You help companies take advantage of new opportunities with digital transformation. What is the state of digitalisation in Germany?
Manuel Baum: Digitalisation has been on our minds for several years. Companies were already carrying out many digitalisation projects before the pandemic. In the post-Corona period, activities have intensified in this regard.
In Germany, we recognise a great need to catch up in digitisation - this is also confirmed to us time and again in discussions with companies, interest groups and the public sector.
Where do you think there is still a need to catch up?
Manuel Baum: We are still far from having a comparable level of maturity in digitalisation - as in Scandinavian countries, for example. We see that companies are increasingly catching up in terms of digitalisation. In the start-up sector and among venture capitalists, we can see a positive movement within Germany that will enable sustainable development in this area. I am hopeful that we will see some progress in digitalisation in the next three to five years.
Today, innovations and digital transformation are central to corporate success. How do you explain the importance of innovative technologies and agile business models to your clients?
Manuel Baum: First and foremost, it makes sense to define a digital process map and to understand, describe and measure the maturity level in the respective business models. Based on the digital process map, we can see which value creation potentials exist in the company or in the individual processes.
Even before the Corona era, it was very important to do business online.
We show that a singular solution or measure only brings limited added value. Therefore, it quickly becomes clear that digitalisation measures should be placed in a holistic context and driven across the company.
There are many different issues to consider: Perhaps the project or solution can be made more effective, more efficient and with more synergies with other necessary measures in some way. We present this accordingly from the point of view of the end customer's benefit and thus show which value creation potentials lie in digitalisation.
What steps are necessary to build a successful infrastructure towards digital transformation for companies?
Manuel Baum: A successful infrastructure means first and foremost pursuing the cloud-first strategy. That means checking what exactly can go into the cloud and implementing it as quickly as possible. With the help of the cloud, we can "bring along" the employees at an early stage and quickly make the first added values clear to them, as the systems are immediately available. We are also striving for a standard-first vision. This means standardising the business processes and using the process models from the systems and applications as standard.
In the end, digitalisation must strengthen the existing business model and enable expansion and renewal for the future.
The digital transformation also increasingly demands digital leadership. How can managers effectively lead their teams at a distance?
Manuel Baum: Leading at a distance is a challenge for everyone involved. Adopting analogue habits in the digital world is difficult without transforming them. For this reason, managers must see themselves more as coaches in the future - encouraging and leading via goals.
It is also about giving employees a great deal of accountability and trust that they will work meaningfully in the home office. Regular feedback enables managers to stay informed about the needs and well-being of the team and to reflect on their own leadership.
Furthermore, we have to get more and more used to the fact that employees communicate predominantly via digital media. For the "new normal", the technical framework conditions should therefore be created to enable future work to run smoothly and meetings to be organised efficiently.
On the way to digital transformation, decision-making also plays a central role. Against this background, how do you rate the importance of meetings? And how do you assess the importance of virtual meetings?
Manuel Baum: Meetings are important for the success of a company. For example, the productivity and teamwork of employees can be increased. On the other hand, unproductive meetings are a big problem in today's corporate world. They slow down decision-making - which in turn has a negative impact on the company and on employee satisfaction.
Accordingly, meetings need to be better prepared, effective as well as productively conducted and recorded. Ultimately, a meaningful virtual meeting culture is needed that also remains productive.
What are your requirements for the preparation of a decision-making meeting?
Manuel Baum: There needs to be a clear agenda with the relevant points to be decided. Structure and precise time management play a central role here. A person responsible and a clear time schedule should be defined for each agenda item. In addition, the information and documents intended for this purpose are available in advance - taking into account data security - and are to be reviewed by the participants in advance. Only in this way is it possible to discuss all items in the allotted time.
Source: Sherpany
