist new developments. Artificial intelligence is a very good example of how quickly topics appear on the agenda and upheavals take place. The Kloepfel Group will also be getting more involved in this area in the coming months in order to support companies with the introduction of AI applications. For example, we have entered into a partnership with Match4IT, which carries out retraining in new occupational groups. Together, we will promote AI and digitalization vocational training relevant to purchasing, for example.<\/p>\n
Duran: If you don’t move with the times, you move with the times. Basically, every company needs its own future minister.<\/p>\n
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Contact<\/h3>\n
Kloepfel Group
\nChristopher Willson
\nTel.: 0211 941 984 33 | Mail: rendite@kloepfel-consulting.com<\/a>