A good relationship with our partners is very important to us at hsp. To mark this occasion, hsp veteran Wolfgang Schönwaldt (hereinafter referred to as WS) asked our business partner Ms Kolle-König (KK) for an interview to discuss our collaboration to date and in the future. The Kolle clothing store has been working closely with hsp for many years. This is also the case in the current project, which involves data from the merchandise management system prohandel automatically reconciled with the b&p financial accounting system. The interview was conducted and recorded on site on 9 August 2016.

The interview in full

WS: I’m delighted to be here today at Kolle in Hameln. We have been working with the clothing retailer Kolle for many years. And we have already made good progress on a current project where we are automatically transferring incoming invoice data from the Prohandel merchandise management system into b&p’s financial accounting system. Ms Kolle-König, thank you very much for agreeing to answer a few questions for our customers about our collaboration and the current project – even if it is only a small one in this case. Firstly, regarding your company: how would you describe it in a few sentences to someone unfamiliar with the area?

KK: We are a clothing retailer that not only sells clothes but also operates two Intersport shops, and we have a total of four outlets across several cities, all of which are actually very attractive to tourists and, for that reason, operate in a very forward-looking manner.

WS: Let’s move on then. How many years have you been working with hsp, Ms Kolle-König?

KK: We have actually been working with hsp ever since the company was founded. We already had an accounting programme before that, and then, together with hsp, we set up the ‘bup’ programme for us and developed it further.

WS: That’s brilliant. From your point of view, how has the collaboration gone so far? What went well? And what could have been better?

KK: From our point of view, the collaboration is excellent. Experience has shown that the programme is very comprehensive and can resolve a great many issues quickly. What’s also great is that the service – or, as it’s called these days, support – is always there for you, constantly trying to help with problems arising not only from the programme itself but also from working with it. What could be improved: perhaps, at times, the availability could be better. But that’s the case with all support departments.

WS: We need to get faster, I know. Sometimes, yes.

KK: But it doesn't happen any faster with Telekom either.

WS: That’s reassuring. Thank you. In the current project, you have commissioned hsp to improve the data interface between your Prohandel stock management system and the bup financial accounting system. What benefits does this bring for you?

KK: It’s great that Prohandel, as the stock control system, and bup are able to integrate their operations. The stock control system itself only handles stock control. However, the financial accounting system needs the stock control data to be able to operate accurately and efficiently. The ERP system issues the invoices; all the data is there – not just invoices, but also credit notes and cash transaction data – and why should you have to deal with something twice when you can simply hand it over and then just say „Right, now I’ll just carry out a spot check on the accounts“ – and the data is simply there. The advantage is quite simply that it saves time, and time is money.

WS: Exactly. Would you perhaps like to offer some advice to others facing a similar challenge?

KK: The advice is quite simple: consider which stock management software you use, which accounting software you use, and how to choose software programmes that work well together.

WS: Yes, thank you very much, Ms Kolle-König. I’m delighted that you’re satisfied with us. Thank you very much for taking the time just now to put that on record. And I’m delighted that we’re sure to continue to work well together.

KK: Our collaboration will continue, as we still have a few projects in the pipeline.

WS: I’m looking forward to that.

KK: Yes, me too