openHandwerk

Why did you start your start-up, which problem do you address and how do you solve it?

openHandwerk is a Software-as-a-Service solution for craftsmen and service companies - for more efficiency. We are open for all kinds of crafts enterprises, for small to medium sized companies. In addition, we support companies in communicating with their customers and optimize processes in craft businesses. We bring cloud computing to the trades and construction, a market power of more than 1,000,000 trades and crafts companies in Germany alone, with a low level of digitization and great potential. The skilled trades have golden soil.

How did you get the idea to found your start-up?

openHandwerk was developed from a need. In the course of digitizing my craft business, I was looking for a cloud solution. Another important aspect was the mapping of processes and the automation of recurring procedures. Since I could not find a mature solution for my problem, I animated our in-house programmer to develop a solution of his own. From an initially simple order management with document management, a powerful craftsman software was developed in the cloud, which handles all operative processes in the office and on the construction site.

What is special about your business model, what do you do differently?

openHandwerk is a classic SaaS model. We generate monthly licenses from users. What is special about us is that there are no or only a few solutions in the trades and construction sector that combine the entire workflow and invoicing in one cloud solution. We are developing into a multi-cloud. We want to map apps, microservices and procurement via manufacturers and wholesalers. With our cooperation and our strategy we are on the right track to make our solution unique on the market.

What were the biggest challenges you had to overcome at the beginning?

We had to learn to understand what makes craftsmen and craft businesses tick. What prices we can push through on the market, how we can win over the craftsmen's businesses. What do the craftsmen want, what don't they want? It was not only the biggest challenge, but probably also the most expensive experience. Looking back, this learning was priceless for us.

What was the most valuable advice someone gave you during your start-up phase?

We were fortunate to get quick feedback from our first customers, the craftsmen. Through our customers many useful features were implemented from the very first hour and we were able to save a lot of time and money in development.

What has been your biggest success so far?

We have won several awards, we have happy customers, which means the most to us. Even if it sounds a bit harsh: But our biggest success so far was that a billion dollar wholesaler liked our idea so much - that he decided to copy our solution. That was the proof of concept for us and puts us in the attractive position of having all his competitors forced to move.

What is the next challenge for you?

In the next step we are in the process of opening our solution for procurement. Procurement is a logical conclusion in our workflow. We are talking to manufacturers and wholesalers to get in touch with us. The first wholesalers are currently being connected.

If you could start all over again, would you do it the same way?

When I see what functions and features we have enrolled as a young company under our own steam, what collaborations we have already signed and what we still have in the pipeline - I don't think I would want to start all over again. We have been fortunate enough to call our solution openHandwerk and are moving towards an open MultiCloud. That sounds like a great strategy, but it was more of a lucky move. We were also very lucky to be able to digitize the office and administration in a craftsman's business first. That is what makes our solution so powerful today.

Have you still had a real social life since the company was founded?

We see digitization as a tool to achieve our goals. If you use digitization properly, you create the necessary freedom. You don't have to be afraid of it, you have to open up to it and absorb the added value. I am a very process-oriented person, at least at work, and that is what digitization makes possible for me. So yes, I have a real social life.

Who is the mastermind on your team and what is his superpower?

Our super brain is definitely our CTO Sascha, who takes care of the solution from scratch and is involved in almost every function. Have a look at our solution and you will understand.