Working together towards success

acardo is a provider of innovative marketing and IT services. acardo has been operating on the German market since 2000 and assists most of Germany's food retailers with their couponing. Practically all of Germany's largest manufacturers of consumer goods have used coupon schemes devised by acardo. One of the shareholders in acardo technologies AG is the quoted company Pironet NDH AG which produces its own products and has shares in other e-commerce companies such as SA2 Worldsync, prudsys and xplace.
acardo innovations include tamperproof coupon clearing, integrated checkout couponing, the successful "better buying" POS coupon book and targeted coupon dispensing at reverse vending machines and scales in grocery stores.

The Federal Association of German Mail Order Business (bvh) is the trade association of the online and mail order companies. The bvh has actual more than 330 companies as members. The mail order industry does currently 34 billion in sales in goods annually. The members of the bvh generate over 75 percent of the German turnover. The e-commerce in goods has a share of around 64 percent at the moment. The total annual turnover in the business with commercial customers is estimated at a further 7.2 billion euros. In addition to the mail order companies of the bvh there are over 90 service providers of the mail order industry, which are connected with the bvh.

D&G –Software GmbH is based in Waldbronn near Karlsruhe. For 25 years now, our company has been market leader in software solutions for professional mail-order businesses. The D&G-Mail-Order-System VS/4 enables account consignors of any size to control and handle their whole processing efficiently and in a cost-effective manner. Whether distribution takes place via catalogue, store, internet shop or mobile devices, VS/4 supports all classical tasks of the mail-order business from address administration up to incoming payments.
True to the D&G slogan “Individual standard software for consignors” the client always gets a software package customised to the individual needs.
More than 320 national and international consignors already rely on VS/4 – they come from various sectors like textile, electronics, pet food, sport, and lifestyle including Conrad, Hagen Grote, The British Shop, Krämer Pferdesport, Comfort-Schuh and many others.
Further information is available at www.dug-software.de

Demandware (NYSE: DWRE), is a leading provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) ecommerce solutions that enable companies to easily design, implement and manage their own customized ecommerce sites, including websites, mobile applications and other digital storefronts. Customers use our highly scalable and integrated Demandware Commerce platform to more easily launch and manage multiple ecommerce sites, initiate marketing campaigns more quickly, and improve ecommerce traffic. For more information about Demandware, visit www.demandware.com.

The ECC Handel was founded in 1999 as a research and consulting department of the IfH Institut für Handelsforschung GmbH in Cologne. The mission is to inform trading companies neutrally and thoroughly about e-commerce topics. Moreover, individual analyses for companies as well as own research projects to current trends and topics are being conducted. It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology for specific projects and it is embedded in the network for electronic business (www.ec-net.de)
More information: www.ecc-handel.de

eCircle is the biggest European provider of online marketing services, providing a complete end to end digital solution fuelled by innovative email technology, eC-messenger which is built with its own private data cloud enabling customers to store increasingly large and more varied amounts of data for use in email marketing programs.
Effectively integrating email, social media and mobile, eCircle delivers commercial value with ease of implementation, empowering clients with more data, more automation and more integration; ultimately leading to more profitable campaigns. DataSeal accredited, eCircle is constantly investing in improving data security and evolving its technology and data quality as well as building on its unique, expert team to deliver the best possible service for clients. Trusted by some of the world’s most prolific brands in travel, retail, FMCG and finance, eCircle delivers clients the tools to manage their data securely, save time and achieve truly seamless marketing.
With over 350 employees, multi-award winning eCircle has headquarters in Munich and additional offices in Copenhagen, London, Krakow, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Utrecht.

hybris is a leading vendor of next generation end-to-end multichannel commerce software based on a single platform including managed and hosting services. Its clear vision about the need for consistency, coordination and personalization of information across all channels and throughout all phases of the customer lifecycle has resulted in the development of an integrated, agile solution enabling businesses to communicate and sell across all channels – online and offline - in a consistent and effective way. hybris has 14 offices in 11 countries and support over 380 global customers. Customers are brands from retail and manufacturing industries, including: Adidas, Levi´s, Lufthansa, Clarks, Timberland, Nespresso, Toys´R´Us, Coca Cola Beverages, Ericsson, Rexel, Bobcat, Kaiser+Kraft, Hornbach, Nikon, Migros, Conrad, Iomega and Grundfos.

IBM is one of the world's largest suppliers of hardware, software and IT services. The company employs 398,500 people in 170 countries. IBM and its partners offer the customer a complete range of innovative products and services: Hardware, software and services including consultancy. Complex application solutions. Outsourcing projects. Training schemes. Funding design. With advanced solutions IBM prepares its customers for the challenges of the future and rapidly changing market scenarios. With high investments in personnel training and applications research, IBM will continue to lead the way in the development of new technology and solutions.

Intershop Communications AG is a leading provider of innovative, comprehensive e-commerce applications. The company offers Enfinity Suite 6, a powerful standard e-commerce software, all the related services and a comprehensive range of online marketing services. Customers can also commission Intershop to handle the entire process chain of online commerce including fulfillment. Intershop provides services to over 300 medium to large businesses and organisations world-wide. These include Hewlett Packard, BMW, Bosch, Otto, Tchibo, Deutsche Telekom and Quelle.

Itellium is an IT service provider run by its owners and offering end-to-end IT services for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as large corporations with retail processes. The company’s portfolio comprises consultancy and services surrounding customized and sector-specific IT solutions, based on SAP standard software, e.g. SAP for Retail. Itellium also creates e-commerce- and proprietary mobile commerce- and customer loyalty-solutions. Itellium’s clients include Baur, the Witt group, Karstadt, BFS Baur Fulfillment Solutions, MehrWert Servicegesellschaft as well as several automotive groups and car dealers.

With over 280 employees and more than 6,500 m² of production area at its Vreden, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Bangkok sites, Laudert is one of the leading multi-channel media service providers in Europe. The company’s spectrum of services ranges from process analysis and optimisation, through product photography and video productions, to preparing the optimised content for all channels, including content management. Professional e-shop systems and complex PIM / MAM solutions are designed and implemented by a 60-strong team of specialists. All services are integrated into the media consulting, media IT and media production areas of operation.

The Netresearch App Factory AG is a specialist for extensions in the range of eCommerce platforms. As exclusive Magento Preferred Extension Development Partner, the company develops customized Magento extensions for technology and industry partners like DHL, Hermes and Ogone. The focus is on the setup and development of a market place for the extensions, also known as apps.

nexum AG is an agent and consultant for digital media. nexum AG helps its customers to achieve their objectives through the optimum utilisation of user experience and the creative implementation of the latest technology. nexum AG specialises in: E-commerce (shop optimisation and recommendation engines); E-marketing (digital brand control and personalised newsletters); Web applications (including rich Internet applications and rich media); Content Management (including knowledge management and intranets). nexum AG is based in Cologne and has another site at Jena (D). It has more than 90 full-time employees. It also advises medium-size companies. nexum AG clients include BAUR Versand, Continental, coop Schweiz, Lufthansa, Otto Group, Penny, REWE, Sony Europe, Sportfive, Telefónica o2 Germany, ThyssenKrupp, 1. FC Köln football club, Hertha BSC and Hamburger SV.

optivo is one of the largest email marketing service providers in German-speaking Europe. Since establishment in 2001, the Berlin-based company has counted among the technologically leading providers and trendsetters in the area of email marketing. optivo offers comprehensive email marketing including SMS and fax from a single source. The portfolio extends from the distribution of newsletters and campaign emails with a secure, reliable and powerful email marketing software (optivo® broadmail) to individual strategy and entry consultation, email optimisation and address generation (optivo® consulting) as well as providing market relevant infomartion and best-practice knowledge (optivo® campfire). More than 850 clients from diverse sectors put their trust in optivo know-how and technology, including well-know brands such as Best Western, Bosch Power Tools, buch.de, Die Bahn, Die Zeit, Germanwings, Henkel, HolidayCheck, HypoVereinsbank, Lieferando, mymuesli,  Olympus, Plus.de, Rossmann, QVC, reBuy, simfy, Tui and zooplus. More information: http://www.optivo.com

OXID eSales AG provides the most commercially proven, Open Source online shopping software solution available, backed by a flexible range of support and licensing options, Software as a service (SaaS) offerings and additional Enterprise Features. OXID provides a simpler, faster and cleaner eShop software solution than anything previously available under an Open Source license. The company is committed to a commercial Open Source development model based on delivering unrivalled value to its community, responding fast to capturing the value it receives in return and innovating even faster to deliver value added products and services around the core offering.
(in particular: Certified Partner for IREUS)

PIRONET NDH AG offers the market a unique portfolio of solutions for handling digital content and data. This includes consultancy, software, integration and outsourcing services. PIRONET NDH AG is a corporate group that brings together four companies specializing in the different business areas ICT outsourcing, consulting and design, content management solutions as well as IT-solutions for retail / CPG. PIRONET NDH AG was founded in 1995 and is based in Cologne. Since 2000, it has been listed on the German stock exchange. The Group of companies employs more than 400 people working in 20 different countries and posted sales figures of around 55 million euros in the last financial year (2010).

The SMARTASSISTANT platform is the leading cloud-based technology for interactive product advisors / guided selling solutions. It allows to create and provide users with first-class product advice online, on mobile devices and at the point of sale.

The SMARTASSISTANT advisor gathers the user's needs in an interactive step-by-step process and recommends products in the product range that fit the user's needs best.
The need-oriented approach of the SMARTASSISTANT product advisors helps consumers to reach a confident purchasing decision.

The solution is based on Semantic-Web-technologies and supports leading online shops, multi-channel retailers, manufacturers and shopping portals in Europe, the U.S. and Asia to improve conversion rate, turn over and increase customer satisfaction.
Among other successful companies, Otto.de, Neckermann-Versand, Conrad-Electronic, Deutsche Telekom, Panasonic, Medion or Billiger.de, rely on the SMARTASSISTANT technology and use it in varied fields, such as consumer electronics, white goods, fashion, sports articles, DIY and services.

SHOPMACHER designs, develops and runs tailor-made eCommerce Solutions for brands and retailer. The company offers independent consulting for eCommerce and develops strategy, conception and economic calculation as well as brings together brand, sales and multichanneling. SHOPMACHER realises eCommerce projects, ensures success-related continuous growth and saves an economic, flexible and scalable business. For the respective special tasks like online payment or fulfillment the company includes specialists into the project.
The focuses of SHOPMACHER are: integral consultancy for conception, establishment and expansion of online shops inclusive developing of intern eCommerce processes, selection, integration and leadership of project partners and onlineshop.

Inventiveness and entrepreneurship – these characteristics of Chemnitz prepared the breeding ground for the tradition and scientific success of Chemnitz University of Technology since 1836. With more than 10.000 students and more than 2.000 staff members Chemnitz University of Technology today is a prospering, future-oriented and modern technical university with high scientific skills and great innovation potential. The profile of Chemnitz University of Technology, based on interdisciplinarity as well as on intensive networking on the national and international level, cross-links technical and natural sciences with social sciences, humanities and economics to generate competitive and excellent research as well as to create attractive degree programs.

Founded in 1999, the Cologne company is Europe’s market leader for the accreditation of online shops. Trusted Shops checks retailers against a catalogue of over 70 individual criteria such as creditworthiness, price transparency, customer service and data protection and then grants its coveted seal of approval. Furthermore, Trusted Shops offers the consumer a unique money-back guarantee for all purchases made online in the member shops. For further details pleas visit http://www.trustedshops.co.uk/

WEBSALE AG is one of the most experienced enterprises for eCommerce business. Since 1996, WEBSALE develops the ShopSoftware Solution WEBSALE eCommerce and provides the software for all customers, ready to use and on-demand in the WEBSALE ServerCloud. The WEBSALE shop solution is best suitable for B2C and B2B requirements, optimized for search engines and offers magnificent features to improve sales and guarantee sustainable success in the Online Market. Online-Merchants using WEBSALE Services can easily and efficiently expand in international markets due to the SubShop-Technology provided by WEBSALE. Cooperative ventures with leading technology partners are available to realize efficient workflows with high automatisations. WEBSALE offers performant interfaces to ERP-Systems, logistics and PaymentProviders. For conversion optimization and increased sales WEBSALE cooperates with WebControlling, Search Engines, direkt-marketing Suppliers and Recommendation Engines.

Founded in 2002, xplace GmbH is a market leader for interactive customer information systems for retailing. It has installed over 5,000 end-user devices throughout Europe. In practically all leading chain stores, customers can now use touchscreen terminals to browse product information and make their purchasing decisions by themselves. Wide-screen instore TVs and TV walls provide consumers with entertainment trailers, service descriptions, offers and other useful content. Switching equipment for TV departments. Racks for monitors, earphones and MP3 players. Software for notebook presentations. These are just some of the products which make xplace a one-stop supplier for top class retail display and presentation ware. Our core business includes the complex network and HDMI cabling of complete markets and branches.

xplosion interactive is an international company based in Hamburg, Germany that specialises in customised and individual retargeting solutions. Thanks to a brand-oriented campaign management approach that is directly aimed at user`s interests, xplosion interactive offers novel and intelligent retargeting solutions with fees based on performance. Our clients include Neckermann, bonprix, Heine and SportScheck. The company was founded in 2008 and is operated by Markus Berg and Daniel Neuhaus. For further details please visit xplosion.de