Idnet AB takes a strategic step forward in its expansion into retail operations efficiency by acquiring 51% of Storigo AB, a company specialized in data-driven retail communication. The acquisition strengthens Idnet’s position as the leading partner in the Nordics for digitalization and optimization of retail communication.
For nearly a decade, Idnet AB has received customer inquiries about improving their printing and digital signage processes. After a thorough evaluation of Nordic and global alternatives, a collaboration with Storigo began in 2023. Now, Idnet AB is taking the next step by becoming the majority owner of the company.
”Storigo’s data-driven platform allows us to apply our nearly 10 years of experience in ESL to print, digital signage, rendering of movies for social media, and queue systems. Customers gain access to a modern cloud-based solution, smoothly managed via any web browser and mobile devices in-store – without the need to install and maintain servers or clients. Additionally, the platform’s intuitive interface enables customers to create all materials directly within the service,” says David Göransson, Retail Business Area Manager at Idnet AB.
Jim Sundqvist, CEO of Storigo, is positive to the deal:
“We welcome Idnet AB as the majority owner of Storigo. Our collaboration with Idnet has worked very well from day one, and Idnet’s leading position as a provider of digitalization solutions for retail makes them the perfect partner for our continued growth. We look forward to further developing our solution and strengthening our market presence together with Idnet and the rest of Lexit Group.”
Storigo is based in Luleå, and according to the agreement, Idnet AB will acquire the remaining shares of the company at the beginning of 2028.
Idnet is proud to announce a successful partnership with Heimilistaeki (part of Elon Group), a prominent home appliance retailer in Iceland. This collaboration and implementation of electronic shelf labels (ESL) marks a milestone in both enhancing the shopping experience for Heimilistaeki’s customers as well as increasing the operational efficiency in-store.
This is what Elias Johansson, Account Manager at Idnet, says about the collaboration:
We are thrilled to partner with Heimilistaeki and bring our advanced ESL solution to their stores. In a market of constant changes our solution successfully automates product and pricing information, allowing the staff to focus on customer service and other more value adding store operations. The collaboration with Heimilistaeki is an extension from our existing partnership with Elon Group AB, aimed at further digitalizing their stores.
Hlidar Thor Hreinsson, Managing Director at Heimilistaeki shares his experience:
The cooperation with Idnet has been very positive journey for us. The staff at Idnet was extremely helpful during the installation process, and the integration was as smooth as one can be. The result for us is a future proof innovative platform that our stores and customers will benefit from.
In addition to the VusionCloud platform and Vusion labels from the global market leader VusionGroup, Heimilistaeki operates the solution with Idnet’s mobile applications.
Idnet enters into partnership with PDI Digital to use its sepioo® platform to digitalize warehouses and industries
The initiative of “Industry 4.0” and the need for digitization throughout the manufacturing and logistics sector lead to the introduction of industrial IoT displays and sensor solutions. Industrial IoT displays are similar to electronic shelf labels (ESL), but are tailored to industrial needs and use case requirements by combining e-paper displays with wireless communication and sensing capabilities. Idnet extends the partnership with SES-imagotag, the global market leader for retail ESL, by entering into a partnership with PDI Digital covering the industrial market.
Idnet have, since 2017, helped customers to achieve significant efficiency gains in areas such as automated price and product information updates, replenishment, click-and-collect, and inventory taking by leveraging electronic shelf labels (ESL). Many of these processes are as relevant in a store as they are in the industrial area.
Idnet is already live with several industrial customers and some of the use cases encompass:
• Increased picking accuracy by adding industrial IoT displays with dynamic check digits to the pick-by-voice solution ensuring that the operator doesn’t learn the static check digit
presented on paper.
• Increased efficiency regarding order and replenishment by leveraging the buttons on the labels to call for an order/replenishment directly at the shelf. In addition, by using the flash
function on the labels the operator will get a notification directly at the shelf if the operation has been successful or not depending on the color of the flash.
• Less time spent on printing product labels and navigation signs by digitalizing the process removing the manual steps of entering data into a solution, printing the label, mounting it on
the shelf or holder (which in many cases are located so far up that a sky lift is needed).
• Always updated labels and signs to ensure that the right product is being picked and/or replenished.
As the solution is completely configurable, there is no problem to adopt it to several other processes as well.
“With the comprehensive experience in the area of retail and industrial, Idnet is a strong partner for customers to profit from new digitization technology,” said Peter Schmallegger, Head of Global Sales and Marketing at PDi Digital.
The Idnet solution is centered on the sepioo® software-as-a-service platform from PDi Digital, which is based on Microsoft Azure. It is easy to maintain and operate and provides monitoring of the whole installed base from one interface. The sepioo® platform makes it possible to scale installations from one, to several thousand of sites without affecting performance. This, together with the high level of security built into the platform has been a critical factor for Idnet and of course also for ourp customers. No new infrastructure needs to be installed as sepioo® is also compatible with most new access points from the largest suppliers on the market. In addition, the platform allows for seamless integration of new generations of industrial IoT displays such as NB IoT displays, batteryless NFC displays, and complementary sensor devices.
“PDi Digital is the ideal partner with its open sepioo® platform and competitive portfolio of industrial IoT displays and sensors, it is the benchmark for delivering digitization and efficiency gains into multiple use cases and applications,” said David Göransson, Retail Business Area Manager at Idnet.
Please contact us for more information and/or visit us at the leading fair for logistic and transportation on the 8-9 th of November in Gothenburg, Sweden, follow this link.
In August, the e-commerce company NA-KD opened its new automated warehouse in Sweden, a warehouse that will initially handle up to 1,000 orders per hour for the Nordic market. NA-KD, which delivers fashion clothing, was founded in 2015 and is today one of Europe’s 20 fastest growing businesses.
“Fast deliveries are vital to e-commerce. A warehouse’s WMS is the very foundation for processing orders in a fast and efficient way,” says Oscar von Konow, COO at NA-KD.
The system that Idnet delivers and that NA-KD has chosen is called Scale and comes from world-leading Manhattan Associates.
“With Scale, NA-KD gets a WMS system that handles today’s challenges and at the same time can be configured for future unknown needs, in other words, perfect for all companies with rapid fluctuations and changed volumes,” says Jonas Arvidsson, Business Area Manager for WMS at Idnet AB.
“We are very proud to be a part of NA-KD’s growth journey,” says Jonas Arvidsson.
“Manhattan offers a global and reputable complete solution. An important factor in the choice was that the Manhattan solution minimizes the need for specific functional development and that we can instead focus on a quick implementation and go live, ” Oscar von Konow continues.
“In addition to having a world-class WMS, it was important for us to choose a system supplier who could deliver the project on time and on budget. We are very pleased with the choice of Manhattan and Idnet as our system supplier,” concludes Oscar von Konow.
For more information regarding Manhattan Scale and WMS, contact Jonas Arvidsson at +46 708-14 40 38
Sweden needs growth and Sweden’s entrepreneurs need inspiration, practical knowledge, and good role models. That is why for 20 years the financial newspaper Dagens Industri has named the fastest growing companies in Sweden as “Gazelle companies”. This week, Idnet’s appointment came in the mail.
“Less than 1 percent of Sweden’s limited companies meet the requirements to be considered as Gazelle companies, so we are of course very proud. Our industry is probably among the most exciting of all. The technical development is constantly coming up with new conditions. Constant development, future focus, and genuine commitment are in Idnet’s DNA. Many thanks to our fantastic employees and customers who make our growth and journey forward possible”, says Magnus Alm, CEO of Idnet.
To be appointed a Gazelle company, the following criteria must be met. Also, an overall assessment is made of the company where additional parameters that show sound operations are considered.
A Gazelle company has:
- A net turnover that exceeds SEK 10 million, according to the latest annual report.
- At least ten employees, according to the latest annual report.
- At least doubled its turnover, if one compares the first and most recent fiscal year in the four-year survey period.
- Increased its turnover every year for the past three years.
- A positive overall operating profit for the last four financial years.
- Essentially grown organically, not through acquisitions or mergers.
NetOnNet and Idnet AB have entered into a collaboration which means that Idnet will deliver electronic shelf edge labels to NetOnNet’s warehouse shops in Sweden.
In addition to the delivery of low prices, it has always been important for NetOnNet to deliver the right price to the consumer. This also includes the importance of implementing quick price updates on the company’s website as well as in all warehouse shops – at the same time. With electronic shelf edge labels, NetOnNet will automatically be able to change and synchronize price changes and product information. The solution also includes NFC technology and QR codes that give customers in-depth product information and thus an even better customer experience.
“In our quest to make things easier and better for our customers, in 2018 we decided to include Digital price signs for customer meetings that take place in the warehouse shop. Through the collaboration with SES-imagotag and Idnet, we can ensure that our customers always see the current and correct price no matter which NetOnNet channel they prefer to visit. Furthermore, the solution means that we make an effort for the environment by eliminating unnecessary paper printouts, which also saves us time which we can instead use for more customer-promoting efforts,” says Maivor Skoglund, Concept Manager at NetOnNet.
“We also chose to add a digital QR code in the solution, so the customer can get more in-depth information about the product, which goes hand in hand with our appreciated self-service concept,” Maivor Skoglund continues.
The rollout began in the spring of 2019 and is expected to continue in 2020. In total, about 130,000 labels will be installed. In addition to the delivery of the labels themselves, manufactured by SES-Imagotag, a world leader in digital price signs, Idnet will be responsible for project management, installation support, training of shop staff, support, and design of the labels.
“The electronic shelf edge labels create so many new opportunities,” says Niclas Boquist, Head of KAM at Idnet.
“The delivery is based on the latest technology in electronic shelf-edge labels where technology and software create a whole new level compared to the classic shelf-edge technology. Not only does it provide increased sales opportunities and more efficient processes for the shops they also take the customer experience to completely new levels. We are very proud that NetOnNet has chosen us as a partner in this venture,” Niclas Boquist concludes.
“This collaboration is another great achievement and success for our team. It confirms our position as the leading supplier of smart ESL solutions to the consumer electronics industry and the strong position we have in the Nordic region. Our innovative ‘VUSION Retail IoT Cloud’ platform is proving to be an important competitive tool for retailers who want to improve their efficiency and ability to serve customers, as they struggle to remain competitive in a very tough industry,” says Sébastien Fourcy, Executive Vice President Sales at SES-imagotag.
NetOnNet – Directly from the warehouse shelf
Since 1999, NetOnNet sells home electronics of both its own and other well-known brands directly from the warehouse shelf. NetOnNet’s focus is on simplifying everything they can to offer consumer electronics cheaper than competitors. This is the motto of NetOnNet and is based on their unique self-service concept. Customers should choose NetOnNet, not only because they have low prices, but also because they make it easier, more honest, and with a focus based on the customer in general. This is how they create added value and a strong relationship with their customers. NetOnNet sells to consumers and companies through e-commerce and 32 warehouse locations in Sweden and Norway. The head office is located in the trading city of Borås, Sweden.
About SES-imagotag
For 25 years, SES-imagotag has been a safe partner for retailers with digital technology in focus. SES-imagotag, the world leader in smart digital labels and digital pricing, offers a comprehensive IoT and digital platform for retail chains. The SES-imagotag solution makes it possible for chains to, among other things; digitize their physical shops, automate and streamline processes such as price updates, replenishment, and inventory to achieve increased efficiency and make it possible to meet consumers’ increased expectations for in-store service.
For additional information, please contact:
Christina Befwe, Idnet AB
e-mail: christina.befwe@idnet.se
Phone: +46 708-652890
Nora Ay, PR and Communications Manager, NetOnNet AB
E-mail: nora@netonnet.com
Phone: +46 704-500205
David Göransson, Account Executive SES-imagotag
E-mail: david.goransson@ses-imagotag.com
Phone: +46 76-0367176
Photo: NetOnNet / Emelie Magnusson