OREANDA-NEWS. With the launch of “Materials4Me” in Spain, thyssenkrupp Materials Services is continuing the digital transformation of its materials distribution network. As announced at the end of 2015, the online shop for small users and end customers has now gone live on schedule as part of a European rollout. After the United Kingdom, Spain is the next European market where customers can order products in quantities as low as they require online.

“We see great potential for our platform in Spain because as in the UK, our customers here are very internet savvy. What’s more, Materials Services has been operating successfully on the Iberian peninsula for many years. So our brand is very well known and trusted,” says Hans-Josef Ho?, board member of Materials Services.

Spanish customers can now choose from 2,500 items in the “Materials4Me” online shop, including products in standard dimensions, standard short lengths and custom short lengths. With the option of purchasing low quantities, the shop addresses the needs of repair and maintenance contractors, researchers, small trades as well as home improvement enthusiasts. This will give Materials Services access to new target groups with promising market potential in this region. Materials Services employs over 300 people in Spain.

With the expansion of its online offering on the Iberian peninsula, Materials Services is systematically implementing its digital strategy, which has already been tested internationally. It has its roots in the US, where Materials Services has been successfully operating an online shop for end customers since 2007. From the end of February a further 1,500 products will be available from “Materials4Me” in the United Kingdom – including stainless steel wall cladding, and tubes and pipes.

After the launch of the online shop in Spain, “Materials4Me” will also be available to customers in Germany from April. The introduction of portals for existing customers in the Benelux countries, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland is also planned for the first half of 2016. Here customers will have access to framework contracts and associated products, document downloads, and defined product catalogues. A full e-commerce function will follow later this year. So step-by-step the digitization process is set to continue throughout Europe.

With the launch of its digital solutions, Materials Services is leading the way in the sector with a differentiated approach for each country. The services provided are tailored precisely to the needs of the relevant market and utilize the structures established in each country.

About Materials Services
With around 480 locations in over 40 countries, the Materials Services business area specializes in materials distribution, logistics and services, the provision of technical services as well as services for industrial plants and steel mills. In addition to rolled steel, stainless steel, tubes and pipes, nonferrous metals, specialty materials and plastics, Materials Services also offers services from processing and logistics to warehouse and inventory management through to supply chain and project management.