[Start人] Kim Yeji, CEO of Elephant Company
Recommending Necessary Materials for Construction Sites
Integrated Management from Estimation, Ordering to Transportation
Worked 1 Year and 3 Months at Building Material Manufacturer
Experienced Outdated Work Processes
"Many Unnecessary Documents
Judged There Is Market Potential if Streamlined"
[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] "As the supply and demand in the raw materials market become unstable, more customers are turning to our service. Seeing the construction market, which was conservative about digital transformation, gradually change gives me strong motivation."
There is a startup CEO who is bringing a new wave of change to construction sites, which often evoke images of rough and rugged men. She is Yeji Kim, CEO of Elephant Company, which operates Ellicon, a construction material supply platform. Ellicon provides a service that recommends materials needed at construction sites and manages estimates, orders, and transportation in an integrated manner. It has digitized all the procurement-related tasks at construction sites that were previously handled through phone calls, paperwork, and promissory notes.
Kim’s decision to start the company was decisively influenced by her experience working in management for 1 year and 3 months at a construction material manufacturing company. Kim recalled, "The industry’s work processes were outdated, such as conducting multi-million won transactions over the phone and engaging in unnecessary legal disputes to determine responsibility when problems arose." She added, "Even though we live in an era where all tasks can be done with a few clicks, there were still many unnecessary documents like estimates, purchase orders, and delivery confirmations." She judged that streamlining these processes had market potential and decided to start the business. She founded Elephant Company in May last year and launched the Ellicon service.
Ellicon handles over 600 types of items, from steel materials to finishing materials. Its partners include about 50 companies such as LX Hausys, KCC, and Byucksan. Ellicon’s role is to connect these products with small and medium-sized construction sites. For example, if Construction Company A needs interior materials, they open the Ellicon website or application to check prices and stock availability. After placing an order and making payment, Ellicon requests the partner company to deliver the materials. Once the materials meeting Ellicon’s performance standards arrive at Construction Company A without issues, Ellicon pays the partner company cash on the same day.
At construction sites in the early stages of a project, Ellicon also provides material management consulting. This service is handled by employees with experience in material purchasing, manufacturing, and construction site administration. Kim emphasized, "We also recommend which materials will be needed at what stage by reviewing the design drawings and construction schedule." She added, "This allows materials to be procured at reasonable prices under a more long-term plan."
Recently, as the raw materials market situation has rapidly changed, the number of customers seeking Ellicon has actually increased. Kim said, "Perhaps due to the awareness that materials need to be managed more systematically amid price and supply instability, more customers have come to us." She continued, "Moreover, since the app allows users to view data by site, person in charge, and item at a glance, many managers who want to digitally manage construction sites have also inquired." She added, "Currently, the reorder rate for new sites from existing clients is 100%, and even during the off-season for construction sites in winter, we secured 12 new sites."
Last month, Ellicon secured seed investment from Spring Camp, a Naver-affiliated investment firm. The funds will be used to increase personnel and enhance the service. Kim said, "Since the company is in a rapid growth phase, recruitment is the most urgent issue at the moment." She emphasized, "Anyone who wants to feel a sense of achievement in digital transformation at a company with a clear business direction is always welcome."
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