“Scm responded to the current health emergency rapidly, responsibly and with a forward-thinking approach. From the outset, the group established a dedicated executive committee, with a view to monitoring the continuing evolution of the phenomenon…
Luigi De Vito
SCM Division Director (Rimini)
www.scmgroup.com
- How have you dealt with this emergency?
“Scm responded to the current health emergency rapidly, responsibly and with a forward-thinking approach. From the outset, the group established a dedicated executive committee, with a view to monitoring the continuing evolution of the phenomenon and to implementing opposing strategies, with a dual objective: to further strengthen safety measures at all the production plants and headquarters in line with ministerial directives, and further develop all the remote support and service activities provided to customers, the sales network and branches around the world.
The social-economic impact of this pandemic is proving to be deep at world level, with repercussions which could prove similar or worse than those previously experienced during the 2008 financial crisis. Any yet, Scm is facing this situation in the knowledge and confidence of being able to rely, possibly today more than in the past, on certain strong points: the group’s financial solidity; the competitive position of our products, capable of satisfying every wood processing demand; our strong customer focus, on innovation and after sales with digital services that permit us, even at a time like this and remotely, to continue being an all-round reliable partner to businesses in the industry; the professional skills found in each of the countries where we operate and in which we continue to invest with our Campus, by providing additional on-line courses; and last but not least, the focus and constant presence of our shareholders. As far as sales are concerned, the fact that we have diversified the export quota into so many strategic markets, currently in excess of 90 per cent, is proving to be another positive aspect because some areas are already starting to pick up”.
- In your opinion, what radical changes are currently underway or will we see in the future?
“The biggest change we have seen is in how we work and interact with our business partners, dealers and subsidiaries all around the world. In an international context which has seen key industry events cancelled or postponed until the second half of the year, we are discovering and taking advantage of another way of doing business and of being a united “team”.
Scm is transforming the need – that of maintaining relations – into a genuine digital strategy which allows us to be constantly connected even at a distance, without any form of space-time barrier. There are no longer obstacles, only opportunities. Our team continues to work in smart working to assist customers and sales workers even remotely. We have intensified meetings, conference calls, practical demonstration and on-line courses about our technologies with businesses of all levels – including artisan businesses. Thanks to the “Maestro connect” platform we can provide instant access to a vast range of services which allow wood industry operators to be assisted by the Scm team even “virtually” in order to maximise all the service and maintenance activities. Thanks to the “Smartech” augmented reality service, which incorporates video functions, camera, microphone and loudspeaker with wireless connection, our experts can diagnose and resolve problems in real time thanks to a wearable computer and specific control software. This ensures the operator has hands-free, two-way communication with interactive data sharing. Furthermore, thanks to our “e-Campus” platform, we have further increased our vast on-line course programme, video tutorials and webinars with our qualified experts on the latest trends and topics of key interest to the woodworking industry. And dealers and sales workers have shown considerable enthusiasm for these initiatives”.
- What do you think the authorities and all of us should be doing?
“We all need to look at this crisis situation as an accelerator for change. We are facing a completely new challenge and this is why our ability to act and take decisions on future actions becomes fundamental. We need to see this period as an opportunity to rethink our working practices, improve our production sites and make them safer, healthier and more comfortable, as well as transform and optimise our processes so that they become more sustainable and better performing. Numerous businesses in our industry are investing even more in R&D, technological innovation and human resources: aspects which, more than anything, will make a difference when we can start again. A large number of customer companies halted production but not their creativity and are making the most of this period to devise and implement new production strategies, new business opportunities, new smart working methods and communication with customers and suppliers which perhaps, in the past, they would have been unlikely to have given any thought to.
Scm continues to invest in technology, know-how, skills and innovation to support them in these projects with the “smart&human factory”: the vision of a digital factory with state-of-the-art automation systems, but ones which are accessible to everyone and based on a profoundly human approach and an all-round rapport with the customer.
A rapport which, thanks also to this crisis, will take on a completely new aspect and boundaries”.
