Düsseldorf, Germany, 2016-Aug-03 — /EPR Retail News/ — METRO GROUP acquires a stake in the Munich-based start-up Shore, a market leader in web-based business solutions for local service providers in Europe. Shore supports small and medium-sized businesses and service providers with a cloud-based software that allows them to digitally manage their business processes. The investment in Shore is a further element of METRO GROUP’s commitment to promoting digital business models for the customers of METRO GROUP.
“Shore offers digital solutions and services aimed at simplifying and optimizing our customers’ business processes. Shore and METRO want to take the business of local service providers to the next level with digital solutions”, says Olaf Koch, Chairman of the Management Board of METRO AG. “The investment in Shore represents a further element to drive digitalization, especially in the hotel and restaurant sector.”
Alexander Henn, founder and Managing Director of Shore adds: “We are very pleased about METRO’s investment. For us it represents not only a confirmation of the quality of our software solutions, but also underscores our ambition of becoming the leading provider for the digitalisation of small, local service providers.”
Founded in 2012, the Munich-based start-up Shore has grown to become a market leader in cloud-based software for small and medium-sized businesses and local service providers in Europe. Shore offers a simple, user-friendly and, most of all, inexpensive access to a digital communication and productivity software for this target group. The product offering ranges from online booking to customer relationship management all the way to marketing tools and an efficient, iPad-assisted cash system. Restaurant owners are an important customer group for Shore services solutions.
As it does not require any IT know-how, Shore also enables small businesses to benefit from the potential offered by digital solutions, and grow. At more than 10,000 locations around one million bookings per month are meanwhile managed via the Shore platform.
METRO GROUP, which is operating in 25 countries worldwide with its sales line METRO Cash & Carry and has access to 21 million active wholesale customers, invests selectively into digital business models for its customers from the hotel and restaurant sector who benefit from digital services for their own business operations. To further drive the digitalization in the catering industry the company already back in 2015 initiated the “METRO Accelerator”, a program aimed at promoting start-ups with digital solutions for the hospitality sector, which will kick off its second round in September.
METRO GROUP is one of the most important international retailing companies. It generated sales of some €59 billion in financial year 2014/15. The company operates over 2,000 locations in 29 countries and employs more than 220,000 people. The performance of METRO GROUP is based on the strength of its sales brands, which act independently on the market: METRO/MAKRO Cash & Carry, the international leader in the self-service wholesale trade; Media Market and Saturn, the European market leader in consumer electronics retailing; and Real hypermarkets.
More information on www.metrogroup.de
The Munich-based start-up Shore offers local service-providers non-sector specific software solutions as a basis for enhanced productivity, optimised customer communication and growing sales. Shore thus enables restaurant owners, hairdressers, sports service providers, medical professionals, crafts businesses and a multitude of other service companies to benefit from the advantages and opportunities of digitalisation. In addition, Shore cooperates with various largescale customers who use its solutions for their respective store networks. The user-friendly, efficient and inexpensive software solutions range from online appointment booking to a wellstructured customer relationship management through to an iPad based cash system. Founded in 2012, the software specialist increased its workforce to more than 200 employees and today already operates offices in 10 European countries. In addition, the first US center was opened in Los Angeles in 2015.
More information on www.shore.com
Contact:
Media Department
Telephone: +49 211 6886-4252
Telefax: +49 211 6886-2001
E-Mail: METRO GROUP: presse@metro.de
Source: Metro Group