“Pfeifer continues to pursue a clear growth strategy, and this requires systems that optimally support this goal. We deliberately wanted to rely on a globally established partner,” Stefan Hammerl, Head of Group IT at Pfeifer, says, explaining the reason for switching to SAP. With the introduction of the S/4HANA ERP system, the company also expects to further improve its business processes. “SAP offers integrated applications for all areas of the company – all from a single source and based on a single, uniform platform. For our growth strategy, having a scalable solution was crucial,” Hammerl adds.
SAP is creating a uniform database across the entire group. Optinex provides management with aggregated information from production planning, which is needed for business decisions.
The Optinex software tool from Swedish IT service provider ForestX will be used to support planning and decision-making processes. For this purpose, Pfeifer is developing its very own Optinex template that will be implemented at Pölkky’s sites by the summer of 2026. Based on the experience gained there, the application will then be rolled out group-wide. The aim is to standardize planning processes within the group. Following the principle of step-by-step implementation, the switch to SAP has already been made.
Uniform database
All process data are available in the SAP reporting layer: from raw material procurement to order status and inventory levels. “This way, we can make sure that all reports are based on a uniform set of data. This makes the data reliable and eliminates any doubts about their validity,” Hammerl emphasizes, speaking with the Holzkurier. Starting in 2020, SAP was implemented across the entire Pfeifer Group within two years.
“At Pfeifer, we are very process-oriented. The acquisition of Pölkky in 2022 clearly demonstrated the importance of a uniform ERP system. Today, we have SAP-compliant workflows in all our production sites – in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, or Finland,” Hammerl tells us.
During the integration of Pölkky, it was recognized that the planning processes there had previously been carried out mostly without system support. “We saw that there was room for improvement in planning and contacted Optinex,” the IT manager says. Integrating the application into SAP works seamlessly. Optinex is, in fact, the only solution for the timber industry that is SAP-certified and available in the official SAP Store. In addition to SAP, Optinex can also be integrated into all ERP systems that are commonly used in the timber industry. Pfeifer implemented its first joint project with ForestX two years before the acquisition of Pölkky.
Planning effort significantly reduced
After SAP initially failed to offer a suitable solution for the glulam production facility in Imst, the idea was to develop an in-house application. Contact with Swedish IT service provider ForestX was first established in 2020. “Our planning and optimization tool Optinex is specifically tailored to the requirements of the timber industry and supports planning across all levels,” Carl Barck, founder and CEO of ForestX, explains. The cloud-based system immediately convinced Pfeifer, which is why the company successfully implemented the application in glulam production. “We were able to further optimize production and significantly reduce the effort involved in production planning,” Hammerl says with satisfaction. “Based on the order data, Optinex provides production planners with concrete suggestions as to when each batch should be produced,” Barck explains.
Simplified decision-making
Optinex supports decision-making processes at tactical, operational, and strategic levels. “In the future, Pfeifer’s management will receive the aggregated data necessary for business decisions,” Hammerl explains. “Based on the resulting measures, Optinex generates medium-term production plans that are then used for operational execution, including cutting pattern generation,” Barck adds. The results of production planning in Optinex are SAP-compliant production orders that are integrated directly into the ERP system.
Production planning incorporates raw material and machine availability, inventory levels, and financial information.
Digitalization as a factor of success
“With Optinex, we achieve maximum transparency in production. This makes work easier for our management and frees up more time for strategic decisions,” Hammerl is convinced.
Furthermore, centralized data management ensures that knowledge is shared within the entire organization rather than remaining with individuals, thereby significantly reducing operational risks.
