Mechanismen, Erfolgsfaktoren und Hemmnisse der Digitalisierung im Handwerk

Abstract

The Digitization of craft firms and the effective promotion of this process are key factors for increasing the competitiveness and innovativeness of the craft sector. To analyze the underlying processes and option to support them, we run a survey among innovation and technology officers as well as employees of the regional departments of the Competence Center for Digital Crafts. We asked questions concerning the beginning of digitization processes, the mechanisms within the firm and regarding success factors and barriers. With regard to the beginning of digitization measures, we find that information events on general aspects of digitization and on specific measures are most effective to enable firms to start digitization measures. Craft firms are most interested in the digitization of firminternal processes and current funding programs. Best-practice examples are most effective when firms are confronted with firms from their own sector. Regarding the digitization mechanisms within the firm, respondents state that firms are primarily interested in raising the intra-firm efficiency and in complying to regulatory standards when starting digitization measures. Once digitization has been started by one measure, subsequent investments are made very often. Most often, this is the case when process-oriented digitization has been conducted. Financial assistance to firms is quite effective in fostering subsequent digitization investments, whereby direct grants for investment measures are considered most effective. In terms of success factors and barriers, we find that the lack of direct economic pressure due to the currently positive economic situation for craft firms, the immediate financial costs and lack of employee-qualification are the most critical barriers to digitization measures. Once started, those measures most often fail due to a lack of time for implementation, an inadequate internal organization and lack of employee-qualification. Success factors are the inclusion of employees in the digitization process, financial assistance as well as an embedding of digitization into the firm strategy.