Online Webinars
Webinar recording: From Excel to digital supplier evaluations - Why an SRM is an essential addition to ERP for ASSMANN

Summary
Excel lists, manual evaluations, scattered supplier data - many purchasing departments are reaching their limits as complexity increases.
ASSMANN Büromöbel shows how an SRM system as a supplement to ERP enables a strategic turnaround in supplier management. Purchasing managers report on how they have achieved greater transparency, efficiency and collaboration in Procurement through digital supplier evaluations - and what the next step towards price analyses will look like.
In today's procurement world, Procurement faces complex challenges: As the number of suppliers increases, so do the requirements for transparency, efficiency and strategic management. Nevertheless, many purchasing departments rely on traditional methods such as Excel lists to evaluate suppliers, track measures and document key figures. What appears pragmatic at first glance quickly turns into a risk as complexity increases: manual supplier evaluations are prone to errors, time-consuming and hardly scalable.
ASSMANN Büromöbel, a leading manufacturer of office furniture, also reached its limits with the ERP system and Excel.
In the webinar, Charlotte Böß and Hannes Hartmann (Strategic Purchasers at ASSMANN) reported on how their company made the switch to a digital Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) system - and why they believe that an SRM system is an indispensable extension to the ERP system.
Initial situation at ASSMANN: Manual processes, fragmented data and little transparency
Before the introduction of Tacto, supplier evaluations at ASSMANN were carried out manually and decentrally - in individual Excel files. There was no standardized database, communication with other departments was time-consuming and the operational focus dominated day-to-day business.
It was particularly challenging:
- The order-related individual production required a stable, transparent supplier base
- The existing ERP system did not offer any functions for qualitative supplier evaluations
- Certificates and supplier master data had to be manually maintained and laboriously compiled
- Supplier development was reactive rather than forward-looking
Digitalization as the key to transparency in supplier management
With the introduction of Tacto's SRM software, Procurement was gradually relieved of operational routines and developed into a data-driven control unit. By bundling all supplier information in one system, the aim is to achieve digital transparency, process-controlled evaluations and efficient collaboration. The focus is now on:
- Central data availability:
All information on suppliers, articles, certificates and ratings is available in one place.
- Individual scorecards:
Quantitativeand qualitative evaluation criteria can be flexibly adapted - with weightings according to Categories, locations or strategic relevance.
- Automated processes:
Fromrequesting supplier certificates to documenting measures, everything is digital, traceable and efficient.
- Cross-divisional collaboration:
Departmentssuch as quality assurance, sustainability and work preparation are integrated - for a holistic view of the supplier base.
"We used to have to maintain and compare Excel files manually. Today, with Tacto, we have a system that structures our supplier development in a comprehensible and strategic way."
- Charlotte Böß, Strategic Buyer at ASSMANN
From manual assessment to data-based control in four steps
ASSMANN's digital supplier evaluation follows a structured 4-step process:
- Record data
All supplier master data, certificates and documents are recorded centrally in the SRM software and updated automatically.
- Evaluate suppliers
Scorecards enable individual evaluations based on internal and external data.
- Derive measures
Conspicuous assessments can be analyzed in a targeted manner and lead to specific measures such as audits or discussions.
- Track results
All activities and responsibilities are documented in the system and can be viewed at any time - including a comment function for cross-team coordination.
Results: More transparency, faster decisions, higher quality
By switching to the digital SRM system from Tacto, ASSMANN was able to achieve noticeable improvements within a very short space of time:
- Transparent supplier evaluations with comparability across Categories
- Preparation for audits and ISO certifications is much more efficient
- Centralized control of all measures and clear documentation of responsibilities
- Increased acceptance among teams thanks to intuitive user interface and customizable evaluation logic
- Faster response to supply bottlenecks thanks to real-time data and digital early warningsystems
Outlook: Intelligent price analyses and proactive tips in preparation
The introduction of the SRM system was just the beginning for ASSMANN. Following the successful entry into digital supplier management, the next step is planned: digital price analyses and spend transparency based on the SRM data.
The aim is to recognize at the touch of a button which article groups are causing the highest cost increases, how prices have developed with different suppliers and where there is potential for negotiation.
This extension should enable Procurement to systematically identify potential savings, prepare strategic negotiations based on data and further professionalize strategic Procurement in SMEs.
Conclusion: SRM as the key to digital and resilient Procurement
The switch from Excel to an SRM system has not only digitalized Procurement at ASSMANN, but also strategically positioned it for the long term. Thanks to structured processes, clear responsibilities and a central database, Procurement can now act more quickly, transparently and effectively.
For ASSMANN, the introduction of digital supplier evaluations is not the end point, but the beginning of a data-driven procurement strategy. With the integration of additional functions such as price analyses, spend insights or compliance checks, Procurement is increasingly developing into a central value driver - efficient, transparent and future-proof.
In the live webinar, Charlotte Böß and Hannes Hartmann (Strategic Procurement at ASSMANN) together with Kristina Ulrich (Customer Development at Tacto) show how ASSMANN has mastered the transition from manual Excel processes to structured supplier relationship management (SRM). They explain why the ERP system alone is not enough to efficiently map supplier evaluations - and how the introduction of Tacto enables centralized data, automated workflows and individual scorecards to achieve a new level of quality in supplier management. With a focus on transparency, strategic control and cross-departmental collaboration, ASSMANN is creating the basis for the next step: data-driven price analyses for further purchasing optimization.
