Expert partner for the digital transformation in business

Artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, cloud computing - these terms are used up and down the country when it comes to digital transformation in the economy. But what do they mean in concrete terms, for example for tradespeople or medium-sized metalworking companies? "For me as a technician, it was very difficult to grasp the topic of digitalization and understand the opportunities and risks it presents for us," says Sven Meinl, Managing Director of Buday GmbH, for example. The company from Weil der Stadt manufactures adhesive tapes, foam adhesive tapes, die-cut parts and anti-slip adhesive tapes.

Of course, Meinl was also aware that he could not afford to miss out on the digital transformation if he wanted to maintain or even expand his company's market position and competitiveness. But how do you shape this change in practice? "So the key questions were: where can we start and how can we get important basic knowledge into our company?" explains Meinl. Like him, many small and medium-sized companies are facing digital transformation but lack the know-how and possibly also the manpower to take digitization into their own hands. However, the proverbial good advice doesn't have to be expensive, as the Zentrum Digitalisierung Region Stuttgart is there to help with precisely these challenges.

Of the ten regional digital hubs throughout Baden-Württemberg, ZD.BB was the first to start work in October 2018. Since then, ZD.BB has actively supported around 175 companies in their digital transformation. In addition, 75 business model and process optimization workshops with 600 participants were held and 100 intensive consultations with SMEs were carried out by the end of last year. The center reached over 5,000 people at 140 ZD.BB events. In principle, all companies can take advantage of the ZD.BB's services, whether they are active in industry, trade, the service sector or the skilled trades. "We provide small and medium-sized enterprises with end-to-end advice for their digital transformation processes," summarizes ZD.BB Managing Director Claus Hoffmann.

ZD.BB provides support from a single source. It does not matter whether the company is only at the beginning of digitalization, whether its own level of digitalization needs to be analysed or whether it wants to develop digital solutions independently. ZD.BB works with companies to develop new structures and processes for the digital transformation. This is done using methods suitable for SMEs, with which new digital business models are put into practice. The ZD.BB has built up an extensive network of experts from business and research to support small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups. The center's digital professionals pool skills, disciplines, ideas, technologies and creativity in the coworking spaces. The often feared silo mentality has no chance here. As a result, the ZD.BB has made a name for itself as an incubator for innovations beyond the district's borders.

The ZD.BB supports companies in the further training of their employees to ensure that digital know-how also finds its way into companies. The ZD.BB Academy teaches practical skills in seminars and workshops. Topics such as cloud computing, data protection and social media marketing are explained and explored in greater depth. Specialist experts impart valuable knowledge and practical tips. The center also organizes popular events such as the digital breakfast, where participating companies can gain insights into the digitalization of a business in the region and gather interesting practical information at first hand. They can also network with each other. A podcast and a dedicated YouTube channel provide further insights into the diversity of digitalization

One of the key topics of digital change is artificial intelligence. With its KI-Lab Region Stuttgart, the ZD.BB offers comprehensive advice on this topic. The center also organizes practical AI training courses. AI demonstrators are used to illustrate the potential and methods of AI. In this way, SMEs are given concrete possibilities for using AI applications.

The ZD.BB is located on the premises of the Böblingen Herman Hollerith Center in order to take advantage of synergies with the teaching and research center at Reutlingen University. The Herman Hollerith Centre is known for its excellent Master's courses in digital business and its research into digitalization strategies and methods.

"The ZD.BB Centre for Digitalization has now become a fixed point of contact for us when it comes to digitalization issues," says Buday Managing Director Meinl. With the help of the center, he has built up a network of digital experts with whom he is working on a new digital business concept. However, even Meinl doesn't know whether it will be a success. "But we see great opportunities and, thanks to the support from our network, we feel more and more as if we can influence things and are not at their mercy," says Meinl with satisfaction.