A globally successful company needs to find new ways to compete by fulfilling a digital transformation and applying customer centricity. The best way to benefit from a digital transformation of an industry is to lead it.
But what does this mean for Knauf and the Construction Industry? And how could I help?I have omitted and obfuscated confidential information in this case study. All information in this case study is my own and does not necessarily reflect the views of Knauf.
Situation
Sleeping Giants
The construction industry is no exception of the German Mittelstand. It’s decentralized. Has no applied standards across markets. Has a heterogeneous tech stack across markets. Heterogeneous customer types across markets. Mainly offline. Bad data quality.
To put it short… the construction industry is in the 90s (and not in a cool way).
Knauf Digital: Hello World
Knauf decided to change the status quo. In late 2019 I was hired by Knauf as one of the first Employees of their new Digital Innovation Hub: Knauf Digital.
A potpourri of consultants, field experts, and industry specialists. Stacked together in a satellite far away from the head quarters, so we would not be tied up in the old corporate structures and dynamics.
- 👎 No Data about customers
- 👎 No Data interfaces available
- 👎 Multi national project
Task
Digital Transformation
Secure Knaufs success and lead position by helping Knauf becoming the driving force of the digital transformation in the global construction industry.
Digitizing
How can we get more profitable with innovative, customer centric optimizations of the current business.
Digitalization
How can we generate new business with innovative, customer centric products and services.
Action
Launch to learn.
Using Silicon Valley’s secrets to disrupt the construction industry
Consolidate customer needs and create a roadmap of validated customer centric digital solutions that can be scaled globally.
Traditional Business Strategies are no longer relevant in the new economy. Top performing, innovative companies are using new and efficient methods to understand customers, build innovative products & services, and to grow their business – and so did we.
Problem
Understand Customer Needs & Pains with Design Thinking & Data Analysis
Solution
Build better Products with Design Sprint
Scale
Validate Business with Lean Startup
Results
The Roadmap
At the end of this initiative we had a 5 years global roadmap for 3 customer types, validated in 4 key markets.
KPI (Numbers confidential)
- 👍 10 Desireable Concepts
- 👍 3 Viable Product Opportunities
- 👍 5 Year Roadmap
Facit
Traditional strategies are no longer relevant in the new economy. Top performing companies are using new and efficient methods to maximize growth while solving actual problems of their customers.
You don’t have to look far to find a problem needing a solution – especially in the old economy.
Try starting the search for your must-have idea by looking at the whole picture and boil down to the one problem that will solve the biggest pain, and will make solving all other problems easier.
Once you find your must-have product or service, it might be tempting to launch it on a global scale. But going too big too soon, you run the risk of spreading yourself too thin and ending up stretched across several markets.
