Würth Group innovative in e-business:

Künzelsau/Böheimkirchen. Digital ordering possibilities and services are used more and more by tradespeople, too. Known only as a direct selling business so far, Würth is now even closer to its professional customers and their needs with various digital offers. One innovation is the voice-controlled Service App that can now be downloaded in Germany. The Service App acts as a kind of personal assistant that makes over 250 services of Würth, the specialist for assembly and fastening technology, available at any time – a unique selling proposition in this industry. The Würth Group is also continuing to develop its purchasing channels on the Internet, rolling out its innovations to its international companies. Würth Austria recently received an award for their innovative power in the online shop sector. The Austrian subsidiary won the Austrian Anton Award for the best B2B online shop. Bernd Herrmann, Member of the Central Managing Board of the Würth Group: "The great investments in our global e-business strategy are based on our conviction that digital media will play an ever more important role in the trades and the industry sector in the future. Therefore, we are all the more pleased about the recognition enjoyed by our online shop and our innovative mobile solutions."

The Würth Service App – an innovation of Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG

Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG, the German parent company, achieved a new milestone in the service sector. The new Würth Service App lifts the mobile service in this industry onto an entirely new level. Via a voice-controlled search function, users can access over 250 Würth services without having to type a single word. The app works like the Apple service "Siri". It is a personal assistant the user can communicate with directly through voice commands.

The Service App answers many practical questions from the everyday working life of a tradesperson: "Where is my delivery?", "Where can I find safety data sheets?", "Can I lease power tools?", "Can I enter payment by direct debit?", "Do you have chipboard anchors?" The information provided helps Würth customers when they are on the road or at a building site. The Service App that learns new things every day also answers general questions about the company. The Würth Service App is freely available for Android and Apple devices on the App Store.

Würth Austria wins Anton Award 2015

On 22 October 2015, the online shop of Würth Austria was voted best Austrian online shop in the B2B category. The Anton Award is presented to Austrian e-commerce companies for innovative and customer-friendly ideas. An independent jury awarded the prize in six categories, choosing among 100 contestants: pure-play B2C, B2C brand online shop, multi-channel B2C businesses, B2B online shop, innovation and international online shop.

Alfred Wurmbrand, Managing Director of Würth Austria, personally accepted the award: "The Würth Group has been banking on multi-channel sales for several years now. We want to continue expanding our market position by permanently improving our online shop with process-supporting functions for our customers." The Austrian online shop is based on an internationally used online shop system, offering the same functions as the majority of European Würth online shops.

Würth Austria reports permanent increases in online sales of assembly and fastening materials. In the first nine months of the year, sales in the digital sales channels could be increased by more than 20 percent over the previous year. In the entire business year 2015, Würth Austria is expecting e-business sales of EUR 10 million.

About the Würth Group

The Würth Group is the world's market leader in its core business, the trade in assembly and fastening materials. It currently consists of more than 400 companies in over 80 countries with more than 68,000 employees on its payroll. Around 30,000 employees are permanently employed sales representatives. In the business year 2014, the Würth Group attained a worldwide sales volume of EUR 10.13 billion. In the core business, the Würth Line, the product range for trades and industry comprises over 100,000 products: from screws, screw accessories and anchors to tools, chemical-technical products and personal protective equipment.

The Allied Companies of the Würth Group, which either operate in business areas related to the core business or in diversified business areas, round off the range by offering products for DIY stores, material for electrical installations, electronic components such as circuit boards as well as financial services. They account for more than 40 percent of the Würth Group's sales volume.