Certeo & Spryker Join Forces

Founded in 2009, Certeo have arisen as a leading online player in the field of business equipment and office furniture. With their vision to become the leading online marketplace for business equipment in Europe, Certeo focuses on web-based technologies that provide an outstanding customer experience.

Industry

Home, Living & DIY

Certeo by the numbers

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Products
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monthly visitors

Challenge

B2B Commerce ready to be disrupted

Digitization has lead to some radical changes in the B2C sector. Convenience has become key to many purchasing decisions. The empowerment of the customer has led to brands repositioning themselves in new customer-centric ways consisting of multiple digital touchpoints. Now the B2B sector is experiencing the same development. Digital commerce is expanding and replacing brick-and-mortar business models. New online key players are coming after many B2B retail sectors.

A wall display for Certeo features the logo "certeo" and three illuminated speech bubbles with the words "kreativ," "zuverlässig," and "dynamisch." Additional text panels in German highlight their expertise in B2B procurement.

Strategy

A new direction for the future

Alexander Ketzler, Managing Director at business equipment provider Certeo, told us that consequently they too were wondering if they wanted to continue on their current route or if they should gear up and brace themselves against the likes of Amazon Business and Office Depot.

To get a bigger slice of the business equipment market in Germany that Ketzler evaluates at roughly eight billion euros, Certeo decided to re-position their business and re-define their entire business strategy affecting key business areas including staff, location, and technology.

A wall display from Certeo with the text "We Equip Your Business" and images of equipment. The display features a combination of orange, white, and yellow panels, perfect for B2B procurement environments.
Geometric shape background

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Requirements

No less than maximum convenience

In B2B very often delivery speed and good service are crucial factors in deciding for a provider. Alexander Ketzler told us, “somewhere a new employee needs a new desk and the Office Manager simply wants a solution that is immediate and reliable. In terms of service, B2B clients also expect an easy way to contact the provider in case of questions about the product, delivery or unexpected changes. It’s all about access and convenience.”

A webpage displaying various tools and supplies for sale, including a socket set, ladder, and workbench. Each product has a price listed below it, with the website's header and navigation visible. Certeo simplifies B2B procurement by offering a streamlined shopping experience.

Goals

Growing with speed and agility

Breaking out of their legacy company structure, also meant for Certeo to re-consider their technology set up with a leading software provider. The lack of agility in their former solution of 8 years had resulted in very slow feature additions. Adding new products took months and slowed down product portfolio expansion- a drastic impact on maximizing profitability.

A smartphone displays an online store webpage in German selling office chairs, desks, and various office supplies with product images, descriptions, and prices. Ideal for B2B procurement needs, Certeo offers a wide range of products tailored for professional environments.

Certeo’s Implementation Partner

To implement their complete re-launch, Certeo teamed up with Spryker solution partner Inviqa. Re-platforming Certeo’s online commerce took 6 months and resulted in four responsive, country-specific stores.

A logo featuring the word "INVIQA" in white text on a black circular background, centered within a white diamond shape that subtly incorporates Kömpf at the edges.

Spryker solution

Moving towards technology ownership

For Certeo it was clear that a standard shop system would not be sufficient for their rebranding. With technology ownership as its top priority, Certeo decided to go with a highly customized Spryker Commerce OS solution. For Ketzler, the combination of commerce power with state-of-the-art knowledge, broad e-commerce experience and the customer-centric software behind it was crucial. Certeo found that the Spryker solution was the right choice to enable them to flexibly develop their brand experience by allowing modules to be added or extended as required at any time. This also leads to shorter release cycles for Certeo and allows them to take full ownership of their technology.

The Spryker Commerce OS does not take away the thinking process from the business owner. In contrast to what other e-commerce solutions promise, it makes you think about what is really relevant for the customer. It gives you the opportunity to quickly re-assess if your assumptions are correct”

Alexander Ketzer Managing Director, Certeo

Handpicked for Certeo

Spryker Technology Partner

Based on realizing a customer-centric MVP for the re-launch, Certeo is fully committed to developing and testing additional features while now fully owning processes, data and technology.

Claranet logo in red text centered on a white, diamond-shaped background with subtle geometric patterns, embodying the professional standards of B2B procurement.

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