To remain on the leading edge of design and technology, Kohler partnered with 2020 as far back as 1994.
Getting Kohler products in the hands of people who design kitchen and bath spaces has been the greatest benefit. Kohler strives to be on the leading edge of design and technology, which proves how forward-thinking we were in 1994 when we formed our relationship with 2020.
Since 1873, when John Michael Kohler placed his feet on the bottom of a horse trough—effectively transforming it into a bathtub—Kohler has been the worldwide leader in kitchen and bath plumbing design.
Guided by the quality residing within all the products it sells, Kohler has an unequaled sense of aesthetic that, combined with an unwavering focus on the end consumer, brings visions to life in every corner of the world. Embedded in its mission is the company’s overarching goal—to provide a higher level of gracious living to all who come in contact with its products and services.
Throughout the company’s 149-year history, Kohler has experienced revolutionary change. From architectural design to technological advances, Kohler has seen the evolution of its products from strictly utilitarian to aesthetically pleasing, ergonomic, and functional—the bold look of Kohler*. Since 1994, Kohler has achieved this aesthetic appeal with help from 2020, beginning with Kohler’s catalogues and tools created for designers.
“Designers’ tools have evolved from plastic templates, drawings, and printed catalogues to 3D models and digital and online tools,” according to Elisabeth Sutton, Kohler’s Director of Marketing. “In the last 30 years, we’ve experienced the technological advances that have allowed companies like 2020 to develop the tools that better help Kohler’s customers envision their spaces and bring them to life.”
The partnership between Kohler and 2020 combined Kohler’s creativity and quest for beautifully designed fixtures with 2020’s state-of-the-art technologies. When Kohler began looking for a technology partner with a comprehensive platform for their customers, they emphasized four key points: create accurate floor plans, improve the quality of sales presentations, minimize drafting time, and increase the speed of order processing.
“Those key points are still relevant today,” says Sutton, “and 2020 continues to provide the capability to allow our customers to inform their consumers and move them down the purchase funnel in a cohesive and exciting manner. It’s why we continually invest in 2020; because it provides designers a portal to our products so they can create the spaces consumers dream of.”
Thus began a mutually beneficial partnership with aligned visions and goals.
Future plans
Kohler is excited to see their present system move to the Cloud. According to Sutton, “Our 2020 team comes to Kohler because they know we are willing to try new things and continue to innovate how designers design and specify bathrooms. Moving to the Cloud will give us greater insight into what product designers are specifying. That enhanced data visibility will allow us to see a return on our investment more accurately and succinctly. We’ve always known 2020 is a great tool; now we’ll have more detailed metrics to confirm our investment.”
Moreover, 2020 has provided Kohler the capability of offering their end customers more agency in planning their designs. By offering its catalog through 2020 Design Live, Kohler can drive the adoption of new products faster and ensure their content is up-to-date and accurate.
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