STRATIC X IMERO
STRATIC – A Journey into the Future
How can we say "back to square one" without saying that everything old is disappearing? Because that is certainly not the case with STRATIC – and yet everything is starting anew. The traditional 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 is his passion. A passion that he also brings to the company. As we speak on the phone, he is on the road again. With STRATIC luggage, of course. He brings decades of experience in the bag industry to modernize the quality brand STRATIC.
True to the slogan "Smarter travel every day," STRATIC has entered into an innovative collaboration with the Munich tech start-up Imero with this goal in mind. How did this 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 deliver 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's 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, but was still an absolute novelty on the travel market."
With this, STRATIC is launching its new and innovative concept STRATIC CONNECT. Its own 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 equipment are STRAW+ and
LEATHER & MORE, to be followed soon by BENDIGO LIGHT+ and STRATIC LIGHT+. An absolute novelty in the luggage market.
Each chip has a unique and unforgeable ID. This also makes it possible to control the suitcases via an app and obtain all necessary information about one's luggage. In the encrypted app, customers receive product and company information, there is a packing advisor, the possibility to create packing lists, contact details can be stored for "Lost and Found" checks, and – last but not least – STRATIC customers' CO2 footprint is compensated with Climate Coins for sustainable projects.
"The added value of this technology is that customers are already familiar with it. It's super easy to use, and most importantly, no batteries or radio location systems are necessary for 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. "STRATIC thus offers customers various functions: For example, the 'Lost&Found function.' A very important topic. If I lose my suitcase because I left it somewhere, the finder can simply 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, so that the all-round service for the customer is also easier to handle. In the future, customers will be redirected to their own service portal, where they will receive all repair information directly.
In the course of this product range and service expansion, STRATIC also entered into a cooperation with the travel magazine Merian in 2022. This resulted in a dedicated Merian suitcase with an NFC chip.
"This suitcase is a new highlight of our product range. It impresses with a high-quality design and absolute digital innovation. Buyers receive a free 12-month e-paper subscription to the travel magazine Merian via the chip technology," Bree enthuses. "We are also currently working on the idea of even providing individual content. The goal is for our customers, for example, to arrive in Cairo, hold their phone to their suitcase, and then receive individual travel information. So, a digital and personalized travel guide included in their own suitcase."
For more than 75 years, STRATIC has been a leader in quality 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.
