SATO Corporation, Press Release, 22nd Dec 2017 at 1:35 pm
SATO has selected technical wholesaler Ahlsell Oy as SATO Partner of the Year 2017. Ahlsell supplies SATO partners - property maintenance companies and contractors in particular - with materials needed for repairs and renovations. Besides the customer interface, SATO is also further integrating its Customer First approach into its business partnerships, and the choice of Partner of the Year reflects this focus on the customer.
"We have been doing business with Ahlsell for a couple of years now and they have proved to be an open-minded partner," says Yaron Nadbornik, Head of Procurement at SATO. "Another supplier might simply have told us that they could not adapt their processes to the client's wishes, whereas Ahlsell has been willing to adjust their procedures according to our wishes and objectives."
In a departure from the traditional wholesale approach, Ahlsell invoices SATO directly for all products required by a maintenance company, for instance, leaving the maintenance company responsible for the actual installation work. This increases the performance of all parties, and improves the quality of customer's experience.
"The new approach allows us to keep close tabs on all procurement of materials as well as material consumption, and we are able to keep costs and quality level in check," Nadbornik explains. "Moreover, the order process we have developed together with Ahlsell has been designed to make purchases as simple as possible. When maintenance workers need not spend their time filling in complicated order forms, they have more time to spend on working with customers."
"Collaboration such as this between partners delivers benefits for both parties," says SATO President and CEO Saku Sipola. "Like us, Ahlsell take the long view, and our Customer First approach seems to come to them naturally. Not only are we very happy to be customers of Ahlsell, but our other major partners also work smoothly with them. The benefits of a well-designed process thus cascade into all areas of business."
For more information please contact:
SATO Corporation
Saku Sipola, President and CEO, phone: +201 34 4001, +358 40 551 5953, saku.sipola@sato.fi
Yaron Nadbornik, Head of Procurement, phone +358 201 34 4278, +358 50 374 6817, yaron.nadbornik@sato.fi
www.sato.fi/en
SATO is one of Finland's leading lessors of rental apartments. SATO aims to offer full options for rental housing and an excellent customer experience. At the end of 2016, SATO owned a total of 25,300 rental apartments in Finland's largest growth centres and in St. Petersburg.
We contribute to sustainable development and initiative through our operations, and engage in open interaction with our stakeholders in order to produce added value. We operate over the long term and profitably. We increase the value of housing assets through investments and divestments and through our repair activities.
SATO Group's net sales in 2016 stood at EUR 263.0 million* in accordance with the new reporting practices, its operating profit stood at EUR 267.2 million and its profit before taxes was EUR 219.4 million. The value of SATO's investment assets is EUR 3.4 billion.
*Net sales have been changed in accordance with the new reporting practices.