Fact check
- Who:
Jeweler Weikhard
- Team size:
more than 20 persons
- Objective:
digitize more than 10,000 repairs annually
- Result:
21 working days saved per year & search times minimized
Optimize your workflow now!
We all like to read stories. Stories where, despite initial challenges, a common path emerges that ultimately leads gloriously to the goal.
Our very special story is about Weikhard – a traditional company in Graz.
A name that stands for quality, safety and trust.
Over the centuries, the family of goldsmiths and watchmakers has built up a small workshop into one of the most knowledgeable and largest specialist jewelry and watch stores in Austria, and still boasts its own workshops for making and repairing watches today. At the same time, technological change was progressing, which the company now also wanted to keep up with.
The plan
Digitizing the handling of repairs and internal processes with software. A big goal and good material for an exciting story.
Traditional jeweler feat. young startup
Also important in a story: no adventure has to be undertaken alone – there are always helpful characters who join the quest and complete the mission together.
In this case, it was the Graz-based start-up Joinpoints with its magical ability to bundle the spirit of the future into one software.
After an intensive exchange with Managing Director Dr. Klaus Weikhard, a plan was developed together on how an experienced and renowned jeweler and family business could go digital in a sensitive sector.
New software, new thrills
Before embarking on an adventure, a few things need to be clarified:
Where exactly do you want to go? Which is the quickest way to get there?
When looking for the best solutions, the Joinpoints team tried to find an advanced alternative with its software in order to improve Weikhard’s workflow and continue to meet the high demands of its customers.
A big task
Our brave main characters took on this challenge.
Of course, a challenge wouldn’t be a challenge if it didn’t put a few obstacles in your way.
A completely new system had to be implemented and all the people who work at Weikhard had to be convinced. This proved to be a complex task at the beginning, reports Jakob.
Getting all employees on board - regardless of their generation and previous technological knowledge - is not easy and was also a bit of a thrill for us, especially in such a sensitive area.
Weikhard goes digital
Now we come to the heart of the matter – the big challenge that our heroic main characters have to overcome.
In this case, it was the ravages of time that were slowly but surely gnawing away at the Weikhard system.
From bags to software
As the company has been successfully operating since 1680, all information about repairs, deliveries and acceptances of jewelry and watches was previously handled by passing on and sending labeled sacks. This system worked well, was secure and maintained the company’s high quality standards.
A meeting with positive consequences?
However, as digitalization progressed, the Weikhard family also recognized some potential for improvement. So they turned to Joinpoints to increase customer satisfaction and simplify their employees’ day-to-day work.
Weikhard is now building on the cloud
As a venerable traditional company, Weikhard has always enjoyed a very conscientious reputation that has spread throughout the country over the centuries.
The customer data involved here is the most sensitive that a business, especially a jeweler, can entrust to us. It was therefore very important for us to clearly communicate how we can provide support here and what advantages we offer, says Jakob.
As a company with a data center in Austria, Joinpoints attaches great importance to security and transparency.
After several discussions in which generational differences were overcome, the fear of “the cloud” was taken away and common approaches were defined, the time had come.
The solution for Jeweler Weikhard:
- Simpler processing
- Highest safety standards
- Individual customizations
The company now not only has an automated
SMS system, but also the alternative of being notified by e-mail.
Even better overview at the traditional jeweler
Another important function that provides better mental and legal security is the included photo documentation of Joinpoints.
“During a repair process, you can always attach updated pictures of the watch or piece of jewelry and stay up to date,” explains Jakob.
The clear distribution of tasks for employees to tick off and easy access on all devices provide a perfect overview:
It is easy and visually appealing to see how many and which orders are currently active.
Watchmakers, goldsmiths & jewelers: it's all about trust
Like any good story, this one is about courage, a creative spirit and a strong bond of trust between the characters.
Jakob also confirms this:
“The watchmaking, goldsmith and jewelry industry deals with the most valuable pieces of jewelry and watches, which also often have great sentimental value. This requires a great deal of trust .”
These optimizations are also clearly noticeable for Managing Director Klaus Weikhard:
Joinpoints has enabled us to make our internal processes as efficient as possible so that we can focus more on our customers again.
“For many generations, our name has stood for living tradition, complete trust and absolute reliability.
The implementation of our digital repair and order manager was handled by the Joinpoints team. The automation and integrated CRM system save us a lot of time and energy every day. It has also enabled us to visibly increase customer satisfaction .” he further emphasizes.
Startup feat. jeweler - a success story
Did the Joinpoints team have to use a lot of black magic to achieve their goal?
No, just their sharp minds and good ideas: “We recognized where the problems were and completely turned the whole thing around,” says Jakob.
“As a young start-up, we may have a different approach and can open up new avenues with our flexibility. In addition, there are not yet many providers in this industry that customize digital, cloud-based solutions for companies .”
