Online Webinars
Webinar recording: Putting an end to Excel and silo systems - How Trodat creates transparency in Procurement
Summary
Distributed folders, countless Excel sheets and different filing structures were slowing down Trodat's global Procurement . Time-critical information remained scattered, compliance deadlines were approaching unnoticed and valuable supplier knowledge was hanging on individuals.
In the webinar "No more Excel and silo systems - How Trodat creates transparency in Procurement ", Carmen Zeitlinger (Head of Global Procurement, Trodat) and Torben Hinrichs (Customer Development, Tacto) report on the switch to a central SRM platform - and show how data islands can be transformed into a networked command center.
Initial situation - patchwork instead of platform
The SAP conversion cut Trodat's previous logistics information system; a group-wide supplier overview did not exist. In addition, new requirements - from the Supply Chain Act to CBAM - weighed on manual Excel processes and email questionnaires. This revealed the following core problems:
- Isolated files and multiple data storage
- High effort for compliance queries
- Lack of real-time insight for Procurement, quality management and environmental management
Three levers for successful transformation
- Lever - bundle database
All supplier, article and document data is consolidated and versioned in a single platform. This creates a complete picture at all times - regardless of location or person.
- Lever - systematize evaluations
Standardized questionnaires - both internal and external - are incorporated into a weighted scorecard for quality, logistics and sustainability. Critical suppliers can be identified early on and measures clearly prioritized.
- Lever - Control & monitor documents
Certificates are automatically classified on upload; expiration dates are fed into a central monitoring system that sends reminders before they are due and requests new versions.
First results with Tacto - at a glance
- More transparency: supplier status, risks and compliance gaps are displayed in real time.
- Less routine work: Automated questionnaires and document workflows significantly reduce mail traffic and Excel maintenance.
- Assured continuity: knowledge is retained in the platform - substitutions or staff changes no longer cause a loss of information.
Cross-divisional collaboration with Tacto
Procurement
Central platform for supplier management replaces Excel & folders; well-founded decisions thanks to transparent evaluations and KPIs.
Logistics
Direct input on supplier evaluations (e.g. packaging quality); structured feedback via questionnaire without additional effort.
Environmental management
Sustainability requirements mapped digitally; questionnaires and certificates collected centrally and monitored automatically.
Quality management
Participation in objective assessments through QM-specific questionnaires; centralized access to relevant documents instead of redundant filing systems.
Conclusion - From data silo to 360° transparency
Trodat shows how replacing Excel lists and isolated systems achieves far more than just technical modernization. An integrated SRM platform bundles knowledge, automates document processes and enables objective supplier evaluations. The result: greater efficiency, assured compliance and well-founded decisions - a practical way for medium-sized global players to develop their Procurement into a strategic control center.
Carmen Zeitlinger from Trodat and Torben Hinrichs (Tacto) show how Trodat has replaced Excel island solutions and email questionnaires with an integrated SRM platform in a short space of time. A central database, standardized supplier evaluations and automated document management lead to group-wide transparency, ensure compliance and noticeably relieve the team - a practical example of how medium-sized global players can make their Procurement data-driven and future-proof.
