From Pizza in Cologne to over 80,000 Users: Celebrating 10 years of bridging the gap between documents and SAP systems! Rolf Budke and Markus Beck, founders of BECONEX, tell about their journey.
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[Rolf Budke] Ten years ago, a simple idea sparked over a pizza at the ‘XII Apostel’ restaurant in Cologne. My co-founder Markus and I saw a disconnect: while businesses were brimming with multifunction devices and powerful SAP systems, nobody was actually making them talk to each other. This lack of connectivity made document digitization and handling often a headache.
We decided to be the bridge between paper-based information and enterprise data, giving birth to BECONEX. Our vision was clear: to seamlessly integrate document scanning with SAP. We had existing customers who needed our support, and we built our foundation on that commitment.
This specific focus set us apart. We found ourselves almost alone at the intersection of multifunction devices and SAP environments. Others extensively involved with MFPs didn’t touch SAP, and vice versa. This unique position allowed us to carve out a niche, serving customers who wanted to integrate their documents directly from the multifunction device into the SAP system. It was an atypical market, navigated through an equally atypical sales channel of MFP vendors, but it allowed us to become true specialists.
From the first SAP connection to global scalability
[Markus Beck] The journey from concept to reality took flight with the arrival of our very first customer. They were looking for an ArchiveLink-compliant solution to integrate scanned FI documents directly into SAP. It wasn’t about solving a local problem; we were unlocking a gateway to efficient document management. Because our solution integrated with the core of SAP, we were—from day one—broadly positioned to serve every industry that SAP touches. For several years, this connector was the cornerstone of our portfolio.
As we grew, the most relevant input for further development came, once and again, from our customer base. If you want to stay relevant, you have to listen intently. That is why BECONEX doesn’t just sell software, we provide experienced guidance based on real-world applications. Our customers would come to us, explaining their pain points and the bottlenecks in their processes. They would also share their own “what-if” scenarios, how they envisioned things should work. From that starting point, our mission was to transform those individual frustrations into universal solutions.
Why universal? Whenever a customer presented a challenge, we didn’t just build a one-off fix; The goal was to engineer features with the potential to empower our entire user community. Our focus has always been on scalability—creating robust, secure products that could run seamlessly for hundreds of customers worldwide. I never wanted BECONEX to be a project-based agency; I wanted us to build the standard for how the world connects paper to ERP platforms.
Resilience and evolution beyond the SAP horizon
[Rolf Budke] Of course, no journey comes without its challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, slowed sales of multifunction devices drastically and, consequently, related projects came close to virtual standstill. Instead of pausing, we used this period to reinvent and invest. We made a conscious decision not to lay off any staff, focusing instead on intensive development.
This led to significant advancements, including the expansion of our solutions with non-SAP connectors and the crucial Validation Controller. Looking back, this was a critical milestone, allowing us to extend our reach beyond pure SAP business. It was a sound investment, proving that using challenging times for product development was indeed a good decision.
A startup spirit with a decade of Business Content wisdom
[Markus Beck] Even after ten years, BECONEX retains a “startup-like” heartbeat. We have maintained a flat hierarchy which serves us as a powerful tool: it allows us to remain incredibly flexible. When customers come to us with a requirement, we don’t get lost in bureaucracy. If we see the potential to innovate, we can make the ad hoc decision: “Yes, let’s build it”. We are as agile as a startup, and we are constantly expanding our team with young talent.
This has to do with our commitment to the next generation of IT professionals. We see it as our responsibility to share our experience and insights with those who are just starting their careers. Therefore, we have established strategic educational partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) and local schools. Through them, and through our participation in initiatives at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), we can coach and mentor young talent by providing real-world context to their studies.
Our primary goal is to contribute to an environment of innovation and fresh thinking during their training. We are always thrilled, of course, when bright and motivated young professionals choose to join us permanently.
(3) Team building with “Brezen KulTour”, (4) Virtual daily stand-up.
Hand in hand towards digital transformation
[Rolf Budke] Our partnerships have been equally vital to our growth. Collaborations with industry leaders such as Tungsten Automation, Konica Minolta, and Centric have significantly expanded our capabilities and the solutions we can offer.
A more obvious measure of our success, however, lies with our customers. Many have been with us for nearly a decade, some practically since day one. This longevity is often accompanied by remarkably little support intervention. For most, our solutions run seamlessly, a testament to their robustness. We rarely encounter major support tickets or issues with the core Send2SAP functionality or the SAP Connector, underscoring the reliability we deliver.
The most important lesson I’ve learned, and one that underpins everything we do, is that long-term partnerships can only thrive on fairness and respect. Our strongest alliances, both with partners and clients, are built on a solid interpersonal foundation. This transparency and equitable approach ensure that they stay with us, fostering a trust that goes beyond just the technology.
Wrapping up for our next big step…
[Rolf Budke] Fond memories punctuate these ten years. Beyond that pivotal dinner in Cologne, I recall moving into our first office, assembling furniture from IKEA late into the night. These are the formative moments that stay with you, alongside lighter memories like our regular visits to Oktoberfest. This includes the trip to Vegas for the launch of our SAP2Printix solution, already a couple of years ago.
As we celebrate this significant milestone, we’re not just looking back at a decade of expertise in document management and SAP connectivity. We’re also looking forward. The world of business content is constantly evolving, and we will continue to evolve with it.
We stand by our commitment to efficient, secure, user-friendly document management, both for SAP and non-SAP environments. This foundation of trust and experience will be the launchpad for our next exciting chapter.