Today we will get to know Marc Herling, VP of Business Development at the Tacton office in Karlsruhe, Germany. Marc became a part of the Tacton family with last year’s acquisition of Lumo Graphics – experts in 3D visualization for CPQ.
What have the first few months with Tacton been like?
I must say that it has been really intense and positive. The acquisition is a perfect match for both companies, so everyone is super excited for several reasons. Mainly because we can contribute with expertise within visualization. However, for our part, it also means adding global sales reach overnight. Our expertise is highly appreciated, and everyone in the main office shares the passion for mass customization. One thing I have appreciated is that because we have always been a rather small company, joining a 200+ employee company adds new levels of organizational professionalism and processes to our office, which is challenging but good. In addition, the work culture in Sweden and Germany, at least regarding the Tacton HQ and Tacton in Karlsruhe, is quite similar. For example, both have, strong work teams and a pragmatic approach to problems. So, the adaption has been rather easy for the team in Karlsruhe.You have been working with 3D and visualization for over 10 years. What has changed since you started?
I started working directly with CPQ visualization in 2004. But, at that time, the computer capabilities were nowhere near what we have today. Back then, the visualizations were based on crude 3D models with very limited realism for material appearance. Since then, mainly the gaming industry has pushed the development of 3D graphics immensely, making everything faster and better. Additionally, 3D engineering files and a much broader bandwidth of internet connections have helped make it happen. 3D configuration over the web is a good example of something that is now a reality, thanks to this development. The progress in technology turned CPQ visualization into an important sales tool, rather than a tool mainly for production and engineers. These 13 years have been an exciting time to be in the 3D visualization business, but I think the future will be even more exciting. Outside of everything becoming faster, cheaper and more powerful, I think the next big thing in 3D visualization and CPQ will be Augmented Reality. Imagine configuring equipment for a room and seeing it in the room – while it is being configured! It would not only be really cool, but also extremely useful.What do you think a Tacton office in Germany will mean for the customers?
During these first months, we have noticed that customers that have never been in contact with the main office in Stockholm have reached out to our German office. My feeling is that Tacton’s customers, both existing and future, will appreciate the local presence and the fact that they can easily visit us. And equally important, that we can quickly help and support them on-site. I also think the fact that we speak the same language is another factor our customers will appreciate. One should not underestimate these ”soft” values in business!Is there any area that is especially great for 3D visualization and CPQ?
Any physical product with a broad modular offering is a great match for 3D visualization in CPQ. As a consumer, some may have tested kitchen designer CPQs, which are simple but great. In the professional areas, we see MedTech as a field which benefits greatly from 3D configuration. The buyer is often a doctor with a practical approach, who needs to make sure the equipment fits in the room, and that all parts of the equipment will be suitable for the workflow in the room. One example is making sure a particular handle is in the correct position. Even in the consumer market, we see a trend towards more customized and modularized products with CPQ. In the consumer market, the aesthetics of the product is more important, so 3D visualization is very useful to visualize make-to-order products.In your personal life, do you have anything you visualize doing in the next couple of years?
My family (wife and two kids) takes up much of my spare time, but I am a dedicated paraglider and I try to go paragliding as much as I can. One thing that is on my bucket list and that I really want to do is cross the Alps on my paraglider. That would be incredible! Marc Herling VP Business Development | Diploma in Product Engineering | 1 year with Tacton Passionate about: My family, decision processes and paraglidingThe post Meet the People at Tacton: Marc Herling appeared first on Tacton.
Life has a way of sending you in unexpected directions. This is something Benedicte Wipliez is well aware of. She found her way from the north of France to Tacton and Sweden through the extravagant desert city of Dubai. At Tacton she works in the marketing department. One of her responsibilities is to analyze which, expected and unexpected, directions the visitors of the Tacton website take.
About a year and a half ago you went from Dubai to Stockholm. How was that transition?
It is certainly a big difference between Dubai and Stockholm! Obviously, there is a great difference in climate. In Dubai, the weather is lovely a great portion of the year but almost unbearable during the summer, where you tend to stay indoors as much as you can. In Sweden it is similar but the opposite, where the winter is the time to stay indoors!
The work climate is very different as well. I loved the multicultural environment in Dubai where you work and negotiate with people from so many different cultures. It is not always easy but you learn something new every day! When I came to Tacton I was happy to find the same international feeling. My coworkers are from different countries and we work towards international customers all the time.
What have you discovered about Tacton during your time at the company?
Outside of the international environment, I’m happy to see how open my coworkers and my boss are to new ideas and to question the way we work – all in order to improve. I learned a lot from working at Dassault in Dubai (and France) and although those ideas were different compared to the way Tacton worked, I’m able to use and test those ideas at Tacton. No one ever said “This is not how we do it here” or “We have always done things this way” but instead allows me to work in my own way. I like that lack of prestige and the pragmatism where the end result is all that matters.
Another thing that is quite apparent is the rapid growth Tacton is going through as a company. Although it can be stressful at times, I love the environment it creates. An environment where you need to take fast decisions and take responsibility for them, create processes, and to be efficient in your work. It is a highly developing environment to be in as a professional.
One of the things you do at Tacton is to analyze leads. Why is that important?
If you think about it, all our current customers have started as just a phone call, an email, a website visit, or perhaps an elevator chat with a coworker. You never know where the next big deal is going to come from! At the same time, you cannot chase every opportunity either. My work is about seeing through all the incoming data and see which people and companies are most likely to benefit from our products. If we focus mainly on the suitable customers we won’t waste our time nor, more importantly, our customers’ time.
I hear you are quite active in your spare time.
Oh, yes. I do lots of different things! I love cooking pastries, climbing, painting, photography, but also to hang out with friends – especially over a glass of Belgian craft beer! I also love traveling and prefer to travel by myself – you meet so many interesting people when you travel alone!
1 year, 3 months at Tacton | Lead Generation Manager
Passionate about: Traveling & Belgian beer
Indeed, enabling connectivity is a real challenge for packaging manufacturers that struggle with efficient data management, increasing customer demands, and ensuring error-free and high-quality products.
But connectivity is at the core of the manufacturing industry’s digital transformation, and crucial to staying competitive.
So, how can manufacturers get started?
As a first step, I would recommend you read our 
