Webinar
Webinar Recording: No More Excel and Silo Systems – How Trodat Creates Transparency in Procurement
Scattered folders, countless Excel sheets, and different filing structures slowed down Trodat's global procurement. Time-critical information remained dispersed, compliance deadlines crept closer unnoticed, and valuable supplier knowledge depended on individual people.
In the webinar "No More Excel and Silo Systems – How Trodat Creates Transparency in Procurement," Carmen Zeitlinger (Head of Global Procurement, Trodat) together with Torben Hinrichs (Customer Development, Tacto) reports on the switch to a central SRM platform – and shows how data silos were transformed into a connected command center.
Starting Point – Patchwork Instead of Platform
The SAP migration cut off Trodat's previous logistics information system; a group-wide supplier overview did not exist. Additionally, new regulations – from the Supply Chain Act to CBAM – weighed on manual Excel processes and email questionnaires. The following core problems emerged:
- Isolated files and duplicate data management
- High effort for compliance inquiries
- Lack of real-time visibility for procurement, quality management, and environmental management
Three Levers for Successful Transformation
- Lever – Consolidate the data foundation
All supplier, article, and document data are 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 – feed into a weighted scorecard for quality, logistics, and sustainability. Critical suppliers can be identified early and measures clearly prioritized.
- Lever – Manage & monitor documents
Certificates are automatically classified upon upload; expiration dates feed into a central monitoring system that sends reminders before due dates 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 email traffic and Excel maintenance.
- Ensured continuity: Knowledge is preserved in the platform – substitutions or staff changes no longer cause information loss.
Cross-Departmental 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 digitally mapped; questionnaires and certificates centrally collected and automatically monitored.
Quality Management
Participation in objective evaluations through QM-specific questionnaires; central access to relevant documents instead of redundant filing.
Conclusion – From Data Silos to 360° Transparency
Trodat shows how replacing Excel lists and isolated systems achieves far more than a technical modernization. An integrated SRM platform consolidates knowledge, automates document processes, and enables objective supplier evaluations. The result: higher efficiency, ensured compliance, and well-founded decisions – a practical path for mid-sized global players to develop their procurement into a strategic command center.
Carmen Zeitlinger from Trodat and Torben Hinrichs (Tacto) show how Trodat quickly replaced Excel silos and email questionnaires with an integrated SRM platform. A central data foundation, standardized supplier evaluations, and automated document management create group-wide transparency, ensure compliance, and noticeably relieve the team – a practical example of how mid-sized global players can align their procurement in a data-driven and future-proof way.
