Digitalization in Skilled Trades: Digital Workbench Connects Industry and Insurance Sector with Electrical Tradespeople

The fact that digital innovations are developed within traditional craft businesses is still an exception in Germany. It’s no coincidence that Dominik Kortmann, CEO of a fifth-generation family business specializing in building technology, is often referred to in the media as the “Steve Jobs of skilled trades.” We were curious and spoke with the dedicated entrepreneur and founder of five startups for the skilled trades about the “Hand schafft Wert” initiative and his new platform, the “Digital Workbench.”

Dominik, thank you for taking the time for our interview. Your journey from running a traditional craft business to founding startups is quite unusual. How did it come about?

I started with a classic apprenticeship as an electrician, became a master craftsman, and took over our family business. Through my hands-on experience, I became familiar with many challenges and recognized how crucial digitalization is in various areas. That gave me ideas. And I wanted these innovations to benefit not just us but all craft businesses. Our startups address different challenges that couldn’t be covered under a single brand. For each of my projects, I seek a strong brand as a supporter—this could be a manufacturer from the industry or an insurance provider, for example.

That sounds great. Tell us more about your initiative “Hand schafft Wert.” What was your idea behind it?

“Hand schafft Wert,” as the name suggests, is about valuing skilled trades while also creating value by driving innovation together with various partners. It serves as an umbrella for our different products, such as “Craft Care” or the “Digital Workbench,” symbolizing our shared goal.

What challenges does the “Digital Workbench” address?

Many craft businesses feel overwhelmed by the vast number of available apps and still struggle to digitize their workflows. That’s why we created the “Digital Workbench” under the “Hand schafft Wert” initiative, a platform that integrates over 50 applications from different providers. A specially designed dashboard offers a central overview of various tools from different suppliers and manufacturers. This helps craft businesses navigate the digital landscape more easily and optimize their processes efficiently.

Can you give us a few examples?

Of course! The Digital Workbench simplifies digital project planning and the organization of work orders. Integrated interfaces allow direct ordering of materials from wholesalers. Besides material management, the platform also offers quick calculators for electrical energy, various configurators from different manufacturers, and easy access to product brochures and data sheets.

How does your business model work?

Tradespeople don’t have to pay for the “Digital Workbench.” Our platform requires no additional software installation and is accessible on both desktop computers and mobile devices. This allows users to access project data anytime, anywhere, with the ability to make mobile adjustments. They can also customize their own dashboard.

Our industry and insurance partners also don’t have to pay to be part of the “Digital Workbench.” We generate revenue through the applications themselves—for instance, when someone books a training session, purchases a product, or takes advantage of an insurance package like “Craft Care,” our joint product with VHV Insurance.

Can you tell us more about one of the industry companies you collaborate with on the “Digital Workbench”?

Sure! One example is Jung, a provider of smart solutions for building control and electrical equipment, supporting craft businesses and architects worldwide. Together, we develop various digital tools, configurators, and planning aids for their customer groups, which are then made available on the “Digital Workbench.”

How did you first connect?

Our craft business had been in contact with them for a long time, and since founding my first startup, we’ve been developing products together.

Were there any particular challenges in this cooperation?

Not really. The only challenge for our partners is integrating with our “Digital Workbench.” However, since they are usually large companies with their own IT departments, setting up the necessary interface is generally not an issue. We also have a few in-house developers and provide as much support as we can.

Finally, could you give us an outlook on the key trends in your industry?

The challenges are definitely not getting any easier, and the skilled labor shortage is growing. You have to do more and more to stay competitive. Especially with topics like e-invoicing and digital procurement, having the right tools is crucial. With the Digital Workbench, we provide an overview and simplify access.

Contact

Website: handschafftwert.de

LinkedIn: Dominik Kortmann