Webinar recording: Efficient compliance at the touch of a button: How Harro Höfliger implements CBAM and other compliance requirements in one system

The increasing regulatory requirements in purchasing present companies with major challenges. Manual implementation can quickly reach its limits, especially for industrial SMEs, where supply chains are often complex and a large number of suppliers are involved. Regulations such as the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and the CO₂ Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) require a structured approach to ensure transparency, legal certainty and efficiency. Harro Höfliger recognized this step early on and introduced Tacto's SRM software, a central platform that intelligently combines purchasing and compliance.

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In the webinar, Sarah Martins Pinheiro (Process Manager SCM at Harro Höfliger) and Kendra Benkendorf (Compliance Expert at Tacto) report on how Harro Höfliger uses the software in everyday purchasing.

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The initial situation: regulatory pressure and a lack of master data

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Harro Höfliger is an internationally active manufacturer of special machinery for the pharmaceutical and medical industries. With over 2,200 employees, more than 2,500 active suppliers and a large variety of parts, there are considerable demands on the purchasing organization. When the Supply Chain Act came into force, it quickly became clear that a purely manual implementation would not be possible.

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The following challenges had to be overcome:

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• Data quality: A lot of important supplier information was not centrally recorded or had to be painstakingly compiled

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• Complex processes: Different regulatory requirements threatened a confusing juxtaposition of individual solutions

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• Supplier inquiries: Smaller international suppliers in particular often had no experience with LkSG or CBAM and needed support

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• Manual reporting: The first CBAM report was created without a digital solution and quickly showed how time-consuming this process can be

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With the introduction of Tacto as a central supplier relationship management (SRM) system, the LkSG module was first implemented to systematically analyze supplier risks and centrally manage evidence. This structure laid the foundation for a comprehensive compliance strategy.

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For CBAM, Harro Höfliger was able to draw on the existing database and automated queries. The seamless integration enabled efficient implementation without additional manual data entry or separate isolated solutions.

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CBAM implementation: from high manual effort to structured automation

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The quarterly CBAM reporting presented Harro Höfliger with an unexpected challenge. Initially, it was unclear whether the company was affected at all, and it was only after a call from a freight forwarder that the urgency of the issue became apparent.

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Problems of manual implementation:

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• Registration in the customs portal was complicated and error-prone

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• The calculation of CO₂ emissions was based on incomplete or difficult-to-access supplier data

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• The Excel template provided by the EU was complex and difficult to understand for many suppliers

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• Reporting was time-consuming and involved a great deal of coordination

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After connecting to Tacto, these challenges were quickly overcome. Suppliers received targeted training and standardized requests, which significantly improved the response rate. Automatic data processing reduced the time required and ensured that the reports could be submitted on time and with high data quality.

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Another advantage was the ability to forecast future CO₂ costs. With the help of Tacto, it was possible to analyze which imported products would cause particularly high costs so that strategic adjustments could be made to procurement at an early stage.

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Purchasing and compliance: how to make the most of synergies

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The integration of an SRM system not only proved to be beneficial for regulatory compliance, but also improved the efficiency of the entire purchasing process. Many companies face the challenge of dealing with compliance and purchasing issues separately, which leads to duplicate processes and increased administrative effort.

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By using a central system, Harro Höfliger was able to realize the following synergies:

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• Central data management: all supplier, article and compliance data is bundled in one place and can be accessed at any time

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• Automated queries: supplier queries for CBAM, LkSG or other regulatory requirements are standardized and run with minimal effort

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• Legal security: Close cooperation with external consultants such as Taylor Wessing ensured that all processes complied with legal requirements

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• Step-by-step expansion: In addition to CBAM and LkSG, the system can easily be expanded to include other functions such as RFX, material compliance management or supplier evaluation

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For companies faced with new regulatory requirements, an early and systematic approach is crucial. A solid database is the key to efficiently meeting compliance requirements and being able to react flexibly to changes. Harro Höfliger's experience shows that a step-by-step implementation makes sense - starting with the mapping of basic requirements such as LkSG before other modules such as CBAM are integrated. Close communication with suppliers is also essential in order to create transparency and identify potential hurdles at an early stage. Companies should also rely on digital solutions that can be flexibly expanded so that they do not have to start from scratch with every new regulation.

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Conclusion

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The introduction of Tacto as a central SRM solution has shown that intelligent digitalization not only optimizes compliance processes, but also sustainably improves strategic purchasing. The automation of supplier communication, the central management of master data and the ability to meet regulatory requirements without manual effort can significantly reduce the workload and increase transparency.

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Outlook

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With the successful implementation of CBAM and LkSG, Harro Höfliger has created a solid basis for future requirements. New regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) or the EU Supply Chain Directive (CSDDD) are already in the starting blocks. Companies that rely on digital solutions at an early stage have a decisive advantage: they can proactively integrate regulatory changes instead of making costly adjustments under time pressure.

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The digitalization of procurement is no longer a topic for the future, but a decisive prerequisite for competitiveness. An integrated SRM system that links purchasing and compliance is therefore not just a technological investment, but a strategic decision for long-term success.

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