Industry 5.0 Starts with People

He is now bringing exactly this perspective to DE software & control GmbH – and was brought into the company by a former project partner. Since then, he has been actively shaping the generational change in the leadership team.

AI, Industry 5.0 and the Workstation of the Future

A centerpiece of the innovation strategy is the development of the so-called "workstAItion 5.0" – a workplace concept that brings humans and machines closer together. Visualized work steps, chatbot interaction in the mother tongue, voice-controlled processes: "This enables onboarding in record time – regardless of language or qualification. The intelligence is in the system," says Andreas Tobisch. The basis for such developments is a strong corporate group: In addition to the 'mothership' in Dingolfing, the group includes DE Computing in Stuttgart, which specializes in optimization algorithms, and the Munich-based partner company Erium, which focuses on artificial intelligence. Together, around 100 employees are working on individual software solutions – from order control and maintenance to AI-supported analysis of entire process chains. "Production automation is exhausted in many places," says Andreas Tobisch. "The real challenge today lies in administration and maintenance. Our AI solutions help to detect errors where they originate – not only when the plant is down." The digitalization of the workplace is not only understood as a technological task. With the 'Boomer Z' campaign, the company consciously addresses the generational change in the workplace. Goal: A better understanding between baby boomers and Generation Z – for example, through the use of mobile phone videos of experienced professionals, which are transformed by AI into editable work instructions. "The knowledge is retained – and is understandable and accessible to everyone at any time," explains Andreas Tobisch.

From a Family-Like Team to Dynamic Growth

Corporate culture plays a central role. "I was impressed by the quality and loyalty of the workforce. The collegiality here is really exceptional – we are like a big family," says Andreas Tobisch. To ensure this cohesion in the future, a middle management level was introduced in 2024 – exclusively with employees from the core workforce. This new structure not only promotes transparency in decisions but also gives the workforce more say. "Today, we discuss in the team why decisions are made and gather feedback – this was different in the past, and the colleagues appreciate it very much," notes the COO. In the coming years, the corporate group wants to continue to grow – in terms of personnel, sales, and technological breadth. In particular, cloud solutions and web-based licensing models are on the roadmap. "We are currently developing products that can be simply downloaded from our website in the future and installed in the company," Andreas Tobisch says. The company is also focusing on continuity in its customer structure: The focus is on the German-speaking market, yet many clients operate international sites. "Our solutions are scaled internally. For this, we also send our own personnel abroad to provide support on site." Currently, the company is not participating in trade fairs like Motek or Automatika – instead, it plans to hold two own events in 2025, where innovations will be presented specifically to its customer base. "This gives us more focus and allows for a more intense exchange," says Andreas Tobisch. He is optimistic about the future: "Our industry demands constant innovation – and that's exactly what motivates me every day anew. We do not only want to keep pace, but to lead the way."