More digital, more efficient, and more meaningful
Interview with Patrick Ruwolt, Managing Director of Deutschmann Garten- und Landschaftsbau GmbH
The garden and landscaping company Deutschmann is among the larger ones in and around Munich and wants to continue to grow significantly in the coming years. What motivated him to acquire the company during a generally tense market situation and how he intends to create significant efficiency gains through digitalization was revealed by Managing Director Patrick Ruwolt in the interview.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Ruwolt, a year ago you decided to take over the gardening and landscaping company Deutschmann – at a time when the construction industry is particularly heavily affected by the negative overall economic developments. What motivated you to take this step?
Patrick Ruwolt: Construction activity in the greater Munich area – our current catchment area – has not completely ceased. Particularly, the order situation from the public sector is quite independent of the general economic situation. In the decades after the company's founding in 2001, the original owner Gerd Deutschmann was able to achieve good growth rates year after year, based on continuously increasing demand, and invest steadily in people and machines. Naturally, the times have recently become more difficult – but the strong reputation of Deutschmann GaLaBau as a company, as well as the modern machinery and the excellent staff, provide an excellent foundation on which I now want to continue building with a first-class team.
Wirtschaftsforum: What changes do you want to initiate as the new owner of the company?
Patrick Ruwolt: Before my involvement with Deutschmann GaLaBau, I was part of an electrical engineering and solar company that shone from the start with very efficient processes. I would like to bring this experience to Deutschmann GaLaBau as well, so that we can systematically optimize, digitize, and modernize our workflows and systems over the next few years. So far, most people in our company had a smartphone for calling, WhatsApp, and email – but the construction file for a project often spans several folders, which now fill several rooms at our location. This can be done much more leanly and efficiently, which in turn reduces susceptibility to errors – and creates a strong foundation for further growth.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you plan to implement these digitalization initiatives at Deutschmann now?
Patrick Ruwolt: By taking it one step at a time - under no circumstances do we want to plan everything out meticulously beforehand and then change everything overnight. Understandably, that would overwhelm our organization and our employees. Instead, for example, we have started a pilot project for a digital construction file with one of our particularly digitally savvy construction managers. Based on his experience, we will then eliminate all the teething problems with this new system. Once that has been achieved and smooth operation is ensured, we will gradually roll out the digital construction file throughout the entire company. That is also how we want to proceed in many other areas.
Wirtschaftsforum: What overarching vision do you want to pursue for Deutschmann GaLaBau in the coming years?
Patrick Ruwolt: Our company has developed into one of the largest garden and landscaping companies in and around Munich, where we are particularly engaged in large-scale projects in the commercial sector, covering the construction of complete outdoor facilities including playgrounds, from irrigation systems to planting, to paths and parking lots.
In this segment, we see strong growth potential, and we plan to increasingly participate in public tenders in the near future. Additionally, we will also engage in adjacent trades such as earthwork, excavation, and canal construction to better utilize the synergies in our company and also to ensure stronger risk diversification. We also already have extensive expertise and experience in important future topics such as the greening of facades, roofs, and underground garages, which we can offer to our customers.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you want to drive growth in times of skilled labor shortages?
Patrick Ruwolt: I'm not fond of the term 'skilled labor shortage,' because it often serves solely as an excuse or an easy way out: At the end of the day, there are actually enough skilled workers – they just might not yet be working for one's own company. The real challenge lies in finding them and winning them over. We want to meet this challenge by creating attractive working conditions and simultaneously serving as a training company for the skilled workers of the future.
Wirtschaftsforum: How would you like to enthuse young people about a career in garden and landscape construction?
Patrick Ruwolt: Creating green outdoor spaces is meaningful for society, the environment, and the climate - a claim that is increasingly gaining importance. At the same time, one can earn very good money in garden and landscape construction. During my school years, it was said that you had to definitely go to university to earn a good income. But that's no longer the case. Because classic craftsman jobs can neither be replaced by AI nor easily outsourced abroad - an important basis for a future-proof career perspective.