Date: 19.01.2026 (2026-01-19)
Stephan Kogel (19.01.2026) Context: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-kogel/ • Group CFO / Member of the Board • Craemer GmbH (1k+ Employees) • Craemer GmbH is the headquarters of the Craemer Group (Metal Forming, Plastics Processing, Tool Making) • My message: • ch bin auf Ihr Profil gestossen, da ich nach erfahrenen CFOs in der Industrie suche. • • Wir entwickeln proprietäre KI-Modelle für Controlling & Accounting, die auch für komplexe Fälle trainiert sind - etwa mehrere Purchase Orders auf einer Rechnung, Price-Variance-Tolerances bei Lieferanten etc. • • Ziel ist eine ~80% Automatisierung in AP/AR und auch 50% weniger Aufwand beim Closing & Reporting - ohne neues SaaS-Tool, direkt integriert in bestehende Systeme (auch ohne API) und angepasst an aktuelle Prozesse. • • Aufgrund Ihrer Erfahrung, würde ich gerne Ihr Feedback zum Konzept bekommen (kein Verkaufsgespräch) - gerne einfach 15min per Telefon. Würde mich sehr freuen! • Reply: • Hallo Herr Brandstätter, für einen Austausch / Feedback stehe ich gerne zur Verfügung. Wie kann das aus ihrer Sicht ablaufen?
Notes: • Automation: • • Biggest objections / challenges in his daily life? • Biggest: protect the company from risks (incl. the family behind the company • Steuerrisiko; HR Risiko; FX-risk; Rohstoffe; insurance topics -> you always have to be on top of things • Risk based approach • HR Risiko: • Gleitzeitguthaben - when you go over a certain threshold (legally) -> gegen Insolvenz absichern -> Forderung by the employee • Versteuern von Bonus (Fitness studio, auto, Firmenfeier) -> Freigrenze • Lohnsteueraussenprüfung • They have a Steuerberater -> they need someone who understands tax laws in different countries -> AI works on Tax Law -> he thinks that could work well (Langdock, Mistral, ChatGPT) • Lieferungen: • Grenzüberschreitend • Incoterms • There was a company that went bankrupt • SW landscape: they have everything in SAP • Most data is in there • SAP for FIBU: • SAP gets expensive when you customise a lot -> they use SAP for accounting -> best in class tool -> FIBU is relatively out of the box to use • Logistics and HR in standard -> it is not that expensive -> they started going back to standard processes (also migration is easier); there are some exceptions -> check it in detail -> but often they do not do it • He also manages IT -> every day they are attacked • He would like to have support in that direction • You can go for every Nebenbuch • Cash collection / Mahnung -> SAP can do a lot -> but that can be done smarter -> after 3rd Mahnung it goes to Inkasso - end to end • (he would pay) FP&A: less manpower -> he would pay for it • Unternehmensplan: gather all Teilpläne, check Absatz, which people, Rohstoffe, • 1 FTE • They do it one time per year -> he wants to do it continuous • He cant do it because they do not have the power -> more people • Process: • Planungsprozess is probably the most expensive process in every company • Timing: after summer and until end of year • First: revenue planning; then Follow up process; Investitionsplanung, CAPEX planung • Revenue planning is outdated in December again • Checking needs the C-Level -> very expensive • 50 to 70 involved people • Potential of AI: • Start with revenue and end with EBIT/G&V/Liquidity/Planbilanz Planung • Revenue: • Get to assumptions: history, assumption, market analysis • Example: they double the revenue • -> more people required; more material • Critical: relationship know how between different • Actuals vs. IST • AP: • No AI used -> OCR of Seeburger (before SAP - data in SAP -> invoice compared with PO, GR und BANF -> then dark; they have bad quotes - they aim for 80%+, but they are at 40%) -> a lot of gaps • AR: • Per PDF / mail sent (a few with paper) • No idea for optimisation -> cash collection • e-Invoice could be a challenge - they talk to Seeburger -> support the different formats • Procurement: • He likes it -> they do it in Excel and PowerBI -> controlling suggests optimisation -> AI could help fast • Very cool guy - offered to jump on another call for further questions! • Most valuable flows for him? • • Context: team setup? internal and external? • • Which tasks are the biggest pain? With magic wand -> what would he solve? • • Which tasks would he focus on? • • Do they already have automations? Which ones? How well do they work? • • Which companies would he target? • • General feedback to pitch? •