KS Tools and crossbase - functional and universal

As a modern tool supplier KS Tools, headquartered in Heusenstamm (Frankfurt) in more than 60 countries and intelligent tools for industry, the automotive sector and the trade. The comprehensive product range includes wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, electrician's tools, automotive tools, construction tools and pneumatic tools.

A standard solution for PIM and cross-media publishing was implemented for KS Tools based on the crossbase standard software. The product data is maintained in a clear product hierarchy. The sales items available in the ERP, including parts lists and price data, are regularly posted in crossbase and subsequently enriched with extensive technical features, images, documents and texts and mapped in various market- and media-specific product views. These include the 1,200+ page product catalog and the 200+ page illustrated price list, all of which are generated independently by KS Tools.

The layout of the product catalog and the price list is uniform: the layout has been standardized across all products. The table contents are controlled on a product-group-specific basis using the crossbase table editor. In the printed product catalog, modular layout rules are used to achieve a targeted pagination. In the price list, on the other hand, flow frame layout rules are used that wrap fully automatically. Shortly before printing, a price update is carried out on the entire document, which generates indices and controls the type area.

The translations are efficiently controlled via crossbase.trans and are available shortly after completion of the German catalog. In particular, the prompt creation of the more than seven country variants brings significant cost advantages.

The solution provides a high benefit for sales through the output of electronic catalogs in BMEcat and nexMart format for trading partners and portals.