About OBI
OBI has been an iconic part of the international DIY landscape since 1970. More than 50 years later, orange blood flows through the veins of 40,000 employees in ten countries in Europe and Asia.
While the heart beats locally in the 640 stationary stores, OBI is also working hard to shape the future of DIY in a digital world.
Field of action
OBI is the market leader in the German DIY store business. In the stores, employees had access to stationary computers and landline telephones. As part of its digitalization strategy, OBI wanted to equip its employees with smartphones so that they could access product information, check stock, place orders, and contact suppliers directly from the sales floor.
Requirements
The goal was to equip the entire workforce with pre-configured Samsung Xcover 6 Pro devices to increase digital integration in internal communication. Secondly, customer service was to be improved, for example, by making product information available more quickly and easily. The possibility of private use also turns the company device into an employee benefit.
Project planning
All OBI employees are to be equipped with a smartphone that is ready for use. The Samsung Galaxy Xcover 6 Pro was chosen because this outdoor model can withstand the demanding conditions of everyday life in a DIY store well due to its robust construction.
Using an MDM, a separate business area is set up on the devices so that they can be released for private use – if the respective users want them to be.
The devices should be ready to use out of the box and equipped with a Deutsche Telekom SIM card. The scope of delivery also included a charging plug, accessories to protect the devices (bumpers, safety glass), and a lanyard in OBI orange so that employees can keep their hands free while working in the store.
Roll-out
The project kicked off in August 2023. In a pilot for testing and staging (configuration), a few devices were initially sent to the headquarters in Wermelskirchen.
After the pilot was coordinated and evaluated, more devices were added in October for training purposes; these were already provided by Everphone, picked and packed according to OBI’s guidelines.
Then things got serious: Within four weeks, almost two thousand devices were shipped. To streamline the reception process at the stores, we sent the devices to the locations in bundles.
During Christmas season, the roll-out was paused so that OBI could fully concentrate on the seasonal business. After the beginning of 2024, the second phase of the roll-out took place. We shipped an average of 780 devices per week until the total number of almost ten thousand devices was reached after about nine weeks. Since then, the project has been growing organically.
Datanet connection
OBI uses software solutions from Datanet. Datanet is Europe’s largest distributor of telecommunication expense management (TEM) solutions for large customers.
OBI places its orders in the Datanet system. This is connected to both the telecom and Everphone via API.
Everphone takes over all further steps – packaging, personalizing the hardware for the respective employees and shipping.
Staging by Everphone
Everphone inserts the SIM cards into the devices and returns the pairing data (device/SIM) to Datanet via API. Datanet then activates the mobile plan.
Find out more about the integration options with Everphone here.
At Everphone, the next step is to attach the protective glass and packaging: the OBI bumper and lanyard are added for optimal use in the hardware store. With a view to possible private use of the devices, OBI did not use any branding on the bumper. All of this is bundled into a handy “digitization package” that is personally addressed to the individual employees.
Out-of-the-box readiness and 100% service
Everphone therefore takes care of all the assembly.
If one of the devices breaks, Everphone takes care of sending a replacement device and taking back the defective device quickly and without red tape.
We are pleased to be able to expand our partnership with the franchise stores and abroad.
