Date: 22.10.2025 (2025-10-22)
Maximilian Rüppell (22.10.2025) Context: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximilian-r%C3%BCppell/ • Nussproduktion • Ich arbeite aktuell an einer Plattform für Geschäftsprozessautomatisierung - im Prinzip ähnlich wie UiPath oder n8n - allerdings mit einem neuen Ansatz, der auch Legacy-Systeme ohne API automatisch integrieren kann. Ich würde super gerne dein Feedback dazu bekommen, insbesondere aus deiner Perspektive in der Lebensmittelindustrie bzw. als Leiter IT. • Max: Zum Erwartungshaltungsmanagement hatte ich Hannes schon geschrieben, dass ich bisher mit UiPath oder Zapier keinen Kontakt hatte, mit n8n nur sehr sporadisch. Grundsätzlich gehört Automatisierung natürlich schon zu meinen Themen, aber ich wollte das vorher zumindest loswerden.
Context:
• What are your main tasks?
• Not much experience with automation -> they had to build a basis for data
• Etiketten: transfer to ERP
• PIM system -> PIMcore (open Source) - Produktions Informations System
• Metadaten zu Produkten -> a lot in there is important for
• His task was to make processes automatable
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• Which tools are they using? Inhouse?
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His Experience & Current Practices • Day-to-day reality: What are the most admin-heavy processes in his finance role (invoices, reconciliations, reporting, payroll, compliance, audits)? • • Is he automating today? If yes, which tools (Excel macros, Zapier, RPA, ERP features)? • If yes: who does it? Which tools? What works? What does not work? • Etikettierung -> they use NiceLabel • Watch folder -> takes data from ERP system -> assigns correct Etikettierung • Most work: find out what we really need -> convince people that customers do not need individualisation -> 6 months to define Grundregeln • If no, why not (cost, complexity, lack of time, no clear ROI)? • • More processes to automate: • high error & high manual work • They have ERP and PIM • Other automations from other people / departments: • A lot of potential to automate • Reparatur: digitalisation first - not automation • DB instead of Ordner • iPad instead of paper • Eintragen von Bestellzeilen • Fax, Email, Anrufe • They added supplier via EDI for the large suppliers -> form of automation (1 position was saved) • Webshop (Shopify): • Connected it with ERP -> automatic sales order to ERP and automatic creation of invoice -> automation of Lieferschein etc. • Next project: PIM connect with Shopify • To have One area where information is gepflegt • There is no API problem with PIMCore -> they will use n8n -> they will let it be built by a Dienstleister und dann kann er Adaptations machen • He does not like to configure stuff himself • No further concrete topics • He would like to do Industrieautomatisierung -> but probably he won't get to it any time soon -> centralised Überwachung • Tools: • Nicelabel, PIM, ERP, QMS tool, Document management (Prüfworkflows), Auditmanagement, Office tools, Confluence / Jira, Shopify, Hubspot • Legacy systems: does he deal with them (accounting tools, banking interfaces, HRIS, ERP)? How painful are integrations? • They have a lot on-premise -> he can do stuff directly in the database -> he built the tool himself • So far no problem with legacy software • Hubspot: problem with API -> synch contact daten synch outlook, hubspot, shopify -> everyone saves data differently and it is an expensive API • Finance & Accounting: • He thinks one could automate a lot there -> but their Buchhalter is old -> he wants to put his stuff on a Stapel of paper • They have an automation: empfangen automatisiert Kontoauszüge and put it into ERP; • Not: automatische Zuordnung von Invoice in ERP they do not use -> he thinks it is useful • Their company: • Small -> you need buy in of the people • The person is super non technical, he is good it is running well • Company • A bit less than 100 people • Successes & frustrations: if he had a “magic wand,” what would he automate first? • A lot of physical work • Warenwirtschaftssystem: Warenbuchung IST • You have to document what you used to produce a product -> a lot error because people forget it -> difficult to automate because it is in real world -> photo of what is mixed in -> not realistic • Einkauf: • Necessary to give the model a reference data -> market for Lebensmittel is so volatile and quality dependent -> he thinks it is not really • ERP vergleicht Auftrag mit Rahmenauftrag bereits -> this is covered. • Nachverhandlung wäre praktisch • Customer Sicht: • ERP Beratungsfirmen are super expensive - non technical people are happy to have that - he thinks different because he is technical • It is always a risk to get external help • Startups: impact is not so bad -> small and not much risk • SMEs: more sensitive to disruptions -> liability is an issue • Ask if he can introduce you to 3 peers in similar roles (finance leads in other startups). • Other: • He would like to test a prototype