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CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY

Centralizing future knowledge at Würth

How Würth Group creates synergies across three core companies using the ITONICS Innovation OS. Connecting the dots from future-focused insights to new ideas and company strategy in one collaborative platform.

Greater visibility into future topics

throughout the organization

2,000+ users collaborating

across 3 core companies

Improved engagement

and transparency in idea campaigns

Faster opportunity validation

and decision-making

"When we first explored ITONICS, our focus was on building a trend radar to stay ahead. Today, it’s so much more—it’s a unifying platform where Würth Elektronik, Würth Industrie Service, and Adolf Würth GmbH connect and align on innovation. By exchanging knowledge across borders, our teams have unlocked synergies that are shaping our shared future."

– Lena Bender, Future Manager, Adolf Würth GmbH

Lena Bender
The Würth Group Trend Radar
The Würth Group Trend Radar
THE CHALLENGE

Bringing together diverse innovation needs

Spanning industries such as construction, logistics, automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics, Würth Group’s diverse portfolio brings equally complex innovation challenges. Meeting evolving customer expectations, responding to fast-moving competitors, and embracing emerging technologies demand a proactive, agile approach to innovation.

Driving these efforts are Würth Elektronik, Würth Industrie Service, and Adolf Würth GmbH—each excelling in its domain with a strong market presence and a shared commitment to innovation. To unlock synergies and future success, Würth recognized the need for greater collaboration and efficiency. Balancing each company’s unique requirements—from foresight to idea management and strategy validation—required a platform that seamlessly combines structure with flexibility.

The Würth Group Innovation Platform
The Würth Group Innovation Platform

Initial situation at Würth Group

Before adopting ITONICS, Würth Elektronik, Würth Industrie Service, and Adolf Würth GmbH operated foresight and ideation processes independently. There were no efficient channels to share knowledge or align on strategic goals, resulting in disjointed efforts and missed opportunities for collaboration.

  • Limited cross-company knowledge sharing, resulting in teams unaware of parallel projects and trends
  • Inefficient foresight processes done manually and in isolation, slowing strategic anticipation and response
  • Information silos leading to missed opportunities for synergy and collective progress
  • A lack of transparency creating confusion about the status and ownership of ideas
  • Low engagement due to unclear workflows and insufficient channels for participation and sharing
  • Overreliance on narrow perspectives unbacked by evidence to validate emerging opportunities

Objectives of launching a unified innovation platform

Company-wide transparency

Establish a collaborative space to share future knowledge, breaking down silos between companies.

Evidence-based decisions

Combine structured data analysis with broad perspectives to separate high-value opportunities from hype.

Enhanced engagement

Empower employees to contribute actively, making collaborative innovation a part of their daily work.

"Our goal was to make the innovation platform more than just another work tool. Positioned as the second page on our intranet and uniquely branded to stand apart from our corporate identity, it sets a creative tone for the day—where employees can combine the operational and innovation worlds, share ideas, and collaborate in a fun, inspiring space."

Lisa Ulsamer, Innovation Manager, Würth Industrie Service

Lisa Ulsamer

THE WAY FORWARD WITH ITONICS

Three companies, one platform,
endless opportunities for innovation

Würth Group relies on the ITONICS Innovation OS to power collaborative innovation across its three core companies, streamlining foresight, idea management, and strategic alignment.

Würth Platform Infographic

Collaborative foresight

Würth centralizes its foresight efforts in the Innovation OS, using collaborative evaluation and visualization tools like the Radar and Matrix to prioritize trends, identify opportunities, and align strategies.

Idea management

Würth’s idea management in ITONICS encourages employees to submit, track, and refine ideas continuously. By replacing opaque, lengthy reviews with transparent workflows, it fosters a culture of participatory innovation.

Startup tracking

With all startup activity in one place, teams can track potential and active partnerships, avoid duplication, and prioritize resources for more efficient innovation across Würth.

Empowered insights

Centralized innovation data connects insights across Würth. With a big-picture view of all emerging topics, teams can easily validate opportunities for faster evidence-based decisions.

Strategic agility

The flexibility of ITONICS ensures that each Würth company can easily adapt the platform to meet its unique needs while creating synergies that turn shared knowledge into actionable innovation.

Achievements

  • Future-focused decisions: By linking trends to competitor analysis and strategic goals, teams can connect the dots and make evidence-backed decisions that shape the Group’s future.
  • Strategic focus: Replacing siloed processes, Würth integrates diverse insights to validate opportunities and direct resources toward impactful, data-driven innovation.
  • Enhanced transparency: Clear processes for trend, idea, and startup management empower teams to track progress, share insights, and align innovation efforts.
  • Agility across divisions: Unlike traditional, rigid IT systems, Würth’s platform adapts seamlessly, allowing each team to customize workflows and scale innovation processes to their needs.
  • Innovation culture shift: With 2,000+ employees actively engaged in innovation, Würth has cultivated a collaborative culture where teams continuously provide input.
  • Competitive edge through synergy: Unified innovation efforts across the three companies have created synergies that strengthen Würth Group’s market leadership.
ITONICS-logo-dark-2021-1
"Würth Group has really unlocked the key to innovation success—understanding that collaboration is essential, but that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. ​​With just a few clicks, each team can customize ITONICS to align with their workflows and goals while seamlessly tapping into the Group’s collective knowledge and staying connected to the big picture."

Salome Zschieschang, Senior Customer Success Manager, ITONICS

Salome Zschieschang

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About Würth Group

Würth Group, headquartered in Künzelsau, Germany, is the global market leader in fastening and assembly materials. Operating in over 80 countries with 88,000 employees, the Group serves more than four million customers worldwide. Its success is driven by a multi-channel strategy, integrating digital platforms and an extensive shop network, alongside modern logistics and product innovations.

Central to its operations are three key entities: Würth Elektronik, a leader in electronic components; Würth Industrie Service, specializing in C-parts management; and Adolf Würth GmbH, the Group’s cornerstone, serving trades and construction customers. Together, they embody Würth’s commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability.

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