“It is interesting to observe how digitalization increasingly overtakes our society. The rapid transformation from analogue to digital photography provides a perfect example for that trend: Do you remember the old times where you had to insert film into the camera before taking a picture? Camera-film tube - What was that again? Nowadays nobody thinks of stuff like that since digital processes become more and more a matter of course. It is really exciting to be part of that cross-generational development” says Christian Baumert, CEO pdm solutions by ProDigitalis Medien GmbH, who is now member of the commission for Internet and Digital. The commission is said to be the voice for IT-operating small and medium-sized businesses in Germany as it enables businesses to actively take part in the political design of the economic legislative in terms of commenting on them and creating alternative drafts.
The commission consists of IT service providers, scientists and consultants. Its aim is to emphasise digital topics and interests in the political and public discourse. The commission for Internet and Digital brings issues like data privacy, information security, net neutrality and digital company culture closer to small and medium-sized companies and helps them to adapt their structure and operating processes to technical innovations. The support focuses on the intelligent application of modern information and communication technologies in the fields of recruitment, digital marketing, value creation processes and business models and shall thus strengthen their competiveness.
Small and medium-sized companies go “_Gemeinsam Digital” (_joint digitalization)
Corresponding to that, Christian Baumert participated at the kick-off of the 4.0 competence-centre Berlin for small and medium-sized businesses. Joint digitalization is not only the motto of the event, but also the name of the funding initiative “Mittelstand 4.0” (Small and Medium-sized Businesses 4.0), who supports strategies for the digital transformation of production and operating processes. The opening event was amongst others lectured by Mario Ohoven, president of BVMW (the German association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses) and Günther Oettinger, EU-commissioner for digital economy and society. The entirety is supported by the federal ministry of economy and energy (BMWi).
Next to the _joint digitalization project leader BVMW (German association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses) there are five additional partners which provide the scientific expertise: the Alexander von Humboldt institute of Internet and society, the Hasso-Partner institute, the technological academy Brandenburg, the University of Potsdam and the learning factory of new technologies in Berlin-Adlershof.
The aim is to build a network of digital experts, coming from different specializations and angles. The Berlin competence centre will strengthen this network regionally and will further expand its thematic variety. Next to the German-wide seven competence centres there are four agencies belonging to the funding initiative which all handle specific spheres of digitalization. The main task of these competence centres is to educate, sensitize and qualify companies in digitalization processes. For that the competence centre offers possibilities to test and try technological innovations and also provides various visuals and cases.
Christian Baumert is convinced of the competence centres and values their importance for small and medium-sized companies: “The ongoing digital transformation of society is in full spate. Still, the full potential of business possibilities is not entirely exhausted. More and specific information about the concrete applicability and digitalization opportunities for companies is required to tap their full potential. Small and medium-sized companies shouldn’t be left alone in their transformation. This is where these competence centres come into play. They accompany, monitor and mobilize these companies.”
From fantasy to digital good: With the help of workshops, trainings and various events companies become involved, informed and are thus more motivated to perform their own projects. Both the commission of Internet and Digital and the competence centre have a prominent role to help companies not to be crushed by digitalization but to efficiently profit from the chances it provides.