Wirtschaftsforum: Ms. Wehner, you have been at MAC IT-Solutions for over 20 years. What motivated you to enter the IT industry, and what role do women play in this sector?

Nicole Wehner: I originally come from business administration and started my career in consulting. The IT industry was still very male-dominated at the time, but I recognized early on how important technological solutions are for businesses. It is a personal concern of mine to promote women in IT. We need more diversity to develop innovative solutions. At MAC IT-Solutions, we have a gender-balanced management team, which is not common in the IT sector. I hope that our example can inspire other companies.

Wirtschaftsforum: What are the main features of the DiVA solution that make it so special?

Nicole Wehner: DiVA is a fully integrated ERP solution specifically developed for e-commerce. It offers a comprehensive representation of the entire trade process chain in a single solution. Particularly noteworthy is the perfect integration into the Microsoft 365 Business Central world, which enables our customers to efficiently design their business processes. The variety of individually configurable mail order functions is another advantage that sets us apart from other providers.

Wirtschaftsforum: What awards has DiVA received and what do these mean for your company?

Nicole Wehner: We are proud that DiVA has been awarded 'ERP System of the Year' in the past two years – last year in the Cloud category and this year in the Mail Order category. These awards are a recognition of the hard work of our team and show that we are on the right track to offer our customers the best solutions. They also strengthen our commitment to continue investing in research and development.

Wirtschaftsforum: What does the future look like for MAC IT-Solutions and the DiVA solution?

Nicole Wehner: We would like to maintain our industry focus and continuously improve the DiVA solution. An exciting issue we are currently addressing is the integration of artificial intelligence into our software. This will enable us to offer our customers even more efficient and intelligent solutions. We also plan to further develop our checkout solutions to meet our customers' needs in multi-channel commerce.

Wirtschaftsforum: How does MAC IT-Solutions deal with the shortage of skilled workers in the IT industry?

Nicole Wehner: At MAC IT-Solutions, we place great value on a positive work culture and an attractive working environment. Our Kununu ratings show a high ranking of 4.7 out of 5, which indicates that our employees are satisfied with their work and the working climate. We have also specifically implemented measures in the area of employer branding to position ourselves as an attractive employer. These include flexible working hours, the option for home office, and open communication on an equal footing. We also actively promote diversity and have programs to specifically attract women to technical professions. Despite the challenges, we have managed to achieve low turnover and bind many employees to our company in the long term.

Wirtschaftsforum: How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your company?

Nicole Wehner: The pandemic was a challenge for many companies, but for us it was also an opportunity. We had already implemented an agile team structure before the pandemic, which allowed us to quickly switch to working from home. The e-commerce industry saw strong growth during the pandemic, which has helped us expand our services and gain new customers.

Wirtschaftsforum: Sustainability is an important issue in today's business world. What measures is MAC IT-Solutions taking in this area?

Nicole Wehner: Sustainability is very important to us. For instance, we have installed a photovoltaic system on the roof of our offices which supplies us with electricity autonomously in the summer. We also rely on an electric fleet for our company vehicles. At our last user meeting, for example, we gave away tree planting as part of our social responsibility. We believe that companies have a responsibility towards society and the environment.

Wirtschaftsforum: What are your most important messages for companies operating in the IT industry?

Nicole Wehner: I would like to emphasize how important it is to create an open and inclusive corporate culture. Diversity brings different perspectives and fosters innovation. It is also crucial to invest in the training and development of employees to meet the challenges of the market. Ultimately, it is the human element that makes the difference – both within the company and in cooperation with our customers.