- GK gains several new projects with global top 50 retailers
- First major project in South Asia
Not only has the first major existing customer decided to implement a complete switch to OmniPOS within a new project, but two other retailers, which are also among the global top 50, also opted to introduce the solutions sold by SAP and developed by GK Software. While one of the projects is based in southern Europe, the second will be introduced in Asia and South Africa. The company was also able to gain business from a supermarket chain in Switzerland and a DIY store operator in Canada during the second quarter. The new projects involve introducing OmniPOS to approx. 4,300 stores located in more than five countries.
The Management Board views the gaining of these projects as confirmation of the company's plans for the current year; it is therefore adhering to its forecast, as published in the announcement made on the 1st quarter, without making any changes.
- Turnover increases by 24.2 percent after nine months, according to provisional figures
- EBITDA reaches EUR 6.73 million
The EBITDA rose greatly to EUR 6.73 million, following a figure of EUR 4.04 million in the previous year. The EBIT reached a figure of EUR 4.11 million (first 9M of 2016: EUR 1.04 million).
Based on these results and the sales opportunities in the first nine months of the year, the Management Board continues to assume that the company will be able to significantly increase its turnover in comparison with the previous year, as expected; and it is maintaining its forecast for the year 2017 and the medium-term without making any changes or amendments.
The full nine months report is expected to be published on November 27.
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Growth in turnover of 23,5 percent to EUR 77.33 million (provisional figures)
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EBITDA grew many times over to EUR 7.80 million, EBIT reached EUR 3.94 million
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Revenue from cloud solutions developing positively
A significant increase in turnover in all the business units (licenses, services and maintenance) formed the basis for growth during the financial year. Together with SAP it was possible to attract eight new customers in Europe, the USA and Central America to the new OmniPOS solution during the 2016 financial year. The development of this cloud solution, which was officially presented at the beginning of 2016, has therefore proceeded in an extremely positive manner. The first project in Ireland and Great Britain, for example, has already been completely rolled out and three other projects with installations in the USA and Switzerland have now entered productive service for the first time. Regardless of these phenomena, other customers of SAP have opted for the Central Pricing Engine developed by GK (which is also a cloud solution). One major driving force for the improvement in profits has not only been license revenues, but also the significant improvement in revenues in the field of the company’s service business. The measures adopted at the end of 2015 have already had a strong impact.
Based on the provisional results for 2016, a well-filled sales pipeline and the competitiveness of the new OmniPOS solution, which has already been proven, the Management Board is confident that the company will be able to reach the goals set in the medium-term forecast for the period until 2018 and is standing by this without making any changes.
The full financial statement for GK Software will probably be published on 27 April 2017.
GK Software today announced it is the recipient of the SAP® Hybris® 2017 Global ISV Partner of the Year Award. Awards were presented by SAP Hybris to the top-performing partners in 2016 that have made outstanding contributions to driving customers’ digital transformation. Recipients of this year’s awards have been – in partnership with SAP Hybris – helping organizations adopt innovation easily to attract, retain and grow a profitable customer base.
Michael Scheibner, Executive Vice President Strategic Operations, GK Software states that, “GK Software solutions, integrated with the SAP Hybris Commerce solution, enable retailers to reach out to customers on all available sales channels. The award recognized GK Software for delivering the power of omni-commerce to brick-and-mortar retailers increasing customer engagement and empowering associates in a digital retail world.”
Selected from SAP Hybris’ broad partner ecosystem, nominations for the SAP Hybris Partner of the Year Awards were based on internal SAP data. A steering committee composed of regional and global SAP Hybris representatives determined winning partners in each category according to a number of criteria including joint sales achievement, customer case studies and consultant certifications. Awards were presented in a variety of categories, including overall partner performance by geography, innovation, service delivery and newcomer.
“We are recognizing GK as the recipient of the SAP® Hybris 2017 Global ISV Partner of the Year Award,” said Patrick Finn, Senior Vice President, Strategic Alliances, SAP Hybris. “Together Hybris and GK Software deliver the best in class suite for a seamless, consistent customer experience across all devices and channels. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners to grow their opportunities with SAP and to jointly deliver value for our customers.”
GK Software has a longstanding partnership with SAP dating to 2001, continuing when SAP Hybris became an SAP company. The companies share a common omni-channel roadmap and a close technical and sales partnership.
GK Software received its award during the SAP Hybris LIVE: Digital Summit conference, an annual gathering bringing together thousands of professionals from across the globe who are involved in the customer journey, ranging from marketers and developers to senior executives. The one-day event contains both digital and physical elements with streamed and recorded sessions from three locations: Singapore, Munich and New York. The event focuses on the overarching theme of “Go Beyond Disruption.”
The major focus of this year's showcase by GK Software is the thoroughly redeveloped OmniPOS solution, which was officially launched last year. It has been particularly designed for use in a truly wide variety of omni-channel scenarios. OmniPOS combines the tried and tested features of the market-leading GK store solutions with the latest architecture and technology. All the relevant business processes in OmniPOS are made available as services, and they become accessible for each sales channel. This offers retailers a completely new level of quality for introducing genuine unified commerce concepts. For example, the world's only store software, which is capable of operating on SAP HANA, features topics like cloud computing, clustering, or multi-client capability just as much as seamless integration in the world's leading backend and e-commerce facilities provided by SAP. The solution is part of the world's only end-to-end, complete package for unified commerce within the network of SAP solutions for the retail sector. OmniPOS is also sold by SAP using the "SAP Omnichannel Point-of-Sale by GK" brand. Fifteen customers have already selected to introduce their omni-channel strategies.
Central price calculations for each channel
One important element in all-round omni-channel concepts involves standard pricing and the consistent use of as many promotions and loyalty activities as the retailer needs. Using the Central Pricing Engine, GK offers the leading solution, which is designed to simultaneously handle a very large number of price calculations via several channels in real-time. The Central Pricing Engine handles any possible combination of promotions and can also map the most complex rules on a wide variety of devices in real-time. The solution is also part of the SAP solution portfolio.
Apps first - an innovative concept for rapid 'time-to-store'
OmniPOS is a standard solution, which is designed to be able to respond to the relevant needs of retailers in a wide variety of sectors very quickly. In addition to classic facilities like parameterisation or programming, the solution offers a special concept for reducing the time-to-store through 'app enablement' developed by GK - i.e. the time that is required until the rollout of new processes in stores. OmniPOS fully relies on HTML5 (SAP Fiori) to manage the interfaces. New functions in the form of apps can be integrated without any changes to the product core and with a manageable efforts needed for programming. These apps also support the sales personnel - e.g. with additional information, advisory tools or sales recommendations. Solutions provided through apps for ticketing (sale of event tickets), instore messaging and cashier training will be on display at the EuroShop trade show for the very first time. Because of the many advantages of this concept, the principle of 'apps first' will be used for the ongoing development of OmniPOS, although each function will first be checked to see whether it can be designed as an app and could therefore be immediately available on each device without the need for any further development work.
Support at the shelf - additional information through augmented reality
Products are also the focal point of shoppers' interest. However, the opportunities are restricted for offering more extensive information or additional purchase incentives directly at the shelf. Using an augmented reality solution, GK will show for the first time how classic shelf information can be enhanced for customers and sales personnel by using smartphones and tablets. The product is automatically recognized and all the available information and ordering opportunities are immediately displayed to consumers. The sales personnel also receive information that is relevant to the items - e.g. their availability. By using augmented reality in stores, GK is closing another gap between the in-store business and the internet. This enables retailers to offer the same comfort enjoyed by customers at web shops in stores.
Faster shopping - full control over shopping with GK Self-Scanning
Self-scanning is one of the fashionable trends. Many large retailers have already been focusing on this subject for some time in order to offer their customers better service and more options when shopping. GK will present a self-scanning solution at the EuroShop trade show, which is part of the GK Mobile Customer Experience Platform (MCE) and is seamlessly integrated in OmniPOS. Both, dedicated retailer devices and customer smartphones, can be used to register items and pay for them. The self-scanning solution can handle the complete range of mobile customer services like infotainment, couponing, or mobile payments in conjunction with the Mobile Customer Experience Platform.
Order online, pick up in the store - efficient omni-channel processes with GK Pick & Pack
Another module for end-to-end omni-channel processes is the GK Pick & Pack solution. This enables the store personnel to pick the goods ordered online in good time and hand them over to customers in the store or in the pick-up area. All the picking orders are clearly labeled and are available on each mobile and stationary device, as Pick & Pack is also made available by app enablement. Pick & Pack is seamlessly linked to the merchandise management and till systems and no outside solution is required for this service feature, which is becoming increasingly important.
'Simply Retail' is simply one step ahead
GK's entire development and research work is known as 'Simply Retail'. Our philosophy is to scale down the complexity of processes and make them as simple as possible for the IT managers, the sales personnel and customers. We aim to reduce the number of solutions in use, prevent any disruption and reduce the possibilities for errors. GK Software offers a complete portfolio, which embraces all the store processes at the POS, on shelves and in the warehouse, all mobile processes on customer smartphones, integration with merchandise management, e-commerce and CRM systems and complete services for retail companies. GK has been successfully working with partners like SAP, SAP hybris and valuephone for many years.
The Supervisory Board of GK Software AG today approved the planned transaction subject to the successful conclusion of the due diligence. A further prerequisite for the completion of the transaction is the approval of the annual shareholders' meeting of prudsys AG. The Management Board of prudsys AG has recommended the shareholders to accept the offer of GK Software. The Management Board of GK Software AG estimates that the acquisition of the majority stake will cost up to 5 million euros.
GK Software AG
Waldstraße 7
08261 Schöneck
Germany
WKN 757142
ISIN DE0007571424
Listed: Frankfurt (Prime Standard)
(End of the obligatory announcement)
About prudsys GmbH
Founded in 1998 as a spin-off of the Technical University of Chemnitz, the company is a leader in the field of artificial intelligence applications in online commerce. More than 200 online shops rely on the company's artificial intelligence solution for real-time intelligence-based data analysis. prudsys' customers include Babywalz, bonprix, Conrad, Coop, Douglas, Klingel, Otto, Obi, SportScheck, Thalia and Würth. GK Software expects the acquisition to strengthen its own portfolio by integrating prudsys know-how in the areas of artificial intelligence, cloud technologies and data mining.
The shareholders of GK Software AG will automatically become the shareholders of GK Software SE as a result of the conversion process. There are no adjustments to shareholders’ rights and no other repercussions are expected for the customers and employees at GK Software AG as a result of the change of legal form. The company is not planning any modification to the current two-tier board structure consisting of a Management Board and a Supervisory Board either. Schöneck will continue to be the company‘s headquarters and administrative centre.
The change of legal form requires the approval of the shareholders. The company is aiming to obtain this at the 2017 annual shareholders’ meeting, which, according to current planning, will take place on 22 June 2017.
In May 2017, the shareholders of GK Software AG will receive extensive information on the agenda item regarding the planned change of legal form together with their invitation to the annual shareholders’ meeting. At the same time, the necessary steps will be introduced in order to guarantee the legally prescribed employee participation as part of the transformation process.
GK Software AG
Waldstraße 7
08261 Schöneck
Germany
WKN 757142
ISIN DE0007571424
Listed: Frankfurt (Prime Standard)
(End of the obligatory announcement)
GK Software AG continued to grow its turnover significantly by 26.5 percent to a figure of EUR 53.10 million during the first nine months of 2016, according to provisional figures (first 9M of 2015: EUR 41.98 million).
- Turnover increases by 26.5 percent after nine months, according to provisional figures
- EBITDA reaches EUR 4.04 million
The EBITDA rose greatly to EUR 4.04 million, following a figure of EUR (0.76) million in the previous year. The EBIT reached a figure of EUR 1.04 million (first 9M of 2015: EUR (3.36) million). The reasons for the nine months results were a strong turnover in licenses and a major increase in efficiency in the consulting and implementation department.
Based on these results and the sales opportunities in the first nine months of the year, the Management Board continues to assume that the company will be able to significantly increase its turnover in comparison with the previous year, as expected; and it is maintaining its forecast for the year 2016 and the medium-term without making any changes or amendments.
The full nine months report is expected to be published on November 29.
- Turnover increases by 30 percent to EUR 35.08 million in comparison with the same period in the previous year, according to provisional figures
- EBITDA reaches EUR 2.29 million
Schöneck, 17. August 2016 - GK Software AG once again increased its turnover enormously by 30.6 percent to a figure of EUR 35.08 million during the first half of 2016 according to provisional figures (first half of 2015: EUR 26.86 million). The EBITDA rose even more strongly to EUR 2.29 million, following a figure of EUR (0.69) million in the previous year. The EBIT reached a figure of EUR 0.29 million (first half of 2015: EUR (2.28) million). The reasons for the excellent half-yearly results were strong turnover in licences and a major increase in efficiency in the consulting and implementation areas.
Based on these results and the sales opportunities for the second half of the year, the Management Board continues to assume that the company will be able to significantly increase its turnover in comparison with the previous year if business goes well; and it is maintaining its forecast for the year 2016 and the medium-term without making any changes.
The full half-yearly report will probably be published on 30 August.
GERRY WEBER International AG has decided to implement the SAP Omnichannel Point-of-Sale by GK application in approximately 1,000 GERRY WEBER and HALLHUBER stores in 18 countries. The roll-out of this new POS solution forms part of a wider project to transition the company’s central systems to SAP Fashion Management.
GERRY WEBER International AG is the latest in a line of leading international fashion companies to select the SAP POS solution by GK Software. During the project, which forms part of an extensive modernization program based on SAP solutions, SAP Omnichannel Point-of-Sale by GK will completely replace the point-of-sale software currently used in all GERRY WEBER and HALLHUBER stores. This will provide GERRY WEBER with a standardized and scalable solution that is seamlessly integrated in the central SAP systems, while also adding new functionalities to the existing business processes within both retail formats. Michel Feurich, CIO of GERRY WEBER, sums up the reasoning behind the decision as follows: “We were looking for a standard solution that would enable us to respond very rapidly to market developments and changing customer behavior. At the same time, by utilizing a homogeneous, technologically leading solution that could be integrated into our new SAP world, we wanted to gain the long-term certainty of being well equipped to cope with the future challenges in a competitive landscape.”
Developed by market leader GK Software, SAP Omnichannel Point-of-Sale by GK is a completely new and innovative software solution that draws on the company’s 25-plus years of expertise in store-level systems. First of all, the new solution is being adapted in line with the specific needs of the GERRY WEBER and HALLHUBER retail formats. The solution will then be rolled out step by step in all 18 countries in which the company has its own stores. GK Software is handling the implementation itself and all country-specific requirements will be integrated into a single version of the solution. When the project is complete, all GERRY WEBER stores around the world will use the same software, leading to a sustainable reduction in operating costs, maintenance costs and development costs.
About the GERRY WEBER Group
GERRY WEBER International AG, headquartered in Halle/Westphalia, operates on a global scale and unites four strong fashion brands under one roof: GERRY WEBER, TAIFUN, SAMOON by GERRY WEBER and HALLHUBER. The SDAX-listed GERRY WEBER Group generated sales revenues of EUR 920.8 million (financial year 2014/2015). Since its beginning in 1973 GERRY WEBER International AG has become one of the most famous and successful German fashion and lifestyle companies with nearly 1,270 company-managed stores and sales spaces (incl. 275 from HALLHUBER), more than 2,500 shop-in-shops and 270 franchised stores worldwide as well as brand online-shops in nine countries. The company is constantly expanding its position as a global player with some 7,000 employees (including approximately 1,500 from HALLHUBER) worldwide and distribution channels in more than 60 countries, and is one of the largest listed fashion companies in Germany. The Managing Board consists of CEO Ralf Weber, responsible for Wholesale and Corporate Development, Dr. David Frink, responsible for Finance, Logistics, IT, Administration, Production and Human Resources Management as well as Norbert Steinke, responsible for the Retail and Licensing segments.
