Blog & Inspiration

All journeys start with an initial step, this is also the case for the digitalisation journey that virtually all companies have to embark on today. And Intersport – the largest medium-sized retail cooperative within the sports retail sector – is also making swift inroads in terms of digitalisation. The business has meanwhile found its ideal route to ensure it reaches its milestones in the best possible way and without major diversions.

A gigantic golden chimney catches your eye as soon as you step foot into the lobby of the recently opened Roomers Hotel in Munich. The atmosphere is modern and cosy at the same time, like a chic, large living room. The design and lifestyle hotel was opened in time for this year’s Oktoberfest, not from the Theresienwiese. The hotel is the Gekko Group’s third Roomers by Micky Rosen and Alex Urseanu. The two visionaries from Frankfurt celebrate indulgence and the quality of life, which immediately becomes apparent in the first Roomers Hotel in the banking metropolis, a luxurious place seemingly made for rock stars with its dark and masculine design. The second style icon, the Roomers in Baden-Baden, was added last October. Italian levity dominates here, everything is flooded with light, and in comparison to the Frankfurt building, its design is almost puristic.

No goal seems out of reach, no victory is enough for him. Always on, always better, always more. This dive made Herbert Nitsch the 33-time world record holder in freediving and the Deepest Man On Earth. Thirty-two of these records are set in all eight recognised disciplines – unparalleled achievements in freediving history. He exceeded his own record in the no-limit discipline several times, reaching a depth of an incredible 253 metres. A man who fascinates and goes to his personal limits and beyond for victory.

Between November and early May, the words ‘we’re off skiing’!’ are heard very frequently from Claus Kolb, the Managing Director of kolb digital gmbh. Founding father Hans-Otto Kolb was also a gifted skier. It is passion that unites complex structures, techniques and challenges.

The bitter cold, uninhabited areas, spectacular snapshots – when searching for a unique subject, Chris Burkard not only overcomes his own borders, but also those of traditional surf photography. He shares his experiences with millions of people worldwide, taking his audience with him on a journey into unknown worlds. His images and visions are inspiring, encouraging viewers to tap into unexplored potential through borderline experiences. Each one of his trips is a challenge with the aim of overcoming what is familiar.

In The Group of Analysts’ recent EDEN study, the topic of Big Data is broached as a major trend that will help advance digitalisation. The study highlights the vast volume of data across the internet – likely to reach 35 zettabytes come 2020 – and the challenges that companies have with managing only fractions of that amount of data. Advanced software is the only way that Big Data can be managed, but data without content is as useful to a marketer as content without a means to disseminate it. Big Data and content need to merge to get the most out of both. This is done with a content supply chain.

We waste time with long analyses and outdated methods, only to discover that our lives are being squandered, with no masterpiece to show for it. Even a visionary cannot implement a strategy on their own.  The aim is to select the right methods, promote employees’ initiative and to anchor strategy in the company in a decentralised way. Because the effort to implement strategy is the sum of ability and determination.

It has long been known that colour plays a major role in our everyday lives and ultimately also influences our sense of wellbeing. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe published his most comprehensive work "Theory of Colours" (“Zur Farbenlehre”) back in 1810. He attributed colours higher order characteristics which have an impact on every aspect of our lives. So, it should come as no surprise that companies in particular put a lot of thought into colours and their impact when looking at their corporate design. One of the world’s best-known logos is the Lufthansa crane and – on the occasion of its 100^th anniversary – it has now had a makeover.

Representing around a quarter of total online sales in Germany, the fashion industry is regarded as a metronome for online retail in general. Kunert Fashion GmbH, one of the leading companies in the hosiery industry, demonstrates how to create future-oriented conditions for successful omnichannel commerce.

In a galaxy of a billion stars, unknown luminaries and unchartered spheres, humans only seem to be a tiny, barely recognisable spark within the infinity of the universe. The question of how the universe came about has been asked since the year dot. We know of the Big Bang theory, but what really lies behind it all? NASA is discussing this question in cooperation with the European and Canadian space agency. The James Webb Space telescope, a giant golden mirror, is now taking a big step in the endeavour to explore the universe. Not only is the infrared telescope supposed to investigate the beginning of our universe and the genesis of our planetary system, but it will also be deployed in the search for exoplanets and the feasibility of life on them. Lee Feinberg, Optical Telescope Element Manager at NASA, talks to us about the work behind the cosmic project.

Rich, powerful and unmistakable – this is how classical pianist Lang Lang, jazz star Diana Krall and pop icon Billy Joel describe the sound of a Steinway. For more than 160 years Steinway & Sons has stood for the finest grand pianos and pianos. Uncompromising and lovingly made from the best materials, they are high quality instruments that are second to none. Last but not least, the professionals who are committed to the highest perfection ensure that every Steinway is a benchmark for sound, touch, beauty and investment.

The challenges that companies of all sizes must face today in order to survive within the context of digital transformation are enormous. One important aspect here is the further development of classical job scheduling into workload automation in order to ensure the efficiency, transparency and agility of business processes. Modular platforms are becoming increasingly important and qualified employees should today focus more on optimising processes and business models than on the actual IT operation. These are just a few of the side effects of digital business transformation, which decisively supports central applications, processes and systems with the help of real-time automation.

Digitalisation is changing the world of work. Flexible working models are moving in on less firmly structured working environments, work 4.0 requires a general change in thinking. What resources and technologies do modern companies need today, and how do they have to change? How do they meet employees’ new expectations? Not only is the need for IT staff on the increase, but the number of higher qualified occupations is growing overall. Companies are required to adapt to changing requirements. We spoke with University Professor Dr Marion A. Weissenberger-Eibl, who holds the Innovation and Technology Management (ITM) Chair at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and Thomas Sperrfechter, Managing Director of the parsionate consulting firm which accompanies businesses on their way to digitalisation.

To be capable and ready for innovations is one of the determining factors for the future of a company, in particular in relation to placing new products and services in the market. Furthermore, it becomes more and more important for a learning organisation to keep developing processes and structures vigorously. Sven Franke is a founder, a driving force and a companion. As an anti-consultant he meets companies to ask questions rather than to advise them. Analogue to his chosen way to relate to an enterprise, we conduct an anti-interview with him, which he answers in questions.

Not long ago, the relationship between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail was viewed as channel conflict at best, and often just adversarial.  Retailers were fearful of losing sales and customers to suppliers selling direct to consumer, while suppliers feared damaging channel relationships if they implemented e-commerce. Consumers on the other hand have become increasingly omnichannel, with high expectations set on retailers and their e-commerce channels being complementary. They expect a seamless experience across multiple devices and channels and often utilise multiple options to complete a single transaction.

Seeing what others see. Seeing what others perceive. Seeing what others sense. This sounds very futuristic when you first hear it – and futuristic is precisely what it is. Recording and analysing human perception and, for the very first time, even emotions is truly revolutionary. With its data glasses, Vienna-based start-up Viewpointsystem has set itself the goal of establishing new standards regarding the utilisation of technology for the benefit of people. To this end, the company wants to break through the barrier between man and technology with the aim of making the future a reality.

Housebuilding today is the sum of many things. Interesting design, sustainable construction and a healthy room climate have all grown tremendously in importance. And building itself is also becoming more digital. The long-established company Baumit is a beacon of construction excellence and stands for modern, high-quality products. Sebastian Rettke, Head of Marketing at Baumit, talks to us about how the building materials manufacturer is tackling digitalisation.

Unique homes and extraordinary hosts are just two of the things that people around the world appreciate about Airbnb. In the space of just ten years, the platform has grown from its humble beginnings to one of the largest and most influential players in the travel industry while enjoying levels of success that most startups can only dream of. Alexander Schwarz, General Manager DACH for Airbnb, spoke with us about the community's distinctiveness, the challenges in Germany and the new strategy.

Now both aged 60, Ian and I go back to days where we were teenagers of circumstance in Perth, Western Australia. Over 45 years of hard and sincere work Ian is now first-class through working his way up to become an entrepreneur of standing, spanning from the outback tracks where Ian masters the dust in cross-country rallies, while standing his own on the stock markets of London, New York and Hong Kong; while I hung in theory and strategic splendor. Ethics aren’t at the forefront of this interview by chance, as Ian thinks, lives and humbly shares his deep belief in, concern for, and sharing of ethical values, recognising ethical habits to have set his foundation for long-term success.

A captivating atmosphere, an enthusiastic audience and thunderous applause – a musician really can’t imagine anything more wonderful than this. Each of his concerts is a genuine experience. Without a doubt, the Dutch violinist André Rieu is one of the great and outstanding personalities of the worldwide music scene. The unforgettable summer evening concerts in André’s home town of Maastricht rank among the musical highlights each year. With us, he discusses the beginnings of his career and the importance of his family.

As soon as you enter the huge atrium, you stop involuntarily. My initial gaze wanders an unbelievable 33 metres up the massive concrete tubes. Here you can really feel space, the atmosphere is vibrant, like in a cathedral. My second look is at a giant dragon floating in space. Nicholas Hlobo’s archaic-looking bird is the first piece of art you encounter at the impressive new Zeitz MOCAA Museum in Cape Town. After nearly ten years of planning, the V&A Waterfront has opened Africa’s first and the world’s largest museum of contemporary African art.