Into the future with digital data

Sanitätshaus Straube medical supply retailer in Oberhausen, Germany, has been working with the contact-free infrared Bodytronic 410 measurement system for just under a year. It was a change that has won over management and staff alike. Measurement data is created in seconds and immediately transferred to customers’ records, freeing up employees from administrative tasks.

Initially, the employees were skeptical – but that did not last long. “Bodytronic makes the measurement process much quicker and easier. That convinced all of us,” states Haiko Laufenberg who runs Sanitäts­haus Straube alongside his sister. But first, the employees of the medical supply retailer, which was established in Oberhausen, in 1936, subjected the digital measurement device to rigorous testing: “They said: it can’t be as good as our own measurements, so they kept measuring themselves manually to double-check.” But… the 3D measurement system withstood every practical test: the measurements taken by the Bodytronic turned out to be flawless. The reliable digital assistant was accepted quickly, and all sales employees now perform digital measurements for all circular knit products.

Haiko Laufenberg highlights another beneficial aspect: “The data is copied directly into our company software, meaning a patient’s measurements are stored there straight away. We all really appreciate the reduced amount of paperwork compared to before. The next step for us now is to order all products directly from Bauerfeind’s online shop via the measurement system.”

Well-established within a short time

Sanitätshaus Straube medical supply retailer in Oberhausen’s Sterkrade district has been working with Bauerfeind’s 3D body scanner since the beginning of May 2023. This family-run business, now managed by the fourth generation, has quickly gained a spot among Bauerfeind’s top ten medical supply retailers that use the Bodytronic 410 system – and is continuing to climb. However, this is not just about the economic aspect of improved workflows. Customers, too, appreciate the quick, contact-free measurement. It takes just a few moments for them standing on the round platform barefoot and in their undergarments. “Patients keep telling us that this type of contact-free measurement is very convenient for them,” says Laufenberg. “And if necessary, we’ll also explain to our customers that the measurement doesn’t create a photo but a real model.”

“Of course, it was Covid and the distancing rules associated with it that heightened our interest in the contact-free measurement technology,” Managing Director Laufenberg says looking back. “We looked at different systems, but the decision to go with Bauerfeind was made quickly. After our training, we first got a test system. After using it for a while, we were completely convinced. The entire operation is self-explanatory and very intuitive.” One important advantage of the Bodytronic 410, which enables measurements up to the waist, is its small footprint. “My employees don’t have to walk around the customer. It is merely the measurement arm that moves.” An area of about 160 by 160 centimeters, plus the space for a laptop, is enough to set it all up. And if the infrared measurement unit is folded up, the device can even be stored in an upright position.

“Bodytronic makes the measurement process much quicker and easier. That convinced all of us.”

Haiko Laufenberg

Numerous options for further digitalization

At the moment, Straube is not yet using the whole range of operational configurations the Bauerfeind system can offer medical supply retailers. One of the options is a connection to Bauerfeind’s online shop, including the creation of quotes for health insurance companies for standard and custom-made products. Another is the interface with SaniVision and other enterprise resource planning systems commonly used in the industry, marking the arrival of the digital transformation in specialist retail, too. It is the customers who benefit from this because the measurement data is the foundation for the perfect fit and therefore the wearing comfort of their product. Changing to a digital system also pays off for medical retailers. There are fewer returns as well as quicker ordering and manufacturing processes, freeing up staff who can now invest their time in customer consultation rather than clerical work.

For Haiko Laufenberg, the impact on customer acquisition and his company’s image is an important side effect of digital measurement technology. For instance, more customers now visit the medical supply retailer because it stands out with its offer of digital measurements. The method is also appreciated by local physicians who work closely with the medical supply retailer.



3D technology ensures the perfect fit and maximum effectiveness

With the circumference and length measurements determined by contactless infrared measurement, Bauerfeind’s Bodytronic 410 and 610 3D measurement systems provide medical supply retailers with a precise data foundation for consultation and product selection, thus ensuring quality of care. The digital measurement systems scan the body up to the waist (Bodytronic 410, 600) or up to the torso and shoulder area (Bodytronic 610). Not much space is needed: customers stand on a rotating platform (Bodytronic 600, 610) or on a stationary circular area with a rotating measurement arm (Bodytronic 410). The Bodytronic 410 can be folded up and transported. Depending on the configuration, the measurement systems can be connected to the distributor’s customer database, an enterprise resource planning system as well as Bauerfeind’s online shop via the relevant interfaces. The Bauerfeind field sales teams will provide test devices as well as training and support.

Images: Michael Bause