The Hortinex test phase is in full swing. Since mid-August, 11 selected test companies from Germany and the Netherlands have been working intensively with the platform. These companies represent all areas of the horticultural industry: from young plant producers and nurseries to suppliers of horticultural materials, specialized machinery, and real estate. The goal is to fine-tune Hortinex to the needs of the industry before the platform goes live in November.

A diverse test field

The test companies cover a wide spectrum of the industry. In particular, the plant category is being thoroughly tested. Whether young plants, potted plants, bare-root plants, or balled plants – the companies have started listing ads in all categories.

For Hortinex, this represents a unique opportunity to test the platform under real conditions. The focus is not only on technical aspects but also on user-friendliness and the practical benefits for suppliers and buyers.

First insights from the test phase

The feedback from test companies has been largely positive. Even at the initial presentation, Hortinex was described as a pioneering tool for the industry. One test company stated:

“The idea behind Hortinex is good. Especially for producers with specific sales challenges, this could be a real solution.”

However, it also became clear that the challenges of the industry are not always limited to sales. For example, the only company that declined to participate in the test explained that its greatest difficulties currently lie not in marketing its products but in production itself – particularly due to lack of space and skilled labor shortages. This feedback highlights how diverse the needs within the industry truly are.

Improvements and optimizations

Based on the feedback received so far, several adjustments have already been made:

• Expansion of the plant category: The descriptive attributes for plant listings have been enhanced to give buyers an even more precise selection.
• Visual improvements: The platform’s frontend has been revised to further improve user guidance.
• Bug fixes: While only a few technical issues occurred, they were resolved immediately.

Through close collaboration with the test companies, the platform is being continuously optimized to ensure a mature product is ready at the planned go-live date.

The countdown is on

The test phase will run until mid-November, after which Hortinex will officially launch. In parallel, preparations for the launch are in full progress. Strategic marketing measures are already planned to effectively introduce the platform to additional companies in the industry after go-live.

With Hortinex, a platform is being created that aims to revolutionize trade in the green industry. The test phase already demonstrates the enormous potential to make the entire industry more efficient and better connected.

Stay tuned – Hortinex is coming!