Investors banking on intelligent software for merchandise management

High-Tech Gründerfonds and Bayern Kapital are investing more than half a million euros in the forward-looking technology of Regensburg-based TM3 Software GmbH. TM3 has developed an innovative merchandise management system for optimum control of warehouse logistics in real time. In so doing, TM3 has attainted a level of performance and functionally that was previously not available to small or medium-sized enterprises and which now offers them tremendous benefits and potential for savings.

Whereas large trading and logistics companies deploy costly and complex standard solutions to control and administer their business processes, many small and medium-sized businesses make do with systems that are outdated and do not take advantage of what is technically feasible nowadays. More than 50 percent of the systems in use were purchased before the year 2000, meaning that half of these businesses are working with developments dating back to the 80s and 90s. TM3 closes this gap and offers small as well as medium-sized trading and logistics companies an up-to-date, forward-looking merchandise management system.

Competitive advantages for TM3 Software customers
“TM3 convinced us above all with the degree of technical innovation: Complete, document-free warehouse management in real time – such functionality was hitherto not available to the SME sector,” says Dr Björn Momsen, who is in charge of the investment at High-Tech Gründerfonds. “An innovative solution that covers the existing needs of small and medium-sized businesses,” adds Franz Wocheslander, the manager in charge of this investment at Bayern Kapital.

The new merchandise management system’s functions are both economical and user friendly. TM3 uses state-of-the-art hardware such as handheld PCs for mobile data recording in real time, barcode scanners and printers as well as a centrally-run engine in TM3’s computer centre.  Yet the benefits of the TM3 system lie in the software: for example, all data is recorded in real time and immediately translates to all operational evaluations and inventory lists. Stock is taken automatically and while the whole warehouse is in operation – there is no longer any need for any regular, large-scale inventory taking. All business processes can likewise be easily displayed on the system. This means that the software is geared to the operational processes and not vice versa.

The cloud computing technology enables the user to save the costs of the otherwise common server hardware, maintenance, data security and backups. The customer can log into a web portal to handle returns and the entire customer complaint process, which TM3 developed specifically for this purpose. Other functions such as setting up a web shop are also available on request.

Peerless accuracy in demand forecasting
A much anticipated feature involves the TM3 demand forecast. A method is being developed in collaboration with the Institute for Management Information Systems using artificial intelligence and machine learning that achieves peerless accuracy in predicting customer orders. Whereas the extent of deviation using conventional systems is between 30 and 40 percent, TM3 achieves an unbeatably low error rate of 3 to 5 percent in its forecasts. Here, too, TM3’s makers therefore see a future market in offering their consulting services as well as efficient forecasting software solutions. The wealth of benefits, the comparatively low procurement costs and the potential for savings make TM3 a highly recommended ERP solution for merchandise and warehousing logistics.

About TM3 Software GmbH
TM3 has developed an innovative merchandise management system for controlling and optimising all the business processes involved in merchandise management and warehousing logistics – in real time. The system is of great interest especially to smaller and medium-sized enterprises and is offered by TM3 in line with the “Software as a Service” (SaaS) model. TM3 was established in 2008 and is a spin-off from the Institute for Management Information Systems at Regensburg University. Targeted consulting and training services round off TM3 Software GmbH’s portfolio of products and services.

Contact:
TM3 Software GmbH
Dr. Thomas Wölfl
Bruderwöhrdstr. 15b
93055 Regensburg
Phone: +49 941 604 889741
Thomas.Woelfl@tm3-software.de
www.tm3-software.de

About Bayern Kapital
Bayern Kapital was set up in 1995 as part of the Bavarian state government’s “Bavarian Future Initiative” aimed at furnishing especially new, innovative Bavarian companies with venture capital. To date, Bayern Kapital has invested about EUR 152 million in more than 185 innovative, high-tech companies. Bayern Kapital is available as a contact for businesses in the region and currently manages an overall fund volume of about EUR 214 million.

Contact:
Bayern Kapital GmbH
Monika Steger
Franz Wocheslander
Ländgasse 135 a
84028 Landshut
Phone: +49 871 923250
Fax: +49 871 9232555
info@bayernkapital.de
www.bayernkapital.de

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds invests venture capital in young, high-opportunity technological companies implementing promising research results in an entrepreneurial manner. The start-up companies are planned to lead their R&D projects to the production of a prototype or a “proof of concepts” or market launch by means of the seed financing of up to 500k EUR. The High-Tech Gründerfonds has a fund volume of around 272m EUR. Investors of the public-private partnership are the Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology, the KfW bank group as well as the six industrial groups BASF, Deutsche Telekom, Siemens, Robert Bosch, Daimler and Carl Zeiss.

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Dr. Björn Momsen
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Phone: +49 228 96568505
Fax: +49 228 96568550
info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de