Last week our eCC conference took place in Austria for the first time and what more can we say: It was a complete success because both the ambiance and the program convinced us all along the line!

On day 1, the Fuchsegg Eco Lounge welcomed our eCC team not only with an impressive alpine panorama but also with spacious meeting rooms dominated by light wood. The perfect event location to feel completely comfortable during the two-day event. At 4 p.m., a small get-to-know-you round and moderated icebreaker session – matching the alpine surroundings – heralded the start of the event on the conference motto “Digital Sales – A Wider Look at Tomorrow’s Sales!”. After a short hiking session under slightly cloudy skies, the event aimed even higher. At Alpe Brongen, a snack station in the middle of the Vorarlberg Alps, the participants were treated with traditional Austrian delicacies in a rustic atmosphere and could listen to a newsflash during which, our CEO Mesut Cengiz gave a brief update on new product releases and customer projects.

The next day, the participants woke up to a fantastic view and (almost) cloudless skies above the Alps. Thanks to the new acquaintances of the previous day, we started at 9 a.m. full of energy with the first user presentations. The customers of our partners crossbase and KiM, Coltène/Whaledent AG as well as Meusburger GmbH, started with exciting contributions on the topics PIM and CAD. Before the lunch break, these were followed by two inspiring showcases, focusing primarily on the topics of PIM, 3D, and CPQ. During lunch, sitting under large sunshades in the green, the participants had the chance to network in order to exchange know-how and experiences concerning digitization. Right after the break, we started with the showcase of our customer LEWA, which has been setting the technical standard as a manufacturer of pumps, systems, and equipment for liquid metering for more than seven decades. In a remarkable presentation, the experienced product expert Hendrik Reinbach demonstrated the functionalities and special strengths of the LEWA Pump Optimizer. 

In the afternoon, the best-practice user presentation by Holger Reimsbach, Consultant Digital Business at Plan Software, on “How to Sell Complex Stuff Online (Fast) – The Way to a B2B Online Shop Using the Example of the Witzenmann Group” provided an exciting insight into our latest project with our long-standing customer, the Witzenmann Group. “Which requirements does a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) have to meet?”, “Which are relevant steps in the realization of a B2B e-commerce solution?”, “What are important key factors in the process – from strategy to go-live?” were central questions that Holger answered during his presentation and discussed interactively with the participants. He explained how the highly scalable CPQ solution enables the mapping of offers worldwide and thus a more efficient control of sales. How the configurator, developed in cooperation with Plan Software, and the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system used in the company interact, was illustrated by an accompanying live demo.

In the afternoon, Holger Reimsbach, Consultant Digital Business at Plan Software, inspired the audience with a best-practice user presentation on “How to Sell Complex Stuff Online (Fast) – The Way to a B2B Online Shop Using the Example of the Witzenmann Group”. “Which requirements does a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) have to meet?”, “Which are relevant steps in the (fast) realization of a B2B e-commerce solution?”, “What are important key factors within the process – from strategy to go-live?” were central questions that Holger not only answered during his presentation on our latest Witzenmann project but also discussed interactively with the participants.

Before the second day of the event was concluded in a relaxed atmosphere, the partners deepened the topics of PIM, 3D, and CPQ within the three parallel Open Spaces. During the Plan Software roundtable, Solution Manager Byron Wells discussed how Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ) solutions support the customer journey as well as their importance for B2B sales. In a small group, he also demonstrated the challenges and success factors in using CPQ, based on concrete problems of the customers present. The event was rounded off with a boat trip on Lake Constance.

Our conclusion to the first Austrian eCC: The motto “Business before pleasure!” urgently needs to be refurbished. During the last few days, we have seen how wonderfully business content on the topic of digital commerce can be combined with leisure activities, and that the latter can literally boost the productivity level to alpine heights.