Ballerstaedt & Co. OHG

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Ballerstaedt replaces an end-of-life print system with InterformNG2

A German manufacturer of sealing systems moves from an AS/400-only print tool to output management that runs across IBM i, Linux and Windows - and adds ZUGFeRD e-invoicing along the way.

Rastatt, Germany

Ballerstaedt and Co. OHG logo
Industry
Manufacturing
Business area
Sealing and closure systems
Country
Germany
Platform
IBM i, Linux, Windows

Customer overview

Ballerstaedt & Co. OHG, based in Rastatt, Germany, is a specialist manufacturer of sealing systems and closure technologies. Operating as a mid-sized industrial company with high quality and compliance requirements, Ballerstaedt runs a heterogeneous ERP landscape based on IBM i (AS/400), Linux and Windows servers. Reliable document output plays a critical role across production, logistics, and finance, making a stable and future-ready output management platform essential.
 

The challenge

Ballerstaedt’s existing print solution had reached the end of its lifecycle. The software could no longer be updated because the original developer had ceased operations, creating growing compatibility risks with newer environments such as Windows 11. In addition, the system was limited to AS/400 output only, restricting flexibility and making it difficult to support modern, cross-platform processes.
 
Regulatory requirements added further pressure. In particular, ZUGFeRD-compliant e-invoicing could not be implemented with the existing setup. As a result, Ballerstaedt needed a modern, reliable output management solution that could support multiple platforms, meet legal requirements, and remain maintainable in the long term.
 

A Ballerstaedt sealing system on a finished container.

The project

Ballerstaedt selected InterformNG2 as a platform-independent output management solution capable of running seamlessly across Windows, Linux and IBM i environments. The breadth of functionality, combined with responsive and personal support from Interform, was a decisive factor.
 
The main project ran from April 2024 until the end of 2024. Implementation followed a structured, form-by-form approach. Two Interform consultants worked closely with three IT specialists from Ballerstaedt. While Interform collaborated directly with the IT department, internal alignment with other areas such as production, logistics, accounting and finance was managed centrally by Ballerstaedt’s IT team.
 
The first four forms were developed jointly to establish a solid foundation. Once these were completed, Ballerstaedt’s IT team was able to independently design and adapt additional templates. Interform supported the process through regular Teams sessions and hands-on guidance, particularly during the implementation of ZUGFeRD e-invoicing and the resolution of font and layout challenges. This approach ensured a smooth transition while building long-term internal expertise.
 

The results

Today, InterformNG2 handles a wide range of document types at Ballerstaedt, including labels, production orders, invoices and ZUGFeRD-compliant e-invoices.
 
Document output is faster and significantly more reliable. Advanced logging provides full transparency, allowing the IT team to track every print job and identify potential issues before they affect production. E-invoicing validation ensures that invoices are always correct and compliant, reducing manual checks and rework.
 
Template development and workflow management are clearer and easier to maintain, and changes can be implemented productively within minutes. While no direct cost savings were quantified, Ballerstaedt has achieved noticeable improvements in process reliability, control and operational confidence.
 

We can now implement production-related requirements within minutes. Interform has fully met all our expectations.

Frank Kiefer, IT Programmer and Administrator, Ballerstaedt & Co. OHG

Looking ahead

With the foundation firmly in place, Ballerstaedt is now fully self-sufficient in working with InterformNG2. The IT team continues to develop and refine templates independently and is actively exploring further optimisation opportunities on its own, using InterformNG2 as the central platform for output management.
 

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Talk to Interform about your ERP output

A 30-minute call. We look at the documents your ERP produces today, which of them still need someone to touch them, and what InterformNG2 would automate first. You leave knowing what would change and what would stay as it is.

Auto Nagel

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Auto Nagel replaces a template-heavy setup with rule-based document output

A multi-brand automotive retail group standardises document output across 18 locations, so one set of templates adapts automatically to the right brand, site and document type.

Germany

Auto Nagel logo
Industry
Automotive retail
Business area
Multi-brand dealer group
Country
Germany
Locations
18

Customer overview

Auto Nagel is a multi-brand automotive retail group operating across Germany with around 700 employees and 18 locations. Its portfolio includes leading brands such as Land Rover, Volvo, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Lamborghini.

Auto Nagel manages many of its shared business functions through Nagel Services, a central organisation that supports all locations across the group. This includes areas such as finance, payroll, marketing, sales support and controlling. By managing these functions centrally, Auto Nagel ensures consistent processes and systems across its network of dealerships.

Technology decisions that affect business processes across the organisation are also managed centrally. For Jens Nöring, Managing Director of Nagel Services, this means ensuring that the systems supporting the business are scalable, reliable and ready to support the company’s continued growth.

The challenge

Before introducing Interform, Auto Nagel managed document output through a combination of legacy tools and internally developed software.

Documents generated in the dealer management system were combined with background PDFs and manually designed layouts. Over time, this approach created a complex structure. Each brand, location and scenario often required its own template, and special cases - such as export invoices, leasing companies or customer-specific requirements - regularly resulted in additional forms.

As the organisation expanded across multiple locations and brands, the number of templates continued to grow. Even small changes, such as regulatory updates or layout adjustments, could require modifications across many different documents.

The system also depended on manual steps. Employees sometimes had to select specific templates or add information to ensure documents contained the correct legal or tax details. This made processes harder to maintain and increased the risk of inconsistencies.

With multiple brands, locations and evolving regulatory requirements, Auto Nagel needed a more scalable and reliable approach to document management.

Auto Nagel operates 18 locations across Germany for brands including Land Rover, Volvo, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Lamborghini.

The project

Auto Nagel implemented Interform as its central output management platform, replacing the template-heavy setup with a rule-based document system.

Instead of maintaining separate templates for every scenario, the company introduced standardised document layouts across the entire group. Variations such as brand identity, legal information and location details are now controlled through parameters and business rules.

This allows a single template to automatically adapt to the correct brand, site and document type.

Interform also enabled Auto Nagel to embed business logic directly into documents. For example, export invoices can automatically include the correct legal text and calculate required tax deposits based on customer and transaction data. Tasks that previously relied on manual calculations can now be handled automatically within the document process.

The implementation was carried out in close collaboration with Interform consultants using a workshop-based approach. From the start of the project to full deployment, the implementation took approximately nine months, with initial go-live taking place alongside the opening of new locations.

The results

Interform transformed document management at Auto Nagel from a maintenance-heavy task into an automated process layer that supports the entire organisation.

As a result, document management became significantly easier to maintain and scale. A single set of group-wide templates now adapts automatically to different brands, locations and scenarios, creating a far more robust system while dramatically reducing the administrative effort previously required to manage and update documents.

This has delivered several key benefits:

  • Faster rollout of new locations - new sites can become operational within a single day, compared with around a week previously
  • A more robust and reliable document process, with business rules automatically ensuring the correct legal and tax information is included
  • Significantly reduced administrative effort, as template maintenance is now managed centrally rather than across dozens of forms
  • Lower printing costs, with some operations reducing the number of printers by around 50%
  • More digital customer communication, with invoices and documents increasingly delivered electronically
  • Introduction of digital signing across multiple document types, including automatic archiving, reducing the need for printing while streamlining approval workflows and improving compliance

Interform has also enabled Auto Nagel to introduce electronic invoicing (ZUGFeRD and XRechnung) across all locations, ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory requirements while maintaining consistent document processes.

Interform helped us replace a complex document setup with a scalable system that automatically adapts to different brands, locations and requirements.

Jens Nöring, Managing Director, Nagel Services

Looking ahead

Auto Nagel continues to expand its use of Interform as part of its broader digitalisation strategy.

Future plans include integrating additional manufacturer systems so that documents created in external platforms can also pass through Interform for consistent processing and archiving. The company is also exploring further automation, including digital contract processes and deeper workflow integration.

For Auto Nagel, the goal is clear: reduce administrative work and allow employees to focus more on supporting customers rather than managing paperwork.

Get started

Talk to Interform about your ERP output

A 30-minute call. We look at the documents your ERP produces today, which of them still need someone to touch them, and what InterformNG2 would automate first. You leave knowing what would change and what would stay as it is.

Rexel Germany

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Rexel Germany automates more than 1,500 order confirmations a day

Order confirmations, labels and internal notifications were created by hand. InterformNG2 now produces all three automatically, in customer-specific formats, straight out of the ERP.

Published 15-07-2025

Rexel
Industry
Wholesale distribution
Business area
Electrical supplies
Country
Germany

Customer overview

Rexel Germany, part of the global Rexel Group, is a leading distributor of electrical supplies and energy solutions. The company supports customers across industry, trade, and services with an extensive product range and deep technical expertise.

As part of its digital transformation, Rexel Germany aimed to modernise its legacy ERP setup to improve efficiency, standardisation, and scalability across its nationwide operations.

The challenge

Rexel’s IT Development team, led by Michael Matthes, faced several operational challenges. Order confirmations and special labels were still created manually or semi-automatically, introducing errors and unnecessary delays. Communication between systems was fragmented, and maintaining customer-specific formats was both time-consuming and prone to human error.

The existing solution could not support the volume and flexibility needed to meet evolving customer demands. Rexel needed a modern, scalable output management platform that could integrate seamlessly with its ERP and handle all document workflows in a single, automated environment.

Stock picking against a paper list, the manual step that order confirmation and label automation removes. Library image, not photographed at Rexel.

The solution

Rexel implemented InterformNG2, Interform’s next-generation output management platform, to centralise and automate its document processes.

The rollout took place in three structured phases:

  1. 1Order Confirmation AutomationMigrating and redesigning templates to enable automatic creation and delivery of order confirmations in customer-specific formats.
  2. 2Label Printing IntegrationAutomating label generation and routing to the correct printers based on data-driven logic.
  3. 3Internal NotificationsIntroducing automatic message workflows within the ERP, improving internal visibility and communication.

Implementation was completed smoothly and efficiently, allowing Rexel to realise immediate benefits without operational disruption.

Results

Today, Rexel generates and dispatches more than 1,500 order confirmations every day - automatically, reliably, and without manual intervention.

Document generation that previously took several minutes per transaction now happens in seconds. Internal communication has become more consistent, and the overall process reliability and efficiency have increased significantly. The flexibility of InterformNG2 ensures that new templates, formats, or communication channels can be added quickly as business needs evolve.

"With InterformNG2, we've been able to automate thousands of daily outputs and streamline our communication processes. The system's flexibility and reliability have made a real difference to our operations."

Michael Matthes, Head of IT Development Solutions, Rexel Germany

Looking ahead

InterformNG2 has become a strategic foundation for Rexel’s IT modernisation. With automation now embedded at the heart of its operations, the company continues to explore new ways to extend document automation and digital workflows across departments and customer processes.
“With InterformNG2, we’ve been able to automate thousands of daily outputs and streamline our communication processes. The system’s flexibility and reliability have made a real difference to our operations.”

- Michael Matthes, Head of IT Development Solutions, Rexel Germany

Get started

Talk to Interform about your ERP output

A 30-minute call. We look at the documents your ERP produces today, which of them still need someone to touch them, and what InterformNG2 would automate first. You leave knowing what would change and what would stay as it is.