Two very successful projects: BAUHAUS launches customer app and optimizes logistics

By developing an innovative customer app, BAUHAUS is strengthening customer loyalty and gaining new online-savvy customers. At the same time, valantic is supporting the logistics department with further optimizations and suggestions for individual warehouse processes, as well as with the design of a new partially automated warehouse and the introduction of a logistics cost calculator. Both projects are showing very good results with a growing number of users and reduced logistics costs.

Reference Bauhaus - Download project "DIY Consumer App” Reference Bauhaus - Download project "Logistics"

Beratung bei BAUHAUS, ein Berater bespricht mit einer Kundin ein Projekt

Aussenansicht des BAUHAUS Gebäues in Würzburg

BAUHAUS: Optimizing customer experience and logistics – from the app to an efficient supply chain

Optimized customer experience From advising & ordering goods to warehouse logistics & delivery

BAUHAUS planned the development of an innovative shopping and service app to provide customers with targeted support for their projects in the workshop, house, and garden; to facilitate brick-and-mortar shopping; and to strengthen the connection between the online and offline worlds with practical features such as product finders, product scanners, and digital receipts. BAUHAUS engaged valantic as a concept, design, and consulting partner.

With strong growth in recent years – especially in 2020 and 2021 – the complexity of logistics structures also increased. Flexibility and scalability were the focus from the very beginning. During a comprehensive analysis, specific potential for increasing efficiency was identified, so that greater transparency could be created with regard to logistics cost drivers and warehouse space for large-volume products could be optimized.

The focus was on implementing these efficiency gains to improve the transparency of the cost structure and profitability of the e-commerce sector.

Development of an innovative DIY consumer app

From the idea to go-live with valantic

BAUHAUS has developed an innovative shopping and service app to optimally support customers with workshop, home, and garden projects, simplify in-store purchases, and strengthen the connection between the online and offline worlds. Key features include a product finder, product scanner, and digital receipt. valantic provided support in concept development, design, and strategic consulting.

Bild von Johannes Wechsel, Chief Digital Officer, BAUHAUS Deutschland

As Chief Digital Officer at BAUHAUS Germany, Johannes Wechsler is responsible for establishing the e-commerce business and integrating the brick-and-mortar and digital offerings.

We now have over 400,000 active users on our consumer app every month, and we have managed to reduce our logistics costs significantly. We have achieved the goals we set for ourselves. That's why we can call the cooperation with valantic a complete success. These two projects required very different approaches and skill profiles. What impressed me about valantic was their high level of methodological and technical expertise, the quality of the team, and their very results-oriented approach.

Johannes Wechsler, Chief Digital Officer, BAUHAUS Germany

Project results DIY app at a glance

400.000

active users per month

4,4

Stars in app store ratings

App ranking in the download charts

Ausschnitt aus dem Verkaufsbereich des BAUHAUS Gebäudes. Dame berät über verschiedene Mosaik Bodenbeläge einen älteren Herren.

Phase 1: Collect and validate customer opinions and user data

Core activities:

Hold “Customer Voice” days at several BAUHAUS specialist centers to gather information about customer needs through short interviews.
Evaluate user data from the BAUHAUS online shop.
Conduct a “vision workshop” in which the consumer app target image, three core “persona” types, and initial feature ideas were generated.

Results: Creation of data and knowledge base for the app design and the requirements specification, and the target image for app development with the core team.

Beratung eines Herren über verschiedene Wandfarben und Designfarben für ein Paar.

Phase 2: Design sprints & requirements specification

Core activities:

Manage three design sprints with a core team and BAUHAUS customers.
Develop, validate, and visualize features and innovations.
Prioritize the ideas and create the requirements specification for the first development phase.

Results: Specified feature ideas validated with customers, and a feature backlog prioritized for development.

Herr berät ein Paar über Montagen. Alle drei sitzen an einem Tisch mit einem offenen Magazin. Das Paar ist im Gespräch.

Phase 3: Design and development preparation

Core activities:

Support and expert sparring for the development of a comprehensive design system and the UI design screens for front-end development.
Prepare the development environment and set up basic functions (by BAUHAUS).
Start interface development and data preparation (BAUHAUS).

Results: A design system approved by BAUHAUS with detailed designs for the implementation of functions and structural components such as navigation, buttons, etc.

Ein Mann der BAUHAUS AG berät eine Kundin über Farbschemen am Schalter.

Phase 4: Implementation of MVP and testing

The implementation was carried out by the BAUHAUS development team – supported by valantic.

Berautngsgespäch über beschiedene Bodenbeläge. Mitarbeiter steht und redet mit Kundin vor Produkten.

Phase 5: Go-live campaign

Core activities:

Strategic planning and conducting of workshops about vision, target groups, and campaign planning, as well as creation of a value proposition canvas.
Creative and technical implementation: Development of a comprehensive campaign concept including creative guiding ideas, visuals, and assets. Planning and creation of measures such as social media campaigns, print materials, and influencer collaborations.
Roll-out and internal integration: Introduction of a silent launch with beta testers for optimization. Development of training materials and communications for employees, and implementation of a cross-media marketing strategy to reach all target groups.

During the intensive planning and development phase, it was particularly exciting to see how committed all relevant stakeholders at BAUHAUS were to the project. The app was developed collaboratively with the clear goal of inspiring customers with better service and securing their long-term loyalty to BAUHAUS.

Alexander Fetzer Director Retail & Consumer Business, valantic CEC Deutschland GmbH

Alexander Fetzer Contect for Digital Accessibility

Alexander Fetzer has been part of valantic's leadership team since 2021 and, since January 2025, serves as Director Retail & Consumer Business, driving innovative customer solutions. With expertise in Customer Experience Leadership, he focuses on digital transformation and reshaping customer experiences. Previously, he led the Experience Design & Creative Services division, shaping the company's strategic direction in the CX field.

Results & business benefits

Customer app project

The customer-centric implementation concept, innovative features, rich content, combination of different channels, and strong link between the digital and brick-and-mortar worlds make the app a flagship project in German retail. The user and marketing figures clearly prove this:

User figures:

In just nine months, the BAUHAUS app attracted more than 400,000 active users per month. Reviews in the app stores have improved continuously and are now up to 4.4 stars.

Business impact:

App users interact more frequently with BAUHAUS than online shop users; they make larger purchases and demonstrate stronger brand loyalty. The app is increasingly becoming an essential sales channel, making a significant impact on revenue and customer loyalty.

Marketing success:

The app rose as high as 12th place on the download charts for shopping apps – an impressive result for a DIY app. Success was due to a combination of digital marketing, POS promotions, brochures, TV, radio, and out-of-home advertising.

Reference BAUHAUS: Development of an Innovative DIY Shopping and Service App

Learn more about the design and implementation process of the DIY app – click here to access the project reference.

Click here to access the project reference BAUHAUS

Warehouse logistics & transport project BAUHAUS optimizes its logistics processes

BAUHAUS benefited greatly from the do-it-yourself boom during the Corona pandemic. During this period, both warehouse and transport capacities were expanded rapidly to support strong e-commerce growth. After the end of the pandemic, the challenges of the logistics structures that had evolved and the associated costs in the B2C supply chain became apparent.

Working with valantic’s logistics experts, BAUHAUS analyzed and optimized its logistics processes for an e-commerce business with more than 60,000 products. The aim was to identify potential savings and to secure the profitability of the skyrocketing online trade. The collaboration made it possible to jointly manage the complex requirements of logistics and make the processes more efficient, especially for large-volume products.

Project results at a glance

Reduction of stock levels thanks to consolidation and optimized coordination between departments

Automation of processes with warehouse technology to increase efficiency

Allocation of logistics costs to products based on actual usage, thereby increasing the transparency of logistics costs at the product level

Reduction of in- & outbound costs and lower logistics costs

The collaboration with BAUHAUS was characterized by open communication, intensive professional exchange, and a strong focus on results. We were able to achieve the jointly defined goals and, as a team, implement numerous optimization levers for cost reduction during the course of the project, as well as prepare and prioritize further levers for implementation.

Dennis Goetjes, Partner, valantic

Dennis Goetjes has over 12 years of experience in purchasing and supply chain optimization. He joined us in 2012 as a consultant and has risen through the ranks from manager to senior manager to principal and now partner.

The initial situation

BAUHAUS has recorded significant sales growth in e-commerce since 2020. At the same time, logistics capacities were expanded at the expense of efficiency and productivity to meet customer needs and maintain service levels.

Analysis of warehouse and transport logistics

The project team began with a detailed analysis of the current situation. Team members visited two German and one Czech warehouse, conducted interviews, initiated processes, and measured existing contracts against a benchmark. They analyzed the network and logistics structure in four dimensions.

1

Network

Examination of the supply chain network and review of alternative network scenarios using a software-based center-of-gravity analysis. Considering all BAUHAUS-specific restrictions such as transport dependencies, stock availability, and assortment assignments, we analyzed and examined possible network scenarios for consolidation options.
2

Warehouse

Benchmarking of warehouse contracts, analysis of warehouse processes with regard to automation and capacities, and optimization possibilities in inventory management and inventory planning.
3

Transports

Benchmarking of contracts and collective agreements.
4

Product range

Analysis of warehouse space, identification of the most cost-effective logistics option (inbound, storage, and shipping), and optimization of the return processes for each item.

Bild auf einem BAUHAUS Lager: Bauhaus und valantic optimieren Lagerprozesse und Logistikprozesse

This is where the potential lies.

A central lever is the automation of warehouse technology, which enables optimal use of warehouse space and provides process advantages. In addition, classification of the product range in terms of the sales/cost ratio and optimal positioning of the individual products in the omnichannel are essential. Several areas of potential improvement were identified in inbound transport. These include the introduction of a logistics cost calculator for the continuous tracking of logistics cost quotas at the item and supplier level.

Bild auf einem BAUHAUS Lager: Bauhaus und valantic optimieren Logistikprozesse

A special aspect in the supply of DIY customers is the unusual requirements: Some orders are urgent because the customer cannot continue working without the product ordered, while other deliveries are not needed until a certain point in time during the project. These challenges require flexible logistics, but at the same time offer potential savings through freight bundling.

Highly automated warehouse for CEP logistics

The highly automated warehouse in the Czech Republic was thoroughly examined for further cost-saving potential. Additional cost reductions were implemented jointly at the site.

Consolidation of bulky goods

Goods that cannot be shipped as standard packages due to their bulk – for example, due to excess length, excess weight, or other special features – are currently still stored at two German locations. Despite high stock levels, there are empty areas, which is why a consolidation of the storage locations is under consideration.

The assessment of warehouse space and locations is based on a comprehensive analysis of all costs, investments, savings potential, and possible service level increases to improve customer satisfaction.

Measures are currently being defined to subject items with disproportionately high logistics cost ratios, low turnover rates (“slow and no movers”), or high return rates to a cost-optimized range review, or to process them more efficiently through an improved logistics structure.

Consolidation of warehouses

The project team is forecasting a consolidation of warehouses at German BAUHAUS locations. The analysis of transport logistics was completed with a contract benchmark and a definition of the logistics cost baseline for the period 2023 to 2030.

Bild von Felix Treiber, Managing Consultant, valantic

Felix Treiber is a graduate industrial engineer with in-depth expertise in supply chain management and purchasing. After completing an international trainee program, he gained extensive experience in various positions in supply chain management and strategic procurement at MAN Truck & Bus. As a senior consultant and manager of the SCM portfolio at the P3 Group, he expanded his expertise in process optimization and strategy development. The next step in his career took him to valantic, where he is now responsible for logistics management and develops innovative solutions to increase efficiency in the supply chain.

The collaboration with BAUHAUS was not only extremely professional, but also goal-oriented and characterized by a high degree of efficiency. Thanks to the structured approach and clear communication, all project phases were implemented smoothly. The results exceeded our expectations and reflect the outstanding expertise and commitment of the project team. We are thrilled with the excellent quality of the work and look forward to future projects.

Felix Treiber Managing Consultant, valantic

Mockup zur valantic Referenz Bauhaus, Projekt Logistik. Auf einem Tablet wird eine Präsentationsfolie mit dem Titel "Projekt Lager- und Transportlogistik" angezeigt, auf der die Logos von Valantic und Bauhaus zu sehen sind, die das Kundenerlebnis verbessern, sowie das Foto eines Mitarbeiters, der einen Gabelstapler bedient.

Reference BAUHAUS: Optimization of Logistics Processes

Learn more about the analysis and optimization of logistics structures – click here to access the project reference.

Click here to access the project reference logistics at BAUHAUS

About BAUHAUS

With more than 290 specialist centers in 19 European countries, BAUHAUS is one of the leading companies in the DIY industry. Its extensive product range extends from building and garden supplies to tools and home accessories and includes a comprehensive and customer-oriented service portfolio. Around 28,000 dedicated specialists contribute to annual sales of around EUR 7.5 billion.