Durch Denken Vorne Consult

What Durch Denken Vorne Consult does

Durch Denken Vorne Consult GmbH (DDVC) is a boutique German management consulting firm founded in 2010 and headquartered in Erkrath near Düsseldorf. It specializes in procurement, supply chain management, product cost optimization, procurement digitalization, and sustainability advisory for mid-sized and large manufacturing and industrial companies across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), with subsidiary references to clients in Turkey. Service delivery runs across five advisory lines — procurement consulting, supply chain consulting, product cost optimization, digitalization / AI in procurement, and sustainability in procurement (including CBAM) — supplemented by certified systemic coaching, interim management placements, executive search (delivered with EINWERK), and a training program. The firm fields 11 named consultants and has been listed by brand eins and Statista as a best corporate consultant in procurement and supply chain management for four consecutive years (2023–2026).

DDVC's product surface blends human advisory with proprietary software and template tools that productize its consulting methodology. Notable proprietary assets include the CBAM Calculator (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism emissions calculation by tariff code, weight, and region), CostChecker (predictive analytics that estimates product costs during the engineering phase), SmartBANF2PO (SAP-based automation linking purchase requisitions to purchase orders during supply disruptions), a downloadable Risk Management Template, a Conflict Cost Calculator, and a supplier CO2 guide co-developed with SPIE. The firm operates frameworks such as Potenzialanalyse Einkauf 2.0 (a 360° procurement maturity diagnostic) and the COST DOWN & CASH UP cost-and-cash flagship program. A substantial content engine — 46+ episodes of the "Praktische Hacks für den Einkauf" video series, the "Schatz, wie war Deine Woche?" and "Durch Podcast Vorne" podcasts, plus the "Transformation im Einkauf", "Boot sieht Rot", and "Machen statt Meckern" video series — supports inbound lead generation and domain authority.

Revenue is generated entirely through professional services: project-based consulting engagements, coaching, interim management placements, training, and recruiting. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is direct, sales-led enterprise selling in German-speaking markets, supplemented by channel partnerships for training delivery (TÜV Saarland, VDMA Academy, Verlag Dashöfer, TAW) and the EINWERK partnership for executive search. The disclosed customer base spans 50+ named enterprises in manufacturing (Windmöller & Hölscher, SKF, MAHLE, thyssenkrupp, GEA, CLAAS, Jungheinrich, SMS group), healthcare (Becton Dickinson, Alliance Healthcare, Dr. Willmar Schwabe), energy (enercity), media (Bertelsmann, Cornelsen), transportation (Rheinbahn), and food and beverage (frischli Milchwerke). DDVC is structured as a private German GmbH registered in Wuppertal (HRB 35620), with no external investors, parent company, funding rounds, or M&A activity indicated in available sources.

Name

Durch Denken Vorne Consult

Legal name

Durch Denken Vorne Consult GmbH

Website

https://durchdenkenvorne.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Durch Denken Vorne Consult is a German boutique procurement and supply chain consultancy founded in 2010, serving DACH-region manufacturers and industrial firms with advisory across supply chain, product cost, digitalization, and sustainability. Headquartered in Erkrath with 11 named consultants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Procurement and Supply Chain Management Consulting

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Supply Chain & Procurement Consulting (BPAHACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Procurement & Strategic Sourcing (BPAHAHAB), Supplier Performance, Quality & Development (BPAHAHAI), Cost Reduction & Working Capital Optimization (BPAHAHAL), Product Lifecycle, NPI & Industrialization (Design-to-Operate) (BPAHAHAK), Supply Chain Planning (S&OP/IBP, Demand & Inventory) (BPAHAHAD), Learning, Training & Corporate Education Consulting (BPAHAGAE)

Keywords

• Procurement consulting
• Supply chain advisory
• Product cost optimization
• Strategic purchasing
• Procurement training

Headquarters

HQ city

Erkrath

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Procurement Consulting: Advisory consulting services covering procurement organization, global sourcing, supplier management, category management, risk management, supply chain optimization, e-procurement, value analysis, product cost optimization, and technology-procurement interface. Delivered as project-based engagements with experienced industry consultants.
2. Coaching Services: Certified systemic coaching services for procurement and supply chain professionals, including individual coaching, team coaching, change management, and economic mediation. Delivered as coaching engagements.
3. Interim Management: Provision of experienced interim managers for procurement, logistics, and SCM roles including Interim CPO, Interim Purchasing Manager, Strategic Buyer, Technical Buyer, Project Buyer, Logistics Manager, and Cost Engineer positions. Short-to-medium-term placements.
4. Training & Professional Development: Open enrollment training seminars, in-house workshops, and holistic training programs for procurement teams. Topics include procurement fundamentals, strategic purchasing, digitization, ChatGPT in procurement, risk management, negotiation skills, and sustainability.
5. Executive Search & Recruiting: Executive search and recruiting services for procurement and SCM roles, conducted in partnership with EINWERK. Includes structured search process, candidate selection, and support through final contract negotiations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Durch Denken Vorne Consult sells project-based procurement and supply chain consulting to German-speaking manufacturing and industrial enterprises. Its portfolio spans procurement organization and cost-down programs, supply chain and logistics optimization, product cost engineering, digitalization/AI in procurement, and sustainability topics including CBAM, complemented by systemic coaching, interim management, executive search, and open-enrollment or in-house training.

Product overview

Durch Denken Vorne Consult is a consulting firm specializing in procurement, supply chain management, and product cost optimization. The offering is structured as a portfolio of consulting service lines (Einkaufsberatung, Supply Chain Beratung, Produktkostenoptimierung, Digitalisierung/KI im Einkauf, and Nachhaltigkeit im Einkauf) supplemented by coaching, interim management, recruiting, and professional training. These service lines are delivered alongside proprietary tools including the CBAM-Kalkulator, CostChecker (predictive analytics for product costs), and SmartBANF2PO, as well as downloadable templates (risk management, conflict cost calculator). The company also produces a substantial body of educational content including the 'Praktische Hacks für den Einkauf' video series (46+ episodes), the 'Transformation im Einkauf' series, the 'Schatz, wie war Deine Woche?' podcast, and various other video and thought-leadership series. Training is offered as open seminars, in-house programs, or holistic training concepts, with all trainers having prior industry experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Einkaufsberatung (Procurement Consulting) Project-based advisory engagements covering procurement organization, global sourcing, supplier management, commodity group management, risk management, supply bottleneck resolution, eProcurement, Maverick Buying reduction, indirect procurement, and cost-down programs for manufacturing and industrial clients.
• Supply Chain Beratung (Supply Chain Consulting) Advisory services covering logistics process optimization, lean materials management, and efficient inventory management for industrial clients.
• Produktkostenoptimierung (Product Cost Optimization) Services covering value analysis, product cost analysis, the engineering-procurement interface, supplier-driven innovation, and development-phase cost calculation to reduce total product cost.
• Digitalisierung / KI im Einkauf (Procurement Digitalization / AI Consulting) Advisory services covering AI in procurement, ChatGPT and MS Copilot usage, digitalization strategy, data analytics, data classification (Machine Learning), eProcurement, AI agents, AI sourcing, predictive analytics (CostChecker), and Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
• Nachhaltigkeit im Einkauf (Sustainability in Procurement) Advisory services covering sustainability in procurement, CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) compliance, and sustainability reporting under frameworks such as DNK/CSRD.
• Systemisches Coaching (Systemic Coaching) Certified systemic individual and team coaching for procurement and supply chain professionals, including the 'Einkäufer Next Level' and 'Verdopplung der Teamperformance' programs, as well as business mediation.
• Change | Transformation Change management and transformation consulting for procurement organizations, including change management training and the Potenzialanalyse Einkauf 2.0 maturity assessment combining 360-degree interviews, data analysis, and benchmarks.
• Wirtschaftsmediation (Business Mediation) Business mediation services for resolving conflicts in procurement and commercial settings.
• Interimsmanagement (Interim Management) Provision of experienced interim managers for procurement, logistics, and SCM roles, including Interim CPO, Interim Purchasing Manager, Strategic Buyer, Technical Buyer, Project Buyer, Logistics Manager, and Cost Engineer positions on short-to-medium-term placements.
• Executive Search & Recruiting Executive search and recruiting services for procurement and SCM leadership positions, delivered in partnership with EINWERK, with structured search, candidate selection, and contract negotiation support.
• Weiterbildung / Training (Professional Training) Open-enrollment seminars, in-house workshops, and holistic training programs for procurement teams covering fundamentals, strategic purchasing, technical procurement, supply chain, digitalization, ChatGPT in procurement, leadership, negotiation, risk management, and sustainability.
• COST DOWN & CASH UP Flagship consulting program combining cost reduction with cash flow improvement, the core methodology underlying the firm's procurement consulting approach.
• Potenzialanalyse Einkauf 2.0 (Procurement Potential Analysis 2.0) Advanced procurement maturity assessment combining 360-degree interviews, data analysis, and benchmarks (VDMA, BME), covering both traditional topics and team culture, leadership, diversity, and psychological health.
• CBAM-Kalkulator (CBAM Calculator) Proprietary calculator tool enabling companies to calculate CBAM-relevant CO2 emissions of imported goods based on customs tariff number, weight, and region, used for CBAM reporting compliance and supplier engagement.
• CostChecker (Predictive Analytics for Product Costs) Predictive analytics tool that determines product costs during the engineering phase without requiring a procurement request, enabling cost forecasting during design as part of the Einkauf 4.0 / Digitalisierung offering.
• SmartBANF2PO Automation tool for the SAP purchase requisition-to-PO process that automatically adjusts delivery dates and reduces manual work, particularly useful during supply disruption periods.

Named customers53 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EINWERKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEINWERK is a specialized recruitment partner for executive search and recruiting services in procurement and SCM. The partnership enables Durch Denken Vorne Consult to offer comprehensive talent acquisition services to clients, with EINWERK handling candidate sourcing, selection, and placement while DDVC provides industry-specific procurement expertise to assess candidate fit.
• SPIEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPIE, a European market leader in multi-technical services with over 48,000 employees, collaborated with Durch Denken Vorne Consult to develop a supplier CO2 emissions guide. DDVC contributed procurement and sustainability expertise while SPIE provided technical infrastructure and scale. The guide helps SPIE's smaller suppliers calculate their CO2 footprint using GHG Protocol methodology and includes a proprietary tool with an action catalog for emissions reduction.
• CO2iq Solutions GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCO2iq Solutions GmbH, founded by Dr. Ulf Narloch, provides expertise on economic aspects of climate protection. Dr. Ulf Narloch contributes guest content to the DDVC blog on CBAM topics, bridging policy and industry perspectives. CO2iq offers analyses, consulting, and digital applications for CBAM compliance and CO2 pricing.
• TÜV SaarlandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTÜV Saarland is a third-party training venue that hosts and organizes training sessions delivered by Durch Denken Vorne Consult trainers. Training topics include Technical Buyer, Project Procurement, and Digitalization Strategy.
• VDMA AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVDMA Academy is a training platform of the Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau (German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association) that hosts procurement and digitalization training sessions delivered by Durch Denken Vorne Consult, including ChatGPT in Materials Management.
• Verlag DashöferminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVerlag Dashöfer is a professional publishing house and training venue that hosts online seminars on AI in Procurement delivered by Durch Denken Vorne Consult trainers.
• TAW (Theodor-Wanderüst Altenkirchen)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTAW is a professional training institute that hosts procurement training sessions including Technical Purchasing delivered by Durch Denken Vorne Consult trainers.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company: Global management consultancy with a dedicated Operations Practice covering procurement and supply chain. Competes for the largest DACH enterprise mandates DDVC cannot serve, while being a potential referral source for boutique engagements.
• Bain & Company: Global management consultancy with a recognized procurement and supply chain advisory capability. Overlaps with DDVC on category strategy, sourcing and operations improvement for DACH clients.
• Oliver Wyman: Global management consultancy with an Operations and Supply Chain practice. Comparable on procurement and operations transformation for industrial clients, but typically serves larger engagements than DDVC's boutique scope.
• Roland Berger: European-headquartered strategy consultancy with strong DACH industrial coverage and operations/procurement capabilities. Closest large-international peer by geography, sharing Mittelstand enterprise clients with DDVC.
• Kearney: Global strategy consultancy with a heritage-leading procurement and supply chain practice. Competes with DDVC on enterprise procurement transformations but operates at global scale and as part of a broader strategy portfolio.

Direct peers

• Inverto: German-headquartered procurement and supply chain consultancy, now part of BCG. Directly competes with DDVC on strategic sourcing, category management and procurement transformation for DACH enterprises, but operates at significantly larger scale.
• Kloepfel Group: DACH-based procurement and supply chain consulting boutique specializing in cost optimization, sourcing, and supplier management. Closest direct competitor to DDVC in terms of size, geography, and service portfolio.
• GEP Worldwide: Global procurement and supply chain consulting and managed services firm. Directly comparable offering (strategic sourcing, category management, digital procurement) but at materially larger scale and with broader technology product suite.
• Proxima Group: UK-headquartered procurement and supply chain consultancy with European presence. Comparable in offering portfolio (strategic sourcing, procurement transformation, cost reduction) and boutique positioning, with a broader geographic footprint than DDVC.

Emerging players

• The Smart Cube: Procurement and supply chain analytics and consulting firm. Overlapping capabilities on spend analytics, sourcing intelligence and procurement advisory, with a more analytics-software orientation than DDVC's pure advisory model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/durchdenkenvorne
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/durch-denken-vorne-consult-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Durch Denken Vorne Consult