On the aconium future journey, we meet people for whom digitalization is more than just a buzzword. 3 questions for … Elke Latscha, Economic Officer of the City of Freudenstadt.
Why are the topics of “digitalization” and “gigabit expansion” so important for Freudenstadt?
Elke Latscha: We live here in the Black Forest in a rural area in the middle of a great landscape – the region has a high recreational value, offers affordable housing and childcare facilities. Despite this, many young people are moving to the metropolitan areas and staying there. Due to the increasing digitalization of work processes in companies, it doesn’t matter where I work from – the expansion of fibre optics creates the conditions for working from small towns without any problems. This makes the actual distance to the workplace secondary. Corona has shown that employees can work productively not only in the office.
For which industry is digitalization of particular interest?
Latscha: This is independent of the industry. Processes can be simplified in any company. In retail or gastronomy, for example, through ordering and booking systems, digital voucher and checkout systems or in industrial companies through remote maintenance or sensor technology and digital control systems. But here in the city administration, too, we are faced with the enormous task of digitizing internal and external processes.
What are the most exciting developments in the field of digitalization for you at the moment?
Latscha: I am fascinated by augmented reality. The application comes more from the entertainment industry, but is used by mechanical engineering companies for maintenance and fault analysis. Ideally, the technician no longer has to travel on site, which saves a lot of time and money.