HÜBNER Case Study

As a global system supplier for the mobility industry, the HÜBNER Group is the worldwide leader in gangway systems for buses and railway vehicles – with products that can be found in 60-80% of all trains and buses worldwide – as well as a prominent global provider in material solutions and photonics. Founded in 1946 with a commitment to great inventiveness, passion, capability, and dependability, HÜBNER has been developing innovative concepts and solutions for the transport sector for decades, which continue to stand out for their high-quality workmanship, their superior comfort, and distinctive durability.

With headquarters in Kassel, Germany, the HÜBNER Group has over 30 locations around the world, with locations for example in Hungary, China, India, Brazil, and the USA and a workforce of approximately 3,500 employees.

For years, HÜBNER relied on Purchasing Plattforms, spreadsheets, and legacy solutions to handle their procurement operations and Supplier Relationship Management. But these platforms had limitations when it came to SRM that became increasingly apparent over time, such as unintuitive interfaces, rigid manual processes, and a lack of capabilities to manage their suppliers.

Furthermore, as global supply chains became more intricate and regulatory requirements tightened, HÜBNER faced increasing challenges in managing its suppliers effectively. It became clear that their existing tools were no longer sufficient, and the company needed a more comprehensive solution to navigate new challenges together, gain competitive advantages, and drive strategic initiatives together with their suppliers.

"SAP simply couldn’t do Category Management the way we needed it to," says Karsten Kleimann, Manager Processes & Tools at HÜBNER. "It's user interface wasn’t intuitive, and we had to rely on third-party tools to bridge the gaps. We kept adding more platforms to cover the weaknesses, but that just made everything more fragmented."

Beyond usability issues, HÜBNER struggled with their Supplier Risk Management to improve supply chain resilience and ensure compliance. Their previous approach was reactive, relying on past performance data rather than real-time risk insights. "We were always chasing the problem," Kleimann explained. "We needed software tools that can inform us quickly about supplier issues, allowing us to take preventive actions rather than just reacting to crises."

The introduction of Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LKSG) added another layer of complexity. "We weren’t starting from scratch in risk management, but the LKSG required a more structured approach. It forced us to rethink our entire supplier management strategy," Kleimann shared. With increasing pressure to ensure compliance and streamline supplier assessments, HÜBNER needed a better SRM solution.

HÜBNER embarked on an extensive search for an SRM platform that could meet all of their needs in one seamless system, including integrated risk management, compliance, supplier evaluation, and unlocking strategic value. Initially, Kleimann’s team evaluated 10 SRM systems, but many solutions failed to meet their requirements.

"The challenge was that every provider claimed they can do whatever is needed," Kleimann recalled. "But when we looked closer, we realized each one had a different focus – some were stronger in materials management, others in accounting. None of the systems offered the full package we needed."

To make an informed decision, the Procurement team created a detailed specification document with 500+ questions, outlining the exact requirements for an SRM platform. “We had quotes, we received demos, but we needed real proof. We weren’t just looking for a good tool; we needed the right fit.” After extensive testing and evaluation, Kodiak Hub emerged as the strongest option, offering a balance of intuitive design, comprehensive risk management, and the ability for HÜBNER’s team to customize processes independently.

"What really stood out about Kodiak was that we could adjust a lot ourselves,"

Kleimann said. "Other providers wanted us to rely on them for minor changes. But at HÜBNER, we have complex procurement processes that need to be controled ourselves. Kodiak gave us that flexibility."

Beyond customizability, Kodiak Hub provided integrated risk management capabilities and an intuitive user experience. "With Kodiak, we didn’t have to purchase additional modules just to get the functionality we needed. The supplier questionnaires, risk monitoring, and compliance tools were all integrated into a single platform.”

Since implementing Kodiak Hub, HÜBNER has seen significant improvements in procurement efficiency, supplier risk management, and compliance. Their new all-inone SRM platform has streamlined supplier onboarding, supporting that every new supplier goes through a standardized evaluation and approval process.

"Before, our supplier self-assessments were scattered – some in emails, some in Word documents, some in Excel spreadsheets. Now, everything is standardized and centralized in one place," Kleimann explained. "We have full visibility and comparability."

HÜBNER was also empowered to optimize their risk management to proactively monitor and mitigate risks with Kodiak Hub’s real-time updates and insights from 39 global data sources. Instead of manually researching supplier risks, procurement teams now have real-time insights directly within Kodiak Hub. "I used to have to visit different sources, dig through reports, and try to piece everything together," Kleimann shared. "Now, I just click into the country risk dashboard, and the data is right there. This saves an enormous amount of time."

With Kodiak Hub’s automated SRM system, compliance with LKSG and other regulations has also become much more streamlined, comprehensive, and proactive for HÜBNER. "Risk management used to be something we did reactively – now, it’s fully integrated into our procurement process. We don’t just meet compliance requirements; we stay ahead of them."

Looking ahead, HÜBNER plans to expand the use of Kodiak Hub to its international branches, including India and Hungary, and further refine their workflows. "The next step would be deeper workflow automation," Kleimann noted. "Right now, we use email notifications for approvals, but embracing the full approval workflows within the system will be a game-changer."

With Kodiak Hub as a central part of its procurement strategy, HÜBNER has successfully transformed how it manages suppliers, mitigates risks, ensures compliance, and streamlines processes for improved efficiency, transparency, and strategic procurement. As procurement challenges continue to evolve with global supply chain disruptions, regulatory changes, and increasing customer demands, HÜBNER is well-equipped with Kodiak Hub to stay ahead of the curve. "We don’t know exactly how we found you," Kleimann admitted with a smile, "but we’re certainly glad we did."