The projects to be carried out by companies can have different characteristics. They can be described by their content on the one hand and by their time horizon on the other. A distinction can be made between strategic and tactical projects, which is also reflected in our consulting spectrum for the industrial sector.
Strategic Consulting
Our strategic consulting services are aimed at higher management and the executive board of companies. The consulting services are mainly related to the introduction of new or the further development of existing business models. The introduction and use of new technologies effectively opens up potential for optimization, which in turn sustainably improves the business result. Within strategic consulting, we distinguish between business-oriented and technology-oriented consulting. In addition to the individual consideration with the respective thematic focus, combined consulting is also possible.
In business-oriented consulting, we develop business strategies together with the respective company, incorporating innovations and technologies to optimize selected process areas.
With regard to the specific company and its range of services, strategy development is carried out with due consideration of the industry in which the company is embedded. The focus is on longer-term projects which are to be implemented in practice through a sequence of different projects, but whose interaction should be coordinated. Such projects are often formulated in the form of programs that are conceptually metaprojects. In this area our consulting services offer the following support:
- Analyzing the current status in the context of the introduction and implementation of digitization strategies
- Performing a potential analysis to clarify which business areas or business processes would benefit most from new technologies and innovations
- Consulting for the development of transformation programs
- Establishment of new B2B strategies, which promise considerable process optimization by using new IT solutions
In technology-oriented consulting, we develop a strategy for the specific company, which shows how technologies can be used to enable innovation. The aim is to have a lasting positive influence on competitiveness. The introduction of new technologies with a high potential has to be considered over a longer period of time and thus has a strong influence on other plans and projects. The following consulting services are offered in the context of strategic technology consulting:
- Consulting on the introduction of private cloud technologies
- Which different options exist?
- In which business area or in the context of which core processes should the cloud technology be used first?
- Using services or operating a private cloud in-house?
- What could a proof of concept look like?
- Which knowledge must be built up in your own company?
- Consulting on the introduction of IIoT and edge computing as well as the development of concepts for the interaction
- Consulting for the introduction of machine learning and AI technology
Tactical Consulting
In the scope of our tactical consulting, we deal with tasks that are carried out in the industrial context of individual projects. These consultations can initially be upstream of a project. Thus, it is discussed in advance whether the potential project should be carried out or not. In this case, we offer consulting services which serve to clarify the order. Other consulting variants focus on projects that have already been decided and/or are in progress.
Our range of consulting services in the area of order clarification includes consulting in the form of feasibility studies. These show in advance whether the planned project goals are feasible with the current technologies.
Other forms of consulting in this environment serve to determine, based on a project or product vision, which goals must be pursued in order to ensure successful implementation.
We also offer an evaluation of project objectives. These contain an estimate of the cost/benefit and, if necessary, take into account alternative or adjusted project goals.
In addition, consulting services in the form of process analyses and process modelling can be provided to evaluate project ideas with regard to their optimization potential.
Our consulting services in the context of projects to be carried out cover various application areas. These are:
- Software development projects as specialized solutions for business applications in various process areas
- Consulting on the introduction of new production monitoring capabilities (combination of OOE/OEP and predictive maintenance functionalities)
- Consulting for the development of modern monitoring concepts for aggregates, machines and plants
- Consulting for the development of optimized IIoT solutions (from sensor to edge computing device to edge computing cloud)
- Consulting for the development of a retrofit strategy
- Consulting for the further development or modernization of the service of aggregate, machine and plant manufacturers, e.g. in the following areas:
- Service management
- On-site support/optimization of communication processes
- Digitalization of the service work (activity registration/error registration/documentation)
In addition to consulting services offered with planned projects, we also offer the preparation of important planning and specification documents. Depending on the chosen procedure, different documents can be prepared.
In connection with a classic waterfall model, we offer, for example, the development of project objectives and project requirements within the framework of a requirements analysis, including the development of a specification sheet, which is drawn up in close cooperation with the specialist department, the later area of application of the software.
In the context of a planned agile approach, e.g. using the Scrum method, we develop the product vision in close cooperation with the product owner. Furthermore, we support them in setting up an initial product backlog and formulating topics, initiatives and epic stories.