STRATIC – A Journey into the Future
STRATIC – A Journey into the Future
How can we say "back to square one" without implying that everything old is disappearing? Because that's definitely not the case with STRATIC – and yet everything is starting anew. The tradition-rich company has successfully modernized and positioned itself for the future over the past two years.
We spoke with our CEO, AXEL BREE, about this.
Bree himself loves to travel. It's his passion. A passion he also brings to the company. As we speak on the phone, he's on the road again, of course with STRATIC luggage. He brings decades of experience in the bag industry to modernize the quality brand STRATIC.
True to the slogan "Travel smarter every day," STRATIC has entered into an innovative collaboration with the Munich tech start-up Imero with this goal in mind. How did it come about and what exactly is it about?
"We were looking for the next stage of development for STRATIC. There was already a mature product, but we also wanted to offer a digital service. Through a personal contact, we then got to know the Munich-based company Imero," says Bree. "The goal was to use the simplest possible technology to elevate STRATIC luggage to the next level of innovation. It quickly became clear that the well-known NFC technology was exactly what could work in the luggage sector, and yet it was an absolute novelty in the travel market."
With this, STRATIC is launching its new and innovative concept, STRATIC CONNECT. A separate brand for the digital dimension of traveling with STRATIC luggage. In the future, all suitcase series will be equipped with the NFC chip. The first series with this feature are STRAW+ and
LEATHER & MORE, soon to be followed by BENDIGO LIGHT+ and STRATIC LIGHT+. An absolute novelty in the suitcase market.
Each chip has a unique and unforgeable ID. This also makes it possible to control the suitcases via an app and receive all necessary information about your luggage. In the encrypted app, customers receive product and company information, there's a packing consultant, the option to create packing lists, they can store their contact details for the "Lost and Found" check, and – last but not least – STRATIC customers' CO2 footprint is offset with Climate Coins for sustainable projects.
"The added value of this technology is that the customer is already familiar with it. It's super easy to use, and most importantly, no batteries or radio-based localization systems are needed for its use. All you need is your smartphone, which you simply hold up to the suitcase. Just like with the new payment functions that almost everyone already knows," Bree continues. "This gives customers various functions at STRATIC: For example, the 'Lost&Found function.' A very important topic. If I miss my suitcase because I left it somewhere, the finder can easily contact me via email."
A certificate of authenticity is also stored on the chip, as is an entertainment section. In addition, all individual product data of the suitcase are stored, making customer service easier to handle. In the future, customers will be redirected to their own service portal where they will receive all repair information directly.
As part of this expansion of its product range and services, STRATIC also entered into a collaboration with the travel magazine Merian in 2022. The result is a dedicated Merian suitcase with an NFC chip.
"This suitcase is a new highlight of our range. It impresses with its high-quality design and absolute digital innovation. Buyers receive a free 12-month e-paper subscription to Merian travel magazine via the chip technology," Bree enthuses. "We are also currently working on the idea of even delivering individual content. The goal is that our customer, for example, arrives in Cairo, holds their phone to the suitcase, and then receives individual travel information. So, a digital and individualized travel guide included in their own suitcase."
STRATIC has been a quality leader for more than 75 years and now proves that what was already there is being improved and expanded with a digital dimension. A unique selling proposition and a journey into the future.
