On 19.01.2021 and 26.01.2021, all-day kick-off workshops for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from northern Germany took place online as part of the Interreg North Sea Region project “Futures By Design”. The aim of these workshops was to raise companies’ awareness of the topics of data and digitalisation. The SMEs should be able to take away ideas and impulses for their daily work as well as for an individual data project in their own company.
In the first half of the workshop, the background, motivation and objectives of the Futures By Design project were presented to the companies and basic knowledge on the topics of data and digitalisation was imparted in the subsequent theoretical part. The importance of internal and external data and its added value for SMEs was explained and the requirements for data analysis and data security were discussed. The companies then addressed their individual challenges and questions relating to data-based work.
At the heart of the Futures By Design project are various digital tools that have been developed within the partnership. These tools are intended to help companies in the North Sea region to review and improve their knowledge and skills in relation to data-based work. In the workshops, the participating SMEs have already been able to use the first tool, the Data Jump Start. The Data Jump Start consists of a set of 40 questions that address various aspects of data-related work and corporate culture. Immediately afterwards, each SME received a results report with tips and further assistance.
The second half of the workshop focused on interactive work on a virtual flipchart. The companies addressed the challenges of their potential customers as well as those of their own company. The availability and use of (digital) data from areas such as HR, marketing, logistics and financial management were considered individually. Based on the central motivation of each individual company and a high-level question, possible ideas and solutions were developed in a detailed brainstorming session. All participants were able to give free rein to their creativity and post seemingly impossible solutions on the virtual wall. The results were then discussed and evaluated with all workshop participants.
The kick-off workshops were just the beginning of a data journey that the companies are now embarking on. From now on, all SMEs will regularly receive further Futures By Design tools to help them work in a more data-based way in future and implement their individual data project. The project team is available to advise the companies at all times.
In addition to the workshops offered by aconium GmbH for companies in northern Germany, all other partner countries are currently also supporting SMEs in preparing for the digital future. A total of six regions are involved in the Futures By Design project – Friesland (Netherlands), Groningen (Netherlands), Cambridgeshire (UK), Antwerp (Belgium), Halland (Sweden), as well as the district of Osterholz and the surrounding districts in north-west Germany.
If you are a small or medium-sized company from northern Germany and would like to take part in the Futures By Design project and benefit from the free tools, please contact us at fbd@aconium.eu.
The official website offers regular updates for all those who want to keep up to date with the project work.