Tampieri: Finding ways to innovate

“We are entrepreneurs, we like to build ventures in new sectors and make a success of them. That means we also have a lot of data going back and forth, and in this age of global digital business, we need to find the best way to use it to offer optimal value proposition,” says Maurizio Sottili, CFO at Tampieri.

Starting as an oil seed crushing enterprise, Tampieri is a family business that has grown into a group of five B2B companies active in sectors as diverse as medical devices, green energy, and wastewater treatment. “Historically, innovation and technology have always been at the heart of our way of thinking,” he says. “We constantly develop new methods to better serve our customers and it’s no secret that good data management gives you all the tools you need for that.”

It was therefore quite natural that Tampieri launched a digital transition project. The first step was to upgrade of the customer relationship management (CRM) system. “We have so much data coming from so many different sources, we had to make sense of it, collect it and translate it into usable information.” Remodelling the CRM system was Tampieri’s opportunity to open to the whole issue of digitalisation. “We had to re-evaluate other processes such as our supply chain management, our financial controls systems and our sales operations. Our customers wanted more than just being able to reach us by phone, they wanted a different experience and the ability to use other means as well. They needed more information on the market, pricing, raw materials.”  Finally yet most importantly, a smooth digital transformation couldn’t happen without improving the internal communication platform: “Our business wouldn’t exist without our employees, they are at the very centre of our decision-making process, so they have to be informed of changes and endorse them every step of the way. When we go digital, that information sharing becomes much more fluid.” 

Tampieri found financial support for this digital transformation project through an EU-guaranteed loan granted by Mediocredito and backed by the EIF under the Investment Plan for Europe.  “We have truly leaped into the digital space now and we don’t intend to stop here. We have plans to expand our digital strategy over the next few years, with further software upgrades and development such as data security management solutions that will help us identify threats accurately across the group. Our aim is to achieve full digitalisation across all our companies. We want to stay true to our belief that innovation is the best pathway to staying competitive and crucial for the success of our group”.

Company: Tampieri (Italy)

EIF financing: InnovFin SMEG, EFSI

Financial intermediary: Mediocredito Trentino-Alto Adige

For further information about EIF intermediaries in Italy, please refer to: http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/it