As straightforward as it gets
How Niehaves Bakery & Confectionery in Wickede manages over 63 locations and around 600 employees across its entire operation — using SEAK Workforce Scheduling, mobile self-service tools, and Power BI.
Niehaves at a Glance
Niehaves has been a cornerstone of artisan baking since 1978. Today, the family-owned business based in Wickede, Westphalia, employs around 600 people — more than 500 of whom work across its 63 retail locations. The company is now in its second generation of family leadership, run by brothers Martin and Hermann Niehaves, with a clear commitment to combining traditional baking craftsmanship with modern technology.
Team
Around 600 employees, including 500+ in branch locations
Branch Network
63 locations (as of June 2024)
Market Segment
Artisan Bakery & Patisserie with In-House Production
Location
Wickede, North Rhine-Westphalia
Founded
Founded in 1978 by the parents of today's managing directors
Management
Martin and Hermann Niehaves (2nd generation)
Customer since
2019/2020 – as part of a complete best-of-breed IT transformation
Deployed SEAK Modules
Workforce Scheduling, Workforce Planning, SEAK TEAMS (Mobile Workforce), SEAK MSP, SEAK Power BI for Cross-System Analytics
Numbers, Data, Facts
Locations Staffed Through SEAK Workforce Scheduling
Employees, 500+ of them in branch locations
IT Systems Migrated in Parallel
Niehaves Manages Workforce Scheduling and Mobile Workforce Operations with SEAK
The Challenge
Paper-based stores, gut-feel planning, and a single-vendor lock-in that held everything back
Before 2019, Niehaves ran a single-vendor setup covering POS, inventory management, workforce scheduling, time tracking, and shipping. It worked well enough — until Niehaves set out to improve purchasing and production, replace more than 100 checkout terminals, and integrate returns digitally. The incumbent vendor refused to cooperate. That opened the door to a completely new setup — and a cluster of challenges that all needed to be solved at once.
Five specific bottlenecks were holding the business back:
Paper PEP in Branches
Staff scheduling was handled on paper across all branches — time-consuming and inefficient.
Transmission to Headquarters
Plans were submitted to headquarters in paper form — causing delays and communication gaps.
Gut-feel planning
Without documented revenue plans or footfall forecasts, the data foundation for demand-driven planning was simply missing.
Phone Time Spent on Changes
Last-minute changes required countless rounds of coordination — simply not scalable for a branch network of this size.
Paper-Based Workflows
Vacation requests, absences, time corrections, sick leave — all on paper, all inefficient.
Martin Niehaves – Managing Director – Niehaves
"We actually underestimated the complexity, as we only fully recognized the many use cases for SEAK once we began implementation. But for SEAK specifically, this was absolutely no issue at all. In all my experience with interface programming, I have never come across anything as straightforward as SEAK."
The Decision: Their POS Vendor Introduced Them to SEAK
SEAK entered the picture through the new POS vendor. At the time, SEAK solutions weren't yet widely adopted in the bakery industry — but Marco Pirkner from the SEAK team brought deep sector expertise to the table. Niehaves sat down with all six software vendors, developed a shared requirements specification, and ultimately chose a best-of-breed setup with SEAK as the workforce management anchor.
The Approach: Centralization + Selective Decentralization
Two Weeks Out, District-Level Planning, and Mobile Self-Service at the Store
Workforce scheduling runs on a centralized model: headquarters provides high-level planning targets two weeks in advance, with each store assigned to a revenue-tier category. Planned sales figures are stored for every day, and the system automatically identifies staffing requirements by revenue tier — then suggests available team members with the right skill set.
District managers handle operational planning, while store managers retain the flexibility to make independent adjustments. Sick leave notifications, time corrections, and vacation requests are all processed through SEAK TEAMS and SEAK MSP — fully mobile and paperless. Employees can view their shift schedule directly on their smartphone, including visibility into who they'll be working alongside.
What the software actually covers
Central Capacity Planning
Headquarters submits planning targets two weeks in advance — with seasonality, public holidays, school holidays, and promotions already built in.
Revenue Size Categories by Branch
Each branch is assigned to a revenue category; the system knows the staffing requirements per category and day.
Automatic Employee Assignment
The system automatically identifies available team members with the right skills — drawing from templates, contracts, and preferences.
Mobile Time Tracking
Log working hours on the go with SEAK TEAMS — no time clock terminal required.
Mobile Requests & Corrections
Time corrections, vacation requests, and absence submissions are handled seamlessly on mobile — complete with an approval workflow.
Mobile Schedule with Team View
Employees can view their schedule on their smartphone — including details on who they're working with.
Branch Autonomy
Branch managers independently adjust high-level planning targets; district managers only intervene in exceptional cases.
SEAK Power BI
Cross-system reporting across all six IT pillars (workforce planning, time management, POS, merchandise management, payroll, and shipping) — an executive dashboard built for leadership decision-making.
Hermann Niehaves – Managing Director – Niehaves
"The SEAK solution generates the deployment schedule automatically. We had to shift our mindset and get used to the fact that so many things were now simpler than before. It's important not to cling to old processes and to recognize that SEAK doesn't just replace the paperwork — it's capable of so much more."
The Result: What Has Changed Since Then
Faster planning processes, higher output per hour – and a lifeline through the pandemic
Business Management
Operational
Employees & Employers
Pandemic Trust
Hermann Niehaves – Managing Director – Niehaves
"We're seeing increased productivity across our branches. One thing is certain: without SEAK and paper-based communication, COVID-19 would have been a catastrophe for us."
Which Solutions Niehaves Relies On
Martin Niehaves – Managing Director – Niehaves
"I don't know of any company with better support than SEAK. Reliability, punctuality, and expertise: one hundred percent."
Let's talk about whether SEAK is the right fit for your business
In a 30-minute introductory call, we'll assess where your business stands today, identify which modules are the right priority for your situation, and outline a realistic implementation roadmap.
Alternatively, you're welcome to reach out via our contact form — we'll get back to you promptly. Or give us a call at: +49 40 238 348 – 000
The Trade Trusts SEAK
From fashion and food retail to building materials and specialist trade: retailers across Germany rely on SEAK to manage their workforce.
Baking Culture Since 1978 – Powered by Modern Technology
Niehaves was founded in 1978 by the parents of today's managing directors — starting with a single bakery and retail location in Wickede, Westphalia. Today, the company employs around 600 people, more than 500 of whom work across its 63 branches.
According to brothers Martin and Hermann Niehaves, the secret to their success lies in combining a genuine passion for the craft of baking with cutting-edge technology. That philosophy led to a bold decision in 2019/2020: rather than relying on a single integrated software suite, Niehaves transitioned to a best-of-breed setup built around six specialized software partners — with SEAK as the cornerstone of their workforce management strategy.