Shaping the future with agility

(Estimated reading time: 4 - 7 minutes)

Which topics will determine 2023?

Kay von Wilcken: Supply and logistics chains will remain fragile, and the energy factor will also play a dominant role. What does this mean for our customers? Companies have to become even more flexible in order to be able to assert themselves in dynamically changing markets. At the same time, they need even more transparency in corporate management. More than ever, management is responsible for identifying risks and opportunities at an early stage and taking appropriate countermeasures.

Matthew Sartor: Opportunity is a good keyword. The digital transformation and the resulting disruption will continue to change the economy in the long term. This also creates opportunities to strengthen one's own competitiveness through new business models. If you want to be successful here, you have to be able to act at all times. And that is exactly what we enable our customers to do with our solutions. 

Helmut Rabanser: Another important issue is the ongoing shortage of skilled workers. The task is clear: If positions can no longer be filled, we must enable our customers to counteract this shortage by increasing efficiency.

How does KUMAVISON support companies?

Matthew Sartor: Our goal is to give our customers the best possible support. It is not a matter of individual software functionalities, but of the overall result: We want to enable our customers to become more agile, more transparent and more efficient. Because companies have to demonstrate these skills in order to be able to assert themselves successfully on the one hand and to be able to develop further on the other.

What does the KUMAVISION offer look like specifically?

Kay von Wilcken: Industry solutions have been the DNA of KUMAVISION since 1998. We focus on specific industries. We don't do everything, but what we do, we do right. Our industry solutions contain hundreds of best practice processes from over 2.400 customer projects and are very mature. Companies benefit from our long-term investments because they receive a mature solution that quickly offers them added value for their business. The success stories of our customers show what this looks like in practice. 

Helmut Rabanser: At the same time, we have done a lot in recent years to simplify and accelerate project implementation. We are currently seeing the results of this strategy. We can deliver and equip companies that choose us with powerful industry software in a short time. An invaluable advantage, especially today, when there is simply no time for long projects.

Kay von Wilcken: Although we are known and have grown as an ERP provider, we have significantly expanded our portfolio in recent years. Today we are one of the few Microsoft partners that cover the entire Microsoft technology platform from ERP and CRM for sales, marketing and service to business intelligence to workflow automation, teams as well as IoT and AI.

Matthew Sartor: The platform opens up real competitive advantages. What previously had to be programmed in the ERP system, which was time-consuming and costly, can now be used as an out-of-the-box solution. This gives companies an unprecedented level of agility.

Helmut Rabanser: Another advantage is the transparency that the platform offers as it does without data silos. With business intelligence solutions, for example, our customers receive new insights into their company. This transparency supports management in remaining able to act.

What role does it play? Cloud?

Matthew Sartor: The digital transformation only unfolds its full potential Cloud- and SaaS solutions. Benefits such as easy scalability, quick deployment, worldwide availability and maximum security create real competitive advantages. Businesses get with the Cloud much more room for maneuver than before.

Helmut Rabanser: Our technology partner Microsoft, and therefore we too, are expanding the scope of business solutions with short innovation cycles. With SaaS solutions, companies always work with up-to-date software, as it is automatically updated in the background. Until now, it has been common for many companies to only update their ERP software every few years. This is no longer conceivable in times of dynamic markets. the Cloud offers timely direct access to new technologies and functionalities with which new challenges can be better mastered.

Kay von Wilcken: Incidentally, it's a common misconception that SaaS solutions are only suitable for small businesses. Our customer Fichtner is currently switching to the SaaS world with around 2.000 users worldwide and our ERP industry solution for project service providers. Fichtner consistently relies on the Microsoft technology platform and expects not only improved collaboration from the SaaS transformation, but also significant cost advantages.

Why should companies invest in new solutions now?

Matthew Sartor: One of the great strengths of small and medium-sized businesses is their ability to think and act anti-cyclically. Especially companies with a currently restrained business development should take the opportunity to position themselves better in order to strengthen their competitiveness. With our business solutions, we enable companies to quickly generate added value for their business.

Business software projects are often complex. How do you intend to achieve this high speed?

Helmut Rabanser: From the customer's point of view, the challenge is to introduce the software alongside day-to-day business. Experience shows that the start is the most critical phase. Mistakes made here run through the entire project. We have therefore developed SmartStart packages that contain a fully configured ERP industry solution. The added value for customers: You can work productively with the ERP system immediately, as it already has all the relevant functionalities for the respective industry.

Kay von Wilcken: Another aspect besides speed and quality is the cost. Especially today, companies attach great importance to transparent, plannable costs. We therefore offer the SmartStart packages at fixed prices. The risks at the beginning of an ERP implementation are thus significantly reduced.

Matthew Sartor: A brief addition: We offer SmartStart packages not only for ERP software, but also for CRM and business intelligence solutions.

Keyword shortage of skilled workers: How can KUMAVISION support here?

Kay von Wilcken: We enable companies to sustainably strengthen internal efficiency with our solutions. With automated workflows and intelligent assistants, we relieve employees of time-consuming tasks and thus ensure that our customers can handle more processes with the same number of employees or deploy their employees where they can provide the greatest benefit. 

Helmut Rabanser: When choosing a future employer, the equipment of the workplace plays a central role for more and more applicants. The Microsoft technology platform offers companies a "modern workplace" with user-friendly applications that interact seamlessly with one another. In addition, mobile working - whether in the home office or on the road - is possible without any problems. Companies can use it to strengthen their attractiveness as employers and also easily increase their radius when looking for applicants.

A personal word to conclude – what is particularly important to you in 2023?

Kay von Wilcken: In uncertain times it is particularly important to have a secure partner. As KUMAVISION, we have been there for our customers for 25 years, are very well positioned economically and in terms of personnel and will invest specifically in the further development of the company in order to continue to support our customers in the best possible way. 

Matthew Sartor: The Microsoft technology platform has proven to be a real game changer for us and our customers over the last few months. It enables a very short time-to-value and thus gives our customers the agility they need to remain competitive and able to act today and tomorrow. We will therefore develop further SmartStart packages for uncomplicated project implementation. 

Helmut Rabanser: Digital transformation encompasses much more than just software technology. With our IT strategy and digitization consulting, we are further expanding our consulting offerings. We want to offer customers added value across the entire line, from the first consultation through project implementation to ongoing operation.

 

Thank you for the interview.

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