The Digital Migration: How Companies Find Their Place in the Cloud
Interview with Marc Eismann, Executive Board Member of group24 AG
Many companies still find it difficult to fully utilize the possibilities of digitalization. In a rapidly changing market, group24 AG has established itself as an innovative provider of IT solutions and services. Among other things, the company supports its customers with a self-developed cloud platform to create a new home for their data in the cloud. In an interview with Wirtschaftsforum, Marc Eismann, Executive Board Member of group24 AG, discusses the development of his company and the challenges of the industry.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Eismann, how has group24 AG developed since its inception?
Marc Eismann: The story of group24 AG began in 2010, when Christian Hornhues and I founded zencon GmbH. Our goal was to provide IT consulting for centralized technologies. Over the years, we founded several companies and consolidated into group24 AG in 2019. The company name reflects our philosophy of being available to our clients 24/7.
Wirtschaftsforum: What are the main pillars of group24 AG?
Marc Eismann: We have five main business areas. First, the trading business, in which we supply B2B customers with workplace hardware. We also offer classic IT consulting for large clients, including infrastructure projects for companies with up to 100,000 employees. Another area is Managed Service. In addition, we serve small and medium-sized enterprises with customized ERP and CRM solutions. Finally, we have developed our own cloud platform that operates under the name FLOWZILLA and is focused on data management for cloud software.
Wirtschaftsforum: What role does the cloud play in your business?
Marc Eismann: The cloud plays a crucial role in our strategy. Many companies are faced with the decision to move their data to the cloud, which brings many advantages but also risks. We provide comprehensive advice to our customers to ensure they implement the right security measures while benefiting from the advantages of the cloud.
Wirtschaftsforum: What is the current market situation for group24 AG?
Marc Eismann: The demand for our services is high, especially in the context of digitalization and process automation. Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, we are experiencing strong growth and plan to hire 50 new employees this year. Our goal is to grow from 180 to 230 employees.
Wirtschaftsforum: What challenges do you see in the industry?
Marc Eismann: One of the biggest challenges is the shortage of skilled workers. There are many applicants, but often they lack the necessary qualifications. We therefore place a strong emphasis on training and have already trained numerous apprentices in various areas. In addition, we offer our employees attractive incentives, such as company cars, to be competitive in the talent market.
Wirtschaftsforum: How does group24 AG address the topic of sustainability?
Marc Eismann: Sustainability is a central issue for us. We are investing in electric mobility and have our own photovoltaic system that covers a large part of our electricity needs. We also use environmentally friendly packaging and have installed a combined heat and power plant that produces both heat and electricity. We believe that by acting sustainably, we can benefit not only ecologically but also economically.
Wirtschaftsforum: How does group24 AG position itself in the competition?
Marc Eismann: Our goal is to build long-term relationships with our clients. We offer comprehensive consulting services and are proud to have served many of our clients for years. Through references and success stories, we continuously build our branding. Additionally, we rely on recommendations and have a traditional sales team actively acquiring new customers.
Wirtschaftsforum: What is the corporate culture like at group24 AG?
Marc Eismann: Our corporate culture is characterized by trust, flexibility, and teamwork. We promote collaboration and are receptive to the needs of our employees. Home office is an option for us, however, we prefer that our employees are regularly in the office to strengthen cohesion. We are optimistic about the future. Digitization and the demand for IT solutions will continue to grow. We plan to expand our services and enter new markets.