EUROPART awarded TOP 100 seal for outstanding innovative strength in the retail sector
• Mid-sized commercial vehicle parts dealer wins innovation competition
• Pioneer in digitalization
• 360-degree film studio and EWOS online ordering and consulting system as examples of new ways of communication
17.02.2021
EUROPART received the TOP 100 seal for the very first time in this year's TOP 100 innovation competition. With this award, the renowned jury recognizes particularly innovative mid-sized businesses. Europe's leading trading company for commercial vehicle parts and workshop equipment based in the town of Hagen and with a network of more than 290 sales outlets in 27 European countries is now one of the most innovative companies in Germany.
"This prestigious award confirms EUROPART's sustained innovative strength – and it's even scientifically proven," says Olaf Giesen, CEO of EUROPART, clearly delighted. "The credit for this goes first and foremost to our dedicated team of highly motivated and highly skilled employees, who work passionately every day to meet the needs of our customers."
EUROPART underwent a rigorous process of scientific selection for the competition. Commissioned by compamedia, the organizer of the TOP 100 innovation competition, innovation researcher Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke and his team set out to examine the company's innovative strength. The researchers' examination was based on around 120 criteria from five categories: Innovation promoted by executive management, innovation climate, innovative processes and organization, external orientation/open innovation, and innovation success. The scientists examined whether innovations are the result of a planned approach or a product of chance. They also assessed whether and to which extent the corresponding solutions are successful on the market. Given the current situation, a special section was also included this time around to examine the entrepreneurial response to the coronavirus crisis.
And not just since the coronavirus: EUROPART is going digital
Digitization has been at the top of EUROPART's agenda for many years. Ever new developments and innovative new approaches, for example in the online ordering of parts, are not only intended to simplify and accelerate processes. Our primary focus in the ongoing development of the system is on expanding useful functions for our customers. For instance, the latest version of the EUROPART online ordering and consulting system EWOS features fast and reliable parts identification, also on the basis of chassis numbers. The user can also easily compare articles, calculate prices, call up fleet data as well as invoices and delivery bills in real time – seven days a week, 24 hours a day. What's more, customers can access repair instructions, working times, maintenance schedules, and inspection and adjustment values in EWOS. The mobile version for smartphones also doubles as an item scanner and offers other convenient functions, such as uploading photos.
360-degree film studio for online product presentation, training and conferences
EUROPART's latest innovations mark yet another major step in the direction of human-digital system sales and thus towards the future. In this way, the company in Hagen relies on a modern 360-degree film studio including a show trailer presentation area. The high-end studio features an all-round LED screen and enables livestream broadcasts using 24 different camera positions. This innovative setup is therefore ideal for digital events such as product presentations, sales meetings with connected conference rooms, management dialogue with employees and customers across Europe, and much more. EUROPART's first online event took place in the presence of more than 500 participants. The 360-degree studio's capabilities also complement the EWOS online ordering and consulting system.
EUROPART CEO Olaf Giesen is convinced: "Innovation is the basis for our successful future. This is why we are continuing to invest in innovative ideas and technologies for the benefit of our customers and our more than 1,600 employees. For us, being awarded the TOP 100 seal 2021 is proof that we are on the right track with this strategy."
