9%
Estimated cost saving
Three
data domains governed successfully
5.5x
more efficient data cleansing
32%
Data duplication reduced
Partners
00:00:06:16 - 00:00:39:37
Hoffman Group is a supplier for the industrial workplace. Everything about tools and workstations. We are a SAP oriented company. We decided to go with Informatica, with their PIM system, and we expanded into MDM, IDQ and Axon, IDC. The most important thing is having a focus on data and data quality. You can't live or can't manage all this data without having a data governance.
00:00:39:37 - 00:01:10:46
And so it's necessary to also use CDGC. Most important for our SAP migration to S4 is switching for Hoffman SAP system for one of our mother company SFS. Therefore, we need high quality data. No duplicates. Every data needs to be cleansed. We need to trust in data. So it was a logical consequence to go the next step with Informatica.
00:01:11:00 - 00:01:55:17
We started with, modernization of the migration into the IDMC platform. So this is our major topic right now. And then we are working on expanding it to new features, new data, domains. AI is not only a hype, it's going to assist us to bring more efficiency. We would like to get started with AI use cases. Hoffman and Informatica bring AI to life by building a data platform for good quality data as a basis for people to govern.
00:01:55:25 - 00:02:09:36
All this demands on data and AI, and to make AI be possible for future, and to get more efficiency and more motivation for colleagues doing their job.
A legacy of innovation and data focus
Hoffmann Group, a global supplier for industrial workplaces, has long recognized the strategic value of data in driving growth and innovation.
Jürgen Mayer, Head of Digital Transformation & AI at Hoffmann Group, has spent over two decades at the company, giving him a comprehensive view of enterprise data flows. “The biggest change in our market is that data is becoming more and more important,” he explains. “If you don’t trust your data, you can’t make good decisions.”
As customer expectations evolve, Hoffmann Group sees data quality and trust as essential for competitiveness, and AI as a practical way to boost efficiency and decision-making. “AI isn’t just a trend for us; it’s a tool to help employees work smarter,” Mayer adds.
Two strategic priorities for transformation
The company’s data strategy centers on two initiatives: modernizing its SAP environment and enabling AI-driven use cases — both requiring high-quality, trusted data.
Its immediate focus is SAP modernization, including migration to S/4HANA. This complex project demands standardized, duplicate-free and cleansed records. “The basis is that we need high-quality data,” Mayer says. “Without that, migration becomes risky and expensive.”
In parallel, Hoffmann Group is preparing for AI, exploring use cases that improve efficiency and support employees. “We want AI to make daily work easier, not harder,” Mayer explains. “That starts with a strong data foundation.”
Expanding the Informatica partnership
Hoffmann Group’s relationship with Informatica began over a decade ago with Product Information Management. As data complexity grew, it added Master Data Management, Data Quality, Governance and Catalog capabilities.
Recently, the company migrated to Informatica’s Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) platform, enabling faster onboarding of new domains, easier collaboration and enterprise-wide scalability. Mayer likens IDMC to a “data washing machine,” systematically cleansing and enriching data. “It takes the chaos out of data,” he says. “Now, people trust what they see.”
The move to IDMC was driven by SAP modernization needs. “Migrating to S/4HANA meant we needed a platform that could handle complex data cleansing and governance at scale,” Mayer explains. “IDMC gave us that flexibility.”
Delivering measurable progress today
With MDM and data quality as core capabilities, Hoffmann Group has reduced duplication and improved master data reliability. Standardized records now provide a single, trusted view of business data — streamlining operations and reducing remediation effort during SAP migration.
“Before, we spent weeks fixing duplicate records during migration tests,” Mayer says. “Now, with Informatica, those issues are resolved upfront.” High-quality data has accelerated migration timelines and reduced risk. “We’ve cut preparation time significantly because our data foundation is solid,” Mayer adds.
Beyond SAP readiness, these improvements have boosted operational efficiency across systems. Cleansed, standardized records reduce manual fixes and improve reliability for analytics and AI initiatives.
Governance structures, supported by Informatica’s tools, have increased transparency into data ownership and usage. “You can’t manage all this data without governance,” Mayer notes. “Clear accountability makes scaling possible.” High-quality data has also accelerated migration timelines. “We’ve cut preparation time significantly because our data foundation is solid,” Mayer adds.
Driving cultural change through data
Technology alone isn’t enough; success depends on people. “You need your colleagues to be with you and not in fear mode,” Mayer says. By positioning governance and quality as enablers, Hoffmann Group helps employees see data as empowering.
“Without trust in data, SAP migration and AI adoption stalls. Building confidence was as critical as the technology itself,” Mayer explains. When employees see clean, reliable data, they feel empowered to make decisions faster and embrace new tools.
This cultural shift ensures that transformation isn’t just a project; it’s a foundation for continuous innovation. “When people trust the data, they trust the process, and that’s when transformation really happens,” Mayer concludes.
