In order to successfully initiate the digitalisation of processes of inter-company cooperation and the use of new technologies, these technologies must be accepted by employers and employees alike.
Hopes and fears are associated with digital inter-company cooperation
The Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology (IDMT) conducts in-depth interviews with employers and employees of medium-sized companies in Thuringia in various industries in order to record their conscious and unconscious hopes and fears regarding digital inter-company cooperation with partners. With the Collaborative Analysis Lab (CoALa), a survey instrument developed by the Fraunhofer IDMT and led by the interviewer, the interviewee develops his or her personal attitude to various communication and settlement options in business cooperation. For this purpose, he compares the following four communication and settlement options with their similarities and differences:
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ask a friend | Processing by phone & mail | Processing via a central online portal | decentralized business processing |
Nothing without personal contact
First CoALa interviews with nine employees reveal their hopes and concerns regarding the four communication and processing options in digital inter-company cooperation with partners. It turns out that the communication and processing paths via telephone & mail and the possibility of asking a friend stand together. Contrary to these two ways the completion over an on-line portal and the decentralized business completion are seen, both likewise relatively similarly evaluated. Advantages and disadvantages are seen for all possibilities:
Processing by phone & mail, ask a friend | Processing via an online portal, decentralized business processing | ||
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Trust, Security, Proven Performance in person direct, fast Individual agreements, focal points, influence possible |
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saving of time little personnel required Simplified settlement process |
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Personal initiative/performance must be provided requires more personnel capacities |
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unknown and uncertain, scepticism Impersonal, anonymous lack of feedback little room for manoeuvre, handling less flexible Lack of guarantee of success |

Recognize obstacles, reduce fears
At present, business is mainly conducted via personal contact by telephone and e-mail, which is highly valued by employees. They are afraid that digital, automated business processing will lead to the loss of this personal contact and that they will lose independent control over the processing and flexible design of this contact. For a successful implementation of digitalized processes of inter-company cooperation, it is important to involve employees in these processes at an early stage and to reduce obstacles and fears of change. Fraunhofer IDMT will conduct further in-depth interviews with employers.