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• Financing enables further investments in product and technology
• With Makula, SME machine suppliers and dealers digitize their customer service quickly and effectively

Makula, a company in the portfolio of Next Big Thing AG (NBT), has raised new capital through a significant investment from a strategic investor. Makula offers SME machinery suppliers and dealers the fastest way to digitize their customer service. With their all-in-one platform, they bundle after-sales services and easily connect digitally with their customers for greater efficiency and profitability. The strategic investment was made by Rieckermann, a global provider of machinery and industrial solutions.

"The future looks more than promising as we have gained an investor and partner in the Rieckermann Group that is deeply rooted in our industry. At the same time, we share the vision of bringing Makula to the top in a sustainable way," Emkay Khan, CEO and founder of Makula, is pleased to say. "With Rieckermann’s far-reaching network, we want to increase our reach and understand our customers, as well as theirs, even better."

Makula is using the new capital to further invest in product and technology, optimize the features of its customer service platform and attract more customers. Having Rieckermann Group as a distribution partner for dozens of machine builders across 11 different industries in Asia not only gives the startup high credibility in the market, but also opens the doors for sustainable growth faster.

Increase revenue and reduce downtime with Makula platform

"Today, the after-sales business generates a large part of the profits for component and machinery manufacturers (OEMs) and dealers. In times of digitalization, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular must also constantly adapt to current developments. However, they often miss this opportunity because they do not have the know-how in-house, nor the capital expenditure," explains Flynn Seidel, responsible for Strategic Business Development at the Rieckermann Group. "Digital processes and touch points in after-sales customer service are all the more important to stay relevant in the market. This is where Makula comes into play." 

Makula can be used to increase after-sales revenue while reducing downtime for machine users. Currently, the Makula after-sales service solution manages over 6,000 machines in ten countries. This already high number of managed machines demonstrates the reliability and scalability of the platform.

"We are very pleased that Makula has successfully cleared this important hurdle," said Harald Zapp, founder and CEO of NBT. "Makula’s north star has always been the machine manufacturer’s service technicians. With its platform, Makula aims to further increase the efficiency and importance of their work. We are confident that this partnership will help to become the most relevant after-sales solution in the industry, making Makula an indispensable tool for machine suppliers and their customers."