What’s new?

As you have probably already seen, the website now has a bright, clean design that is naturally responsive. This means that all functions are also clearly and fully available on mobile devices.

With our new navigation menu, we want to make it easier for you to find the right Mini-PC for you. Under “Products” you can search for special application areas, such as digital signage or vehicle computing, or for important key facts, such as mini PCs with an extended temperature range or high graphics performance. You can also find our bestsellers with just one click. If you just want to browse, click on “All Mini-PCs” to see the entire product catalog.

The ordering process is also more convenient: when configuring your Mini-PC, you can see directly whether we have the desired components in stock using small colored dots. This will also tell you the delivery time of your order. You can view the status of your orders at any time in your customer account. You will also find your order confirmations and invoices there.

What do I need to know?

We have of course moved all customer accounts with all information and the stored payment method to the new website. What we could not transfer, however, are the passwords. To receive a new password, proceed as follows:

  1. Click on the little man at the top of the navigation menu and then on “Log in”.
  2. Under “I am already a customer” click on “Forgot your password?”
  3. On the next page, enter your e-mail address and click on “Send e-mail”.
  4. You will immediately receive an e-mail with which you can reset your password and then assign a new one. Please note that the link contained therein is only valid for two hours.

Unfortunately, there are still a few problems with our forms. If you urgently need an answer from us or have a service case, please contact us by phone. We are working flat out to ensure that everything runs smoothly soon.

Get in contact with us

Can I order something on the new website?

Of course you can place your orders. Please note, however, that the entire spo-comm up to and including January 6, 2021 is on company vacation. Your order will be shipped on January 7 and is expected to be sent out in week 2.

Until then, we wish you a Merry Christmas, relaxing holidays and a Happy New Year.

We would like to thank all our customers and partners who have remained loyal to us in this difficult year and look forward to implementing exciting projects again in 2021.

spo-comm Marketing: Hi Michael, hi Bernd, and welcome to this year’s end-of-year interview. The fact that we are sitting together across teams this time and not in the spo-comm meeting room speaks volumes. Tell us, how did you get on?

Michael Sporrer: I’ve probably never seen so few people in the office as this year and it was very challenging in all respects. The whole corona issue has really had a significant impact on the way we work. At the start of the lockdown, we sent most of our sales and marketing staff to work from home. Fortunately, we had already started introducing Microsoft Teams last October. This makes communication much easier in these difficult times. And there was also a lot to consider in our production. The required minimum distances meant that fewer people could work at the same time. This in turn had an impact on the entire production planning. Nevertheless, our production department is doing everything it can to deliver orders in the usual time and quality. I’m really excited about that.

Bernd Moosmรผller: 2020 was a real challenge for everyone, especially for the employees. But everyone reacted extremely flexibly, so we were actually able to carry on from home almost exactly as before.  And we were able to continue delivering. There was no noticeable difference for our customers: prices and delivery times remained the same and we didn’t have to cut back on our services either.

Michael Sporrer: I think we have achieved a good balance. It is important to us to protect the health of our employees. At the same time, however, business had to continue, not least in order to preserve jobs. Some of our regular customers are struggling with enormous losses, as sectors such as event technology and trade fair construction are suffering greatly from the crisis. At the same time, we were able to acquire new industrial customers with great potential, so we are generally satisfied with how the year went for us, especially given the circumstances.

Marketing: And we were even able to hire new colleagues!

Michael Sporrer: Yes, exactly, Victor Mention replaces our previous management assistant and Kim Schrickel, who is training with us as an IT systems management assistant, is a great support for sales. Of course, it’s difficult for a trainee not to sit in the office with her direct contacts but in her home office, but Kim does it really well. I am very happy with the new ones.

Bernd Moosmรผller: Me too! And this despite the fact that it certainly wasn’t easy for them at the beginning. It’s wild when you come into the office and everyone leaves (laughs). But they both contribute really well and work independently. They were real strokes of luck!

Marketing: Let’s look back a little: February was the last time we were at ISE in Amsterdam. How did you experience it?

Bernd Moosmรผller: Participation was good, but now the trade fair has lost twice its appeal. We had already more or less decided not to take part before Corona because Barcelona is logistically difficult. It is now questionable whether the ISE will still take place next year, and indeed whether the issue of presence trade fairs has not been settled anyway. We have therefore been looking for new ways of communicating with customers for some time, whether virtually or, if permitted again, on site.

Marketing: And what about new product launches?

Bernd Moosmรผller: Unfortunately, there were only a few new product launches last year. This is largely due to the fact that Intel is finding it increasingly difficult to deliver and is unable to keep its promises. As a result, there are only a few developments at board level. But the successor to the Windbox II Quad is definitely coming next year. And perhaps also products for new markets and other successors.

Marketing: For example?

Bernd Moosmรผller: (laughs) Do I have to name names now? Ok, so there’s certainly something new in the RUGGED series, maybe.  also in the KUMO series.

Michael Sporrer: We are thinking about a passive KUMO model, but let’s see. In addition, a completely new product line is being reintroduced with Panel PCs. This would also be interesting for the manufacturing industry.

Bernd Moosmรผller: However, the prerequisite is that we can implement our spo-comm system, which means that the panel PCs must be individually configurable for the customer. 

RUGGED series

KUMO series

Marketing: We all hope that the coronavirus crisis will be over at some point. How will things continue with home office in spo-comm? 

Michael Sporrer: In the current situation, I think working from home is a great flexible tool, it’s necessary and it works well. But I think that being in the office more is good for the whole company structure. For me, face-to-face communication is extremely important and I think the company thrives on the presence of its employees. But that’s also a personal thing. My home is my castle, (laughs) I simply need an external workplace to be able to separate my professional and private lives. 

Bernd Moosmรผller: I think the flexibility we gain from working from home is great. For us, it was born out of necessity and it’s going really well. I also believe that it will continue to accompany us in the future. Of course, it always depends on the job in question. It has great advantages for conceptual work, for example, because you are simply undisturbed. And it is also practical for employees with children or long journeys to work. At the same time, we have to bear in mind that everyone’s home situation is different and that we as employers cannot influence this. Not everyone has their own study with a desk and ergonomic chair. Overall, however, I am very positive about the whole thing and am curious to see how it will develop.

Marketing: We have one more topic, our perennial favorite: the new website… 

Bernd Moosmรผller: At the moment, I’m reasonably optimistic and I’m going to venture a prediction: we’ll get it right this year!

Michael Sporrer: I would be delighted to see it start. It would really be a significant improvement because we have so many new opportunities to make the shopping experience even more enjoyable for our customers.

Marketing: Is there anything else on your mind?

Michael Sporrer: I have seen this year that I can rely on our employees even in difficult times. I am optimistic and positive about the new year and hope that things will return to some degree of normality in the second half of the year!

Marketing: That’s a nice closing statement. Thank you very much for the interview!

Chiara: Hi Felix, what are your tasks as an IT specialist trainee for system integration?

Felix: Hi Chiara, although some tasks are of course repeated, it’s very varied. In the case of our Mini PCs, this starts with the selection of components from the warehouse and continues through to the creation of the delivery note and the installation of the operating systems on the hard disk. Only then can a start be made on assembling a fully-fledged PC from the individual parts and adapting it to the equally diverse customer requirements. Apart from day-to-day business, I have also worked with colleagues on internal projects. This includes, for example, the organization of our server room, but also the installation and configuration of our new telephone system in a virtual machine. Of course, you learn things from and in practice that are not so commonplace.

Chiara: And what are you learning at vocational school?

Felix: There are subjects that are probably part of every apprenticeship. For example, “Politics and Society” and English. However, system integration naturally also includes “information technology systems”. Here you get a good overview of everything from the underlying electronics of a network to the software that builds on it. Virtual machines were also on the timetable. Application development is also included in each of the information technology areas: There we learn programming basics using C++. Don’t worry, it has a little less to do with math than many people think, but you can’t do without it either.

Chiara: What do you like best about your work at spo-comm?

Felix: I’m just generally very interested in technology, both new and old. In my private life, this tends to extend to audio editing, production and retro technology, but I came into contact with PCs very early on as a child. Since Pentium 2 times, I’ve also had the opportunity to tinker and try out lots of things, initially with discarded computer parts. I already enjoyed it back then and being able to do it as a job now gives me a lot of pleasure. I get on well with my colleagues. The most diverse challenges are accepted and mastered flexibly and together.

Chiara: What is your favorite PC?

Felix: That’s difficult to say. As a fan of 19-inch racks, I immediately think of the NINETEEN. In my opinion, it is the most unusual system we have compared to the other devices. For the mini systems, it is the CORE 2: Impressive what is now possible in the smallest of spaces. If I had to choose one for gaming, it would probably be the KUMO V with an Nvidia graphics card. I think our range has the right PC for a wide variety of applications.

Chiara: We are very happy to have you in our team!

Discover our mini PCs

Julia: Hello Chiara and thank you for taking the time for a little interview. You’ve already finished your training as a marketing communications specialist. Tell us how you came to do this training and why at spo-comm of all companies?

Chiara: Hi Julia ๐Ÿ™‚ To be honest, I needed a bit of time after school to figure out what I wanted to do. After some time in sales and an aborted apprenticeship as an event manager, I came across the field of marketing. I have always been interested in and fascinated by advertising and the various media, so this apprenticeship was perfect for me. I came across spo-comm in the traditional way via an online job advertisement. I would say that my trial day simply sparked something. I got on really well with my colleagues and bosses straight away and I also found the work very interesting.

Julia: What was the content of your training?

Chiara: The content at vocational school was wide-ranging, from marketing basics to print advertising and social media. Everything that goes with marketing. My practical activities at spo-comm were more specific. It was mainly about SEO and SEA, i.e. Google Ads, maintaining the website and creating articles for our blog. I was also involved in the design of flyers and various photo shoots. And then I helped with the planning of the trade fair appearance at ISE and was even allowed to fly to Amsterdam. That was a really cool experience  In the beginning, I also supported the sales department by creating quotations and order confirmations. This enabled me to familiarize myself very well with the subject matter of Mini PCs.

Julia: And what tasks are you now taking on in the marketing department?

Chiara: I mainly take care of maintaining the website and social media channels. This means that I make sure that the products are displayed correctly in our online store with photos and their technical details. Secondly, I provide our customers and followers in general with the latest content, from blog articles about our products or company news to behind-the-scenes insights. After I finished my apprenticeship in February, I reduced my working hours to 30 hours a week to have enough time for my Bachelor’s degree.

Julia: That’s right, you’re still studying on the side.

Chiara: Exactly, I’m doing a distance learning Bachelor’s degree in Marketing at the iubh. Since I graduated from high school, it was always my goal to study. After I enjoyed my training in marketing so much, I decided to study at iubh. The whole thing takes place completely online and is therefore completely independent of time and place, but it is also very time-consuming and you need a lot of self-discipline and must be able to organize yourself well. I am therefore all the more pleased that I had the opportunity to reduce my working hours at spo-comm and that I am always supported here.

Julia: That sounds really exciting. When do you plan to be finished?

Chiara: The standard period of study is 36 months, i.e. 3 years. Thanks to my IHK training, I was able to have some of the content credited, which shortened my overall study time somewhat, as I no longer had to take certain modules. I started in April 2020, so I should be finished with my studies by the end of 2022.

Julia: How do you actually like it at spo-comm?

Chiara: Very good ๐Ÿ™‚ In addition to my tasks in Marketing, which I really enjoy, I also get on really well with my colleagues. We are a colorful mix and it never gets boring, you can always count on support here. I also think it’s great that I can contribute my ideas and that we can work independently here.

Julia: And we are delighted that you are part of our team ๐Ÿ™‚

Chiara: I’m just as happy to be here ๐Ÿ™‚

 

spo-comm on LinkedIn

1. quality

The systems offered by spo-comm GmbH have been thoroughly tested and are suitable for 24/7 use. All installed components comply with the industry standard and thus guarantee a long, fail-safe service life. All systems have robust metal housings.

2. equipment

All spo-comm Mini-PCs are equipped with industrial-grade hardware. The components we install are tested and approved for compatibility and continuous load.

3. fanless design

More than half of our solutions are passively cooled mini PCs. This means that no fans are used in the respective systems. Among other things, this enables a more robust design, virtually silent operation and increases the service life of the IPCs.

4. long-term availability

We guarantee that all spo-comm Mini-PCs will be available for a period of 5 to 7 years. This ensures long-term image and software compatibility, for example.

5. variety of connections

Thanks to our different product ranges, we can guarantee the necessary variety of connections for every application. Tried and tested interfaces, such as COM or VGA, can also be implemented with the latest platforms.

6. individual production

Each of our systems is carefully assembled and finished in our Nuremberg production facility according to our customers’ wishes.

7. energy consumption

The chipsets and processors used enable high performance and energy efficiency at the same time. Many systems can be operated with an average load of 15 watts. Even our top-of-the-range embedded PCs require a maximum of 40 to 50 watts.

8. OEM

On request, we can also act as your “Original Equipment Manufacturer” (OEM for short). From neutral packaging and customized housings to system launches with your company logo. Just talk to us about it.

9. customizing

As a manufacturer and developer, we can make changes and adaptations to our spo-comm Mini-PCs according to your wishes. Depending on the type and size of the project, a complete new product development is also possible.

10. warranty and service extensions

We offer warranty and service extensions of up to 5 years for all spo-comm Mini-PCs. You can find more information about our spo-comm SysCare Packs here.

Chiara: Hi Kim, tell me about it. What does a typical working day look like for you?

Kim: Hi Chiara. My day usually starts at 8 am. First of all, I start my PC, check my e-mails and get an overview of everything. Then, of course, there’s one thing you can’t do without: Coffee! We have daily meetings in which we discuss ongoing projects and distribute tasks. I mainly take on tasks such as creating quotations or order confirmations and preparing outgoing invoices. Processing customer emails is also on my daily agenda. I keep an eye on the current test positions and also take care of preparing the sales and production figures.

Chiara: In addition to your work here at the spo-comm headquarters in Nuremberg, you also have to go to vocational school in Fรผrth. What subjects are on your timetable?

Kim: In addition to the standard subjects such as politics and society (formerly social studies), English and the Plus Program D, I also have job-specific subjects such as IT systems, technology or application development and programming. As I’m doing a commercial apprenticeship, I also have a subject called “Business Management Processes”, the theoretical part of which is probably closest to actual practice. I’m currently finding AWP (application development and programming) the hardest, but I think that’s normal when you’re faced with the task of programming a so-called “Windows Forms app” from one day to the next. In two years’ time, I’ll probably wish I had these tasks back! (laughs) But all in all, I really enjoy vocational school.

Chiara: How did you decide to train as an IT systems administrator in the first place?

Kim: My first contact with video games was relatively early on as a small child. That must have been on the NES and later on the SNES, with classic Mario, Zelda and Sonic games. That’s when I became interested in consoles and later in computers. I’m a classic 90s kid and grew up with all that “stuff”. This direction has continued to this day and so I have developed a, I would say, normal understanding of IT, but I am also interested in what lies behind it. That’s how I ended up training in the IT sector.

Chiara: What do you like most about spo-comm and your work here?

Kim:  What I like most here is that I get a very detailed insight into almost all areas – right from the start. The entire structure of the company and the processes are thus very clearly recognizable and understandable. For me, my working day is an ideal mix of classic routine tasks and other exciting to-dos that make no two days the same. I also get on really well with my colleagues. The entire spo-comm team is like a small family and we laugh a lot together in addition to our work.

Chiara: What is your favorite mini PC?

Kim: In general, I find the very idea of a mini PC very exciting, because before my training here I only ever knew the classic desktop tower PCs that pretty much everyone has at home. I probably find the passively cooled mini PCs most interesting, such as the RUGGED series or the classic WINDBOX II Quad, which looks very inconspicuous due to its size, but is nevertheless very powerful and can be used in a variety of ways. 

Chiara: We are all very happy that you are part of our team. Thank you for taking the time for this short interview.

Kim: Thank you Chiara. I am also very happy to be part of the team and to be here. ๐Ÿ™‚

Discover the RUGGED range

For this reason, there may be restrictions on the telephone availability of our employees on this day. You can still reach us by email at info@spo-comm.de or via LiveChat on our website www.spo-comm.de during our usual business hours.

We apologize for this and thank you for your understanding.

The good news first: we can still deliver! We are currently continuing to work without any restrictions. Employees who have to look after their children are now working from home. Customer visits and meetings were canceled. In addition, the entire workforce was comprehensively informed about hygiene measures and sufficient disinfectant was provided. Only gloves are worn in production and the greatest possible distance is maintained.

Fortunately, our production is still well staffed and the goods are in stock, so that nothing stands in the way of the production and delivery of our mini PCs. Our prices will also remain stable for the time being. Should there be any changes in individual cases, we will contact the respective customer as soon as possible.

As always, spo-comm could be found in Hall 8 and had a very special mini PC in its luggage this year: “Our new KUMO V, which we launched just in time for ISE, was the absolute highlight,” says Key Account Manager Mustafa Ergin: “Many visitors asked me how we managed to achieve such a compact design with an RTX 2060. They were really amazed.” And his colleague Martin Wiesneth adds: “The KUMO was really well received and there was consistently positive feedback. One customer even said it was the only industrial PC with the performance – and I have to agree with him.”

Advertima – AI with the KUMO V

Another special feature of our stand was the opportunity to admire the KUMO V in action. Our partner Advertima presented its artificial intelligence for facial recognition of the same name at the stand. “Advertima was basically our beta tester. As the Swiss company has long relied on the KUMO IV, they were one of the first customers to test the new model. We are naturally delighted that the increase in performance has been so well received,” reports spo-comm CEO Michael Sporrer.

We say thank you!

Due to the coronavirus and the gale-force winds brought by storm Sabine, visitor numbers were unable to keep up with those of the previous year. Despite everything, we met lots of interesting people and sent out test orders from our headquarters in Nuremberg on the first day of the fair. We would like to thank all customers, partners and interested parties for the pleasant discussions, helpful feedback and valuable input. As Integrated Systems Europe will take place at the Barcelona exhibition center in 2021, we’ll be brushing up on our Spanish until then and hope to meet you there again!

Configuring and testing KUMO V

Learn more about Advertima