Plato in ElektroWirtschaft Magazine - How We’re Using AI to Transform the Wholesale Industry

We’re proud that the renowned trade magazine Elektrowirtschaft has featured our work at Plato. As next-generation leaders – and as Plato’s founding team – our mission is to help move wholesale forward with the right technologies. The article captures what drives us, where we’re focusing our efforts, and why now is the time to take action.

Elektrowirtschaft is the leading trade magazine for decision-makers in the electrical wholesale and manufacturing sectors across German-speaking countries. Published monthly, it covers market trends, technological innovations, and economic developments throughout the entire electrical value chain. Serving as an industry platform, it connects manufacturers, wholesalers, and system partners while providing strategic insights for the sector’s digital transformation.

AI as a Response to Sales Reality

Wholesale is under pressure: skilled labor shortages, shrinking margins, and rising customer expectations. At the same time, data complexity is growing rapidly. For us, it was clear – this is exactly where the greatest potential for real change lies.

With Plato, we’ve developed a sales platform powered by artificial intelligence – not as a buzzword, but as a practical tool for daily operations.

Our platform analyzes ERP data, identifies cross-selling opportunities, generates quotes automatically, and integrates results directly into the system. Sales reps and inside sales teams can record visit notes, which are then converted into actionable tasks. The AI suggests concrete next steps, prioritizes tasks, reduces repetitive work – and frees up time for what really matters: stronger customer relationships and personal consultation.

The results stand for themselves: Sales teams gain around 20% more time – while companies see 8–10% higher revenue and save 3–5 hours per employee, per week.

Our Perspective as Next-Generation Leaders

We grew up with the challenges of wholesale – surrounded by ERP interfaces, catalogs, product lists, and the widening gap between digital vision and daily execution. That’s exactly what motivated us: to create a solution that actually works. No isolated tools. No bloated CRMs. Just a platform that’s built specifically for this industry.

This is especially true in electrical wholesale: complex assortments, diverse customer segments, intense competition – and sales teams that wrestle daily with operational overload. That’s what Plato was built for.

Why Now?

Many companies believe their data isn’t ready for AI. But we see the opposite: nearly every ERP system contains a treasure trove of data that’s barely tapped. Especially in times of economic uncertainty, it’s crucial to invest in efficiency, customer retention, and smart systems.

Plato is developed, operated, and hosted in Germany – intentionally. Because we don’t just want to offer a technological answer, but also build trust.

A Signal From the Industry

Leading wholesalers like Obeta are already using Plato. In the Elektrowirtschaft article, CEO Dr. Dirk Jandura explains:

“We deliberately chose Plato because we’re convinced that AI-powered solutions will become the technological standard in wholesale.”

The key factor: there are hardly any CRM systems that truly reflect the realities of wholesale. Plato combines essential functionality with intelligent analytics – fully integrated with ERP, easy to use, and focused on tangible value in day-to-day operations.

The Journey Continues

Plato is not just a vision – it’s already in use. But we’re far from done. Coming soon: automatic PDF document parsing, an intelligent sales chat assistant, deeper analytics, and expanded automation.

Built with the DNA of a family business, our long-term goal is clear: to establish Plato as a key technology for the future of wholesale – usable, trustworthy, impactful.

Contact us at benedikt.nolte@platoapp.ai to request access to the full article and discuss how AI could support your business.

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