The Bietigheimer Wohnbau GmbH is a municipal real estate company that was founded in 1961 with the goal of providing broad layers of the population with housing. Due to the severe housing shortage in the 1960s, many prefabricated buildings were constructed. However, the company was also commissioned by the city to build the housing that the market demanded during the oil crisis in the 1970s and the real estate crisis after reunification. It is evident that these buildings now need to be renovated gradually. 

However, the fact is that in the next ten years, 3.2 million more people will retire than join the workforce, and they cannot be replaced due to staff shortages. It's not just about strategic positioning, but also about the internal work atmosphere. It is important to us to create good conditions to ensure good leadership. Only in this way can all employees feel comfortable. I want people to enjoy working here. Because someone who enjoys working, works well,", adds Carsten Schüler, who has been a member of the management since 2013 and has been the sole managing director since 2015. 

Digitalization Status 

Regarding digitalization, Bietigheimer Wohnbau GmbH is already quite advanced. For example, incoming invoices are pre-accounted, then they pass through the digital workflow to various clerks and are subsequently automatically integrated into the SAP system. For customers, there are digital customer portals and also the so-called digital document folder, where invoice verification is fully digitalized. "Of course, we also focus on artificial intelligence. Thus, we hold retreats with department heads once or twice a year to discuss strategic issues. However, it is about supporting our employees, not about reducing their jobs. Instead, we will train our colleagues so that they can take on different tasks. The sole formulation of letters will definitely be taken over by AI in the coming years,", explains Carsten Schüler. 
 

Minimize CO₂ Emissions

In terms of sustainability, Bietigheimer Wohnbau GmbH aims to minimize CO₂ emissions in its housing stocks. This includes the type of heating, thermal insulation, and the respective windows and ventilation systems. "However, we do not want to pass these immense costs onto the tenants. Instead, we have to see which funding pots we can still tap into to manage this Herculean task. For our new buildings, we carefully consider which building materials we use. While wood is a renewable resource — in our view, anything that is long-lasting is sustainable. Therefore, we are experimenting with many prototypes. For instance, we are currently constructing a new office building with greened facades to allow various insects to settle. The facades will also integrate photovoltaic to produce the required electricity," adds the Managing Director.

More Home Ownership Again

Like most medium-sized businesses, Bietigheimer Wohnbau GmbH is heavily slowed down by regulations and demands. "The demands and building regulations should be simplified so that building can again be cheaper and faster. The triangle of costs, interest, and revenue should move in a direction that makes people want home ownership again," explains Carsten Schüler.

Do Something Good

The personal goal of Carsten Schüler is to do something good. "We are a social enterprise and therefore not focused on maximizing profit. My personal drive is to set up the company in such a way that it would continue to operate for five or six years without me — if I were to fall down or be gone tomorrow. I enjoy it when everything runs smoothly."