A Cologne paint wholesale specialist replaces a legacy DOS system with SAP Business One — and doubles its logistics throughput in the process.
Download: SAP INFO KLW GMBH Success Story (in German)
Results
- Logistics speed: 2x faster
- Earnings increase: +5%
Go-live timeline: 8 weeks
| Company | KLW GmbH |
| Website | www.klw-autolacke.de |
| Industry | Wholesale — automotive and industrial paint & finishing supplies |
| Headquarters | Cologne, Germany |
| Employees | 20 |
| Annual Revenue | approx. €4.5 million |
| Solution | SAP Business One |
| Implementation Partner | init consulting AG (formerly via bob Systemlösungen) |
| Go-Live | 8 weeks from decision to production start |
Paint expertise that goes beyond the tin
KLW GmbH is a Cologne-based wholesale distributor specializing in automotive and industrial paints and finishing accessories. The company sells leading brand products including Glasurit and Salcolix, and also produces custom paint blends used by body shops and industrial manufacturers across the region. With a product portfolio spanning approximately 2,000 line items — from small tools to complete spray equipment rigs — KLW has established itself as the local market leader in its segment, serving customers who depend on precise color matching and consistent quality. The company employs 20 people and generates annual revenues of approximately €4.5 million.
A DOS-era system holding back a modern warehouse
With 250 order transactions processed every day and two separate warehouses to manage — a main stock facility and a dedicated paint storage area covering every color and batch variant — accurate, real-time inventory control was critical. KLW's existing system, however, could not keep up. The legacy DOS-based solution lacked integration between inventory management and financial accounting, offered only limited reporting, and had no web capability. Key processes such as backorder tracking and flat-rate shipping cost calculation had no proper system support. Decision-makers had no reliable way to view live stock or order status data. A modern replacement was needed — one that could map KLW's established workflows rather than force the business to adapt to the software.
SAP Business One — up and running in eight weeks
After evaluating options, KLW selected SAP Business One for its integration depth, user-friendly interface, and ability to accommodate company-specific processes. Implementation partner bob Systemlösungen (Erftstadt) — working under the init consulting network — carried out a detailed process analysis before go-live and built a test programme to validate workflows. KLW-specific processes including backorder capture and flat-rate freight cost handling were integrated directly into the new system. Following successful migration of all master data and transaction records, every process was run through end-to-end testing before the system went live. From decision to production start: eight weeks.
Faster, leaner, and more competitive
The impact was immediate and measurable.
Logistics throughput doubled. With 250 daily order runs flowing through SAP Business One, KLW's warehouse operations now run at twice the previous speed. Real-time data access allows managers to intervene quickly and precisely wherever a bottleneck or discrepancy arises.
Earnings rose by five percent. Improved process efficiency translated directly into bottom-line results. Logistics optimisation, reduced errors, and better stock management contributed to a sustained improvement in margins.
Reporting is available at a click. Every report generated in SAP Business One can be exported directly to Microsoft Excel. The system's data navigation layer allows near-unlimited filtering — gross profit threshold monitoring, open items lists, and order status tracking are all available on demand without manual compilation.
Stock levels reduced, delivery reliability improved. Better scheduling and warehouse management reduced excess inventory while simultaneously improving the company's ability to fulfil orders reliably and on time — a direct competitive advantage in a market where responsiveness matters.
Process transparency improved end to end. Order status, delivery notes, and invoices are accessible at any point in the fulfilment cycle. Queries can be handled precisely, and service quality has risen accordingly.
"By being able to access up-to-date data at any time, we can intervene much more quickly and in a more targeted way than before. Our logistics now operate twice as fast as before." — Thomas Töller, Managing Director, KLW GmbH
An investment that pays back — in more ways than one
KLW used the implementation project as an opportunity to review and, where practical, align its internal processes to SAP best-practice standards. The result: significantly higher process transparency, fewer errors in day-to-day operations, and a strengthened competitive position.
The Managing Director calculates full software cost amortisation within approximately five years. Indirectly, however, SAP Business One is already generating savings today — through lower operational running costs, reduced surplus stock, and the efficiency gains that come with a fully integrated system.
