Bechtle

Infobox Company
company_name = Bechtle AG
company_
company_type = Public (FWB|BC8)
foundation = 1983
location = Neckarsulm, Germany
key_people = Ralf Klenk (CEO), Gerhard Schick (Chairman of the supervisory board), Juergen Schaefer (Chairman, Bechtle direct)
industry = IT services
products = Information technology consulting, resale of computer hardware and software
slogan = Your IT partner, today and tomorrow.
revenue = €1.220 billion (2006)cite web
url=http://www.bechtle.com/_rsc/content/download/ir/bechtle_gb_2006_en.pdf
title=Annual Report 2006
last=Bechtle AG
accessdate=2007-08-10]
num_employees = 3,888 (2006)
homepage = [http://www.bechtle.com/ www.bechtle.com]
intl = yes

Bechtle AG is a Germany-based reseller of information technology products listed on the TecDAX stock index.

Established in Heilbronn in 1983, the Bechtle group now operates from over 60 locations throughout Europe. The HQ in Neckarsulm, Germany, houses several different parts of the operation. Bechtle also boasts operations in Switzerland, UK, Italy, Netherlands, France, Austria, Spain and Belgium. As of 2006 Bechtle employed 3,900 people and had an annual turnover of approximately €1.2 billion. In 2007, Bechtle had over 4000 employees on its books and posted double digit growth, ahead of the German market in general.

Company Structure

Bechtle direct
Bechtle direct operates along the lines of a direct reseller of IT equipment and was one of the pioneers of e-commerce in Europe, opening a webshop as early as 1995. In addition to e-commerce, Bechtle direct can boast a large sales force and a sizeable, bi-annnually published catalogue of IT products encompassing more than 800 pages. Both catalogue and website feature a range of approximately 30,000 IT products from aorund 300 manufacturers.

Bechtle direct currently operates in 9 European countries, with further expansion into Europe planned as of 2008. Bechtle direct operates on a national, cross-regional basis, with each country location being responsible for total business in that country.

Chairman and spiritus rector of the Bechte direct group of companies is Jürgen Schäfer.

Bechtle System Houses
Around 60 of Bechtle's locations in Germany and Switzerland are known as "System Houses". These locations deal primarily with regional service provision in the broad area of IT, with many also having specific areas of specialisation. Each system house has a responsible managing director who, in turn, reports to the company board.

Compentence Centers
20 Competence Centers spread throughout Germany provide additional know-how to complex IT projects. Security, storage, virtualisation, digitale archiving, CAD and enterprise computing are some of the areas which competence centers have specialised in. Competence centers are not bound to one region as system houses are, with specialists being available throughout the group.

Bechtle Logistik & Service
Bechtle Logistik & Service, based in the company HQ in Neckarsulm, is home to the central services which support the group internationally. This includes both national and international purchasing and product management, warehousing, controlling, and translation. Bechtle Logistik & Service employs around 250 staff, headed up by Jürgen Schäfer.

References

External links

* [http://www.bechtle.com/ The Bechtle Group homepage]
* [http://www.bechtle.co.uk] Bechtle UK homepage
* [http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn/news/2205463/bechtle-orders-orderworks] Bechtle UK partners with Orderworks