Successfully mastering digitization

Panel discussion with (from left to right) Markus Mahler, CEO Brack Electronics AG; Marc Isler, Director E-Business Hotelplan Management AG; Tim Dührkoop, COO Namics AG; Hans-Peter Legler, CEO cablex AG; Carlos Friedrich, CMO Möbel Pfister AG; Karl-Heinz Land, author and consultant neuland GmbH & Co.KG.For the fifth time, the leading e-business specialist Namics and the SAP company Hybris brought together representatives from a wide range of industries for a day of discussion on the central question of "How do companies successfully master the challenges of digitization? The conference took place on October 27 at the GDI.Business engineeringThe expert Karl-Heinz Land, elected Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and TIME Magazine, opened the round of presentations. The digital visionary kicked off by emphasizing how important it is for companies not only to know their market and changing customer requirements in terms of digital transformation, but also to have an integrated strategy ready for this. Prof. Dr. Reinhard Jung from the University of St. Gallen also spoke in favor of proactively shaping the digital transformation and used the business engineering model to explain the transfer of scientific research findings to business practice.The corporate realitiesValuable insights into their corporate realities were provided by Mark Seall, Group Vice President and Head of Digital Communication at ABB, and Hans-Peter Legler, CEO of cablex AG. In their field reports, the B2B management representatives presented the business potential they have successfully identified in their digital transformation processes.From the B2C sector, Marc Isler, Director E-Business of Hotelplan Management AG and Carlos Friedrich, CMO of Möbel Pfister AG reported. Changing consumer behavior and the organizational and content-related anchoring of the digital transformation in the company were important factors here. Last but not least, Markus Mahler, CEO of Brack Electronics AG, provided a special impetus with his presentation on the digital reverse transformation of a pure player and the inclusion of offline channels.The concluding panel discussion showed how differently companies are facing the challenges of digital transformation. Regardless of industries and previous experience, all speakers agreed that customer focus, breaking down silo thinking, and decision-making based on measurable data are important success factors for a successful digital transformation.Inspiring and rewardingThe organizers are very satisfied. "An inspiring and worthwhile exchange in every respect. For us as commerce specialists, the use of different business channels, especially with regard to omnichannel, is one of the most important aspects for a successful digital transformation," says Markus Wenger, Country Manager of Hybris Switzerland.Dr. Tim Dührkoop, COO of Namics AG, also underlines the success of the fifth anniversary edition: "We are pleased to be able to further establish the Smart Business Day from year to year. The signs of the times are digital transformation. The very positive response with almost 50% more participants than last year shows the need for exchange between decision makers across industries."