Dear readers,
The people of Cologne say: „The first time we try it out, the second time it's tradition, and the third time it's custom!“ In this spirit, we are pleased to announce the launch of the internal RWTÜV Innovation Competition 2024! What began as a step into unknown territory has now developed into a valued co-creation tool within our RWTÜV Group. So, for the third time, we look forward to innovative ideas and creative solutions from our employees that inspire and advance us and our subsidiaries.
First, we wish all our colleagues and customers a happy holiday season! Because time off is important for our creativity. During periods of rest and relaxation, our minds can let go of everyday demands and make space for new ideas. This is the ideal foundation for imaginative processes and the fresh, productive impulses we're looking for in our innovation competition!
Even before the holidays, RWTÜV's subsidiary and investment companies, ensun and Ingenieurbüro Nordhorn, were productive. The latter is launching a new website, while the former has introduced a new service to the market.
During these months, our company summer parties and summer town halls will also take place. These relaxed gatherings are also an excellent foundation for developing team spirit and for informal exchange, which can ultimately lead to the joint development of new products and services. With familiar colleagues, with whom we share pleasant experiences outside of everyday work, it is much easier to brainstorm and set the course for future innovations.
With creative and relaxing regards,
Your
Thomas Biedermann and Fabian Fechner
Intelligent
The format RWTÜV Innovation Competition The participation of employees in the development of the corporate group and new services has proven successful. Various processes have been optimized, new services conceptualized, communication intensified, and the parent company and its subsidiaries have grown closer together. Round three was launched at the beginning of July, also supported by the Austrian agency isn – innovation service network, which has since become a holding company.
Focus this year: Artificial Intelligence. How can ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot open up opportunities for our group's tasks, offerings, and services? What proprietary products – see trailblazer Van Ameyde – could be developed? How can we maximize the use and integration of AI potential for our work, reduce biases, and close security gaps?
Employees and teams are encouraged to develop ideas in collaboration with those responsible for competition. Thomas Biedermann emphasizes: „The impulses come from where the task arises and the work is done. We will be actively involved in supporting their integration into daily work, which is a high priority. After all, nothing is more demotivating than when good ideas are requested but then disappear into a black hole. We have allocated up to 100,000 Euros to implement promising suggestions.“
The task seems to have struck a nerve, as the first creative suggestions were received shortly after it was posted. Submitters – individuals or teams – can again expect to be awarded prizes, with €2,000 for first place, €1,000 for second place, and €500 for third place up for grabs. New this year is that, as an additional motivational factor, not only idea submissions but also activities on the platform, such as liking or commenting, will be registered and rewarded.
Viktoria Wallner, the person in charge on isn's side, is also convinced: „It's wonderful to see how the RWTÜV Group lives innovation with passion and offers its employees the opportunity to actively contribute ideas and gives them a voice. The result? Employees are transforming into proactive thinkers who can help shape the future of the RWTÜV Group. We want to continue to push this dynamic together. For example, it is currently possible to challenge each other: points can now be collected in a competition-specific manner, thus giving new creative minds a chance to reach the podium!“
Employees are transforming into proactive thinkers who can help shape the future of the RWTÜV Group. We want to push this dynamic forward together. For example, it is currently possible to challenge each other: points can now be collected in a competition-specific manner, giving new creative minds the chance to reach the podium!“
New
RWTÜV Beteiligung ensun has been successfully offering a free online B2B search engine for several years, which quickly and specifically presents companies with the products or services they are looking for worldwide. For this purpose, the custom-developed ensun bot scours the entire World Wide Web daily for technology providers and their solutions.
Subsequently, meaningful and clear provider profiles are created using proprietary AI – now more than 9 million in the ensun database. When a search is made, these profiles appear, sorted by relevance for the searcher, with extensive filter options and the help of a specially developed algorithm. Whether it's about digital solutions, sustainable, material, or production technologies, all results are precisely tailored to the needs of the request, enabling market transparency across all industries to be gained in seconds, free of charge.
Recently, ensun has also started offering companies the option to become providers: Interested businesses can strategically place products in the search engine, specifically tailored to certain topics or generic. ensun founder and managing director Benjamin Hill explains: „Previously, we could primarily offer maximum reach to searchers worldwide; now we can offer this impact to providers as well!” RWTÜV managing director Fabian Fechner comments: „Here, AI is used for all parties with maximum promise of success. In this regard, ensun is a role model for all of us in the RWTÜV Group!”
Refreshing
The Nordhorn engineering firm is presenting itself with a new online presence. With its coherent visual language, convincing texts, fresh design, and an intuitive and understandable structure, it immediately captivates users. Managing Director Klaus Nordhorn comments: „We are putting our corporate culture and our employees, who form the foundation of our success, center stage. What is it like to work with us? What's the work-life balance like, and what values are important to us?“ A clearly defined focus that facilitates and supports the search for talented specialists. But companies looking for a reliable HVAC and MEP partner with whom they can plan transparently and trustfully at eye level are also likely to be impressed by this presentation.
Reinforced
The Communications, Marketing, and Social Media department of the RWTÜV Group has had an addition to its team since July 1st. Working student Jana Theus is 22 years old and is in her 6th semester studying Journalism and Public Relations at the Westfälische Hochschule in Gelsenkirchen. She also gained initial experience in camera operation, video editing, and social media during an internship in the TV department of FC Schalke 04. The aspiring communications expert will be writing and designing texts for RWTÜV, planning, filming, and editing videos for various platforms with the content team, and participating in the conceptualization of marketing campaigns.
Additionally, Jana Theus, as a soccer fan, hobby cook, and animal lover, is an excellent fit for the team at Kronprinzenstraße in Essen.
Relaxed
The colleagues from Enoplan primarily celebrated the completion of the extensive change process they had gone through together in recent weeks: under bright sunshine, a large town hall meeting was combined with a company celebration in Kraichtal, including a wine tasting and a tour of the vineyard at Weingut Klenert, which has been Ecovin-bio-certified since 2019.
At Cetecom Advanced, the focus was initially on history. The staff journeyed from the Saarbrücken headquarters to France, to the memorials of the recent past on the Spicherer Höhe. Upon their return to the company premises, sizzling barbecue fare was waiting, much to everyone's delight. The day concluded with lively conversations. The Essen site will celebrate in August.
The apro.gmbh started the day with a brunch, then completed a mini-golf course – and then indulged in a feast once again. However, the focus of the day wasn't the food, but rather a good time with colleagues, relaxation, fun, and lots of laughter. The collective conclusion: „It's precisely days like these that make summer special.“
Ingenieurbüro Nordhorn lived by the motto ‚Practice makes perfect‘ and met for its annual summer party at the hunting lodge of founder and managing director Klaus Nordhorn for the Schützenfest (marksman's festival). However, all the practice of the past few years did not help the long-serving employees: A newly hired colleague took home the victory. Lea Jauch, a technical systems planner, shot down the bird with her 135th shot in only her second month at IB Nordhorn. Did her hobby as a sport shooter play a role in her job interview? Regardless, the newly minted colleague was certainly recognized.
RWTÜV Managing Directors Thomas Biedermann and Fabian Fechner were present at most appointments, either alone or together. Last but not least, they were enthusiastically welcomed by the colleagues present for the items they brought: this year a RWTÜV water bottle, a multitool, and a lanyard.