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Magazine
On the safe side 1/2021
A Matter of Trust
Laboratories ensure certified safety
Working World in Transition Everything is suddenly different in office and production hall
Crisis Mobility New trends and surprising turnarounds in traffic
Digitization on the Job Virtual training with real learning success
Editorial
Contents 1/2021
What’s safe
in 2021
Stefan Kölbl
on modern
10 Covid-19 has
changed the
world of work
learning and
working
Dear Reader,
Just a few days ago, a year like no other came to an end.
The coronavirus pandemic turned the world upside
down in 2020. Christmas 2020 was different. Easter
2021 will be different.
The world of work 2021 is also changing rapidly and
becoming more digital. In this issue, we discuss the
significance of the basic human need for safety in the 8 Mask Testing
office, the production hall, or the home office. In Europe’s largest test laboratory,
Augmented and virtual reality can help in this respect. DEKRA puts protective face masks under
DEKRA shows how modern “virtual” work and l earning the microscope.
works.
If corona was the (worst) word of the year 2020, 10 Into a New Era
then sustainability is the word of the year 2021. At the The world of work is changing rapidly.
end of this issue, we’d like to surprise you with a look Yet businesses and employees are adapting
PHOTOS: DEKRA E. V., RYAN DEBERARDINIS/SHUTTERSTOCK, ALL OTHERS AS IN ARTICLE
at how we and others are using unusual approaches successfully.
to protect our environment.
Rest assured: DEKRA will continue to provide you 18 Actively Seizing Opportunities
with comprehensive expertise in 2021. Interviewed: Prof. Heike Bruch on agility
and the courage to start again at work.
I wish you a successful new year, health, and all
the best! 20 Can You Hear Me?
Business calls are a part of daily life. But it
Sincerely, isn’t just the tech that needs improvement.
20 Successful
online calls
Stefan Kölbl
Chairman of the Board of Management
DEKRA e. V. and DEKRA SE
PS: Be sure to read the article on how the testing
of protective masks contributes to preventing
the spread of Covid-19.
2 DEKRA solutions 1/2021
Contents
24
42
The Best Protection Digital
This is how businesses and employees Sustainable
projects
are ensuring cybersecurity while working
on the go.
26 City Ranking
The greenest, most dynamic, most bike-
friendly - this is what makes Tampa, Copen-
hagen et al. especially good places to live.
28 The New Normal
The coronavirus pandemic is changing
our mobility behaviors and offers
new opportunities.
PDF-Download
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DEKRA solutions as a PDF?
No problem, just download this
and other issues for free at:
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28
Mobility
transformation
in flux
34 All-Rounder on the Apron
A new apron trainer helps to avoid damage
and accidents on the airfield.
DEKRA solutions online
36 Learning in Virtual Worlds The DEKRA magazine also has
its own website dedicated to
With the help of Augmented and Virtual
36
news around the topic of safety.
Reality, a sustainable and cost-effective
transfer of knowledge is possible.
Learning with
AR and VR 42 Sustainability with a Twist
We look forward to seeing you:
Companies are not just thinking big when
it comes to image. Many large corporations dekra-solutions.com
support a multiude of environmental protec-
tion projects.
Standards
02 Editorial
04 News
43 Masthead
3 DEKRA solutions 1/2021
News
DIGITIZATION
Hubs Established for Artificial
Intelligence and Cybersecurity
T
he coronavirus pandemic has further accelerated the digital safely. The AI Hub will leverage experience that DEKRA has been
transformation process at DEKRA. By 2025, the entire ser- gathering in claims management since 2019. In the Cybersecu-
vice portfolio shall be digitized – be it new models for work, rity Hub, the company is working on solutions for the security
increases in digital interaction and innovation, or data-driven ser- challenges of digitization. In the field of automotive cybersecurity,
vices. To this end, the expert organization has established two hubs for example, this applies to software updates transferred to vehi-
for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity in 2020. The goal: cles over-the-air, i.e. wirelessly. Cybersecurity solutions are mainly
further develop existing services with the help of AI and ensure about testing, checking, and auditing services, as well as training
that products enhanced with AI algorithms can continue to be used in the wide range of technologies and regulations.
PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST
Contributing to Even More Road Safety
All over the world, training in driving schools lays the foundation for a driver’s aptitude
to participate in road traffic. In order to ensure greater objectivity in the examinee’s
assessment as well as better individual feedback for the practical exam, Germany intro-
duced the “Optimized Practical Driving Test” (OPFEP) regulations, applicable to all driv-
ing license categories as of January 1, 2021. One of the main innovations is the record-
ing of the examinee’s performance in an electronic test log. In addition to the post-test
interview, applicants receive meaningful written feedback on what was good and what
was not – regardless of whether they ultimately passed the test. This is a best-practice
approach that could possibly set an international precedent. The OPFEP was developed
and evaluated in close cooperation between “TÜV | DEKRA arge tp 21” and technical
inspection agencies, authorities, driving instructors’ associations, and the Federal High-
way Research Institute (BASt), and trialed in approximately 9,000 tests.
4 DEKRA solutions 1/2021
News
RAIL TRANSPORTATION
Regional Train with
Hydrogen Drive
Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Siemens Mobility are testing the use of hydro-
gen for rail transport. They’re trialing a complete system consisting of
a newly developed train and a newly designed filling station. DB is con-
verting one of its maintenance plants so that the hydrogen train can be
serviced there. The system, consisting of a vehicle and the appropriate
infrastructure, shall replace diesel multiple units (DMUs) in regional trans-
port. According to the company, the Siemens-built Mireo Plus H is as pow-
erful as electric multiple units (EMUs) and has a range of 600 kilome-
ters. A one-year trial operation between Tübingen, Horb, and Pforzheim
in the German State of Baden-Württemberg is planned for 2024. The CO2
reduction is expected to be around 330 tons. The world’s first hydrogen
train, the Coradia iLint built by Alstom, has already been in operation in
Lower S axony between Buxtehude and Cuxhaven since September 2018.
In March 2020, successful Coradia iLint tests were also conducted in the
Netherlands. DEKRA Rail was in charge of test management.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION
World’s Largest Solar
Plant Planned in Australia
CLIMATE
Japan and USA
In 2023, Sun Cable will start building a gigantic solar farm in the north of the
fifth continent. The Singapore-based energy company is developing a photovol-
Seek Climate
taic power plant with an output of ten gigawatts on a former farm site between
Alice Springs and Darwin. By comparison, previous plants of this type have a
Neutrality
maximum capacity of just under 2.3 gigawatts. The electricity produced will be
used to supply the region, but a large portion will also be exported 4,500 kilo-
meters away by submarine cable to Singapore, where it will cover around 20
After the EU, Japan is now also pushing the percent of the country’s electricity needs. Completion is scheduled for 2026.
energy revolution: According to its new Prime The project was initiated by Internet billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and
Minister Yoshihide Suga, the industrialized mining entrepreneur Andrew Forrest, among others.
nation wants to reduce greenhouse gas emis-
sions to zero by 2050. Until now, the declared
goal has been to reduce carbon dioxide emis-
sions by 80 percent by that year. The US also
wants to step up its fight against climate
change. US President-elect Joe Biden has
announced a $2 trillion investment package
to help the energy sector phase out fossil fuels
over the next 15 years. The USA shall also be
climate-neutral by 2050.
5 DEKRA solutions 1/2021
News
CHILDREN IN CARGO BIKES
Safety Only with
Seat Belt System
The demand for cargo bikes is continuing unabated. Parents also
increasingly transport their children in such vehicles. However,
children are only safe if the bike has a seat belt system that is
put to use, as various test scenarios with a child dummy at the
DEKRA Technology Center at the Lausitzring in Brandenburg
showed. In one case, the dummy was secured with the seat belt
system offered by the manufacturer; in the other case, it wasn’t
PHOTOS: METAMORWORKS/ISTOCKPHOTO, ANTJE KUNDE, SAY-CHEESE/GETTY IMAGES, PASSATIC/ISTOCKPHOTO,
strapped to the seat in the cargo box. The bike came to a full stop
from 25 km/h using the bicycle’s own brakes. The belted dummy
hardly changed position during braking. In contrast, the dummy
that wasn’t strapped in was thrown out of the box and hit its head
MIRJANAJOVIC/ISTOCKPHOTO, THOMAS KÜPPERS (2), JAE YOUNG JU/ISTOCKPHOTO, DEKRA
on the road. Serious head injuries would have been the conse-
quence of such an accident – especially without a helmet.
TRAFFIC MONITORING
Support from Artificial Intelligence
US-based company FLIR Systems has launched two
new traffic surveillance cameras. Both cameras are
equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize
traffic flow on roads and intersections. Combined with
the associated cloud platform, cities can use real-time
data captured by the AI cameras to predict traffic vol-
umes, avoid congestion and potential accidents, and
improve road safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestri-
ans around the clock. FLIR Systems are already in use
in more than 75 countries worldwide – including the
US, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and Malaysia, as
well as the UK, Norway, France, Greece, and Germany.
GLOBAL TEST NETWORK EXPANDED
Connected and Automated
Driving Must Be Safe
T
hanks to the Technology Center at the Lausitzring in Klett- cation between vehicle and environment, at the Deqing facility
witz and the Test Center for Connected Driving in Málaga, and to align them with the state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and
Spain, DEKRA has been well equipped to meet the chal- services planned on site. The acquisition of test laboratories for
lenges associated with digitized future mobility for years. Now electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and radio frequency (RF),
the expert organization has once again expanded its global test outsourced from Movon Corporation in South Korea, was also an
network. A new high-profile test site shall be established as part important strategic step for the expansion of the international
of a joint venture with the Zhejiang Intelligent Connected Vehicle automotive test network on the Asian market. With this acqui-
Innovation Center based in Deqing in eastern China. The task will sition, DEKRA is further expanding its expertise in the booming
be to continuously expand the C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything) market for EMC and RF wireless testing, which is needed as a key
test capabilities, i.e. the capacities for testing wireless communi- technology for connected, automated, and electric driving.
VEHICLE SCANNER STARTUPS
Digital Technology Hotspots for
Supports Experts Founders
As part of a pilot study, DEKRA experts Since 2011, leading pan-European consultancy
want to test the extent to which digi- EU Startup regularly publishes a ranking of
tal technologies can support their work the largest startup hubs in Europe. The follow-
or speed up processes, for example in ing criteria apply when compiling the ranking:
damage appraisals and status reports number of visits to EU-Startups.com, startup
on vehicles. To do so, they’ll be using activities within the last three years, and fund-
vehicle scanners from ProovStation. ing activities for these hubs.
This solution was chosen because the 3 2 1
6 5 4
scanner’s damage detection algorithm is comparatively advanced. One of 9 8 7
10
the two stations will be installed in a vehicle logistics terminal in the Neth-
erlands, where DEKRA experts evaluate thousands of vehicles every year.
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The second station is located at DEKRA’s training campus in Altensteig in
ila
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ol
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Pa
Am elo
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the Black Forest (Germany).
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7 DEKRA solutions 1/2021
Mask
Testing
The Covid-19 pandemic is keep-
ing the world on tenterhooks.
Respiratory masks offer pro-
tection against the coronavirus.
DEKRA takes them under the
microscope at Europe’s largest
mask testing laboratory in Essen.
Text Susanne Spotz
T
he call for masks was loud at the beginning
of the Covid-19 crisis. On the recommenda-
CE label: FFP respiratory masks bear the CE label if they
tion of the EU Commission, the Markets
pass the conformity assessment procedure according to
Authority cleared the way for rapid testing
of a coronavirus pandemic respiratory mask (the CPA). the PPE Regulation (EU 2016/425) and meet the require-
In response to the exceptional circumstances, masks ments of European Standard (EN) 149 test specifications.
that had not undergone the EU Conformity Assess- FFP stands for filtering face piece, i.e. particle filtering half
ment Procedure flooded onto the German market at masks. Filter performance and the mask’s tightness are
the beginning of the pandemic. The goal was to avoid tested among other things. The testing and certification
bottlenecks. Manufacturers and importers were to be body is identified by the 4-digit number after the CE. Masks
able to meet the market with protective masks that tested by DEKRA bear the CE 0158 label.
fulfilled minimum safety standards during the first
phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Using this rec- N95 label: This standard meets the N95 air filtration rating
ognized rapid test as a basis, DEKRA tested masks standard of the US National Institute for Occupational
in its special laboratory. From March to September, Safety and Health (NIOSH). This means that at least 95
the expert organization targeted products from 1,500 percent of airborne particles must be filtered. The letter N
manufacturers. 80 percent of the masks tested failed indicates that the mask isn’t resistant to oily aerosols, unlike
to meet the test criteria and, according to DEKRA, the P95 mask.
should not have been put released to market. The
expert organization estimates that there are currently P2 label: The AS/NZS 1716-2012 Respiratory Protective
about eight billion masks in circulation in Germany, Devices is a common standard of Australia and New Zea-
but only four billion have been tested. land. It essentially meets the requirements of FFP2 masks.
As of October 1, 2020, the CPA rapid test is no Masks produced in accordance with this standard must be
longer permitted, following a decision by the Mar- labelled on the mask or on their packaging.
8 DEKRA solutions 1/2021
DEKRA Mask Testing
INTERVIEW
kets Authority. From this date on, only FFP (filter-
Three
ing facepiece) masks that have undergone the com- questions
plex EU Conformity Assessment Procedure and bear
the required CE label are permitted for sale. At the for …
DEKRA test laboratory, experts take FFP2 and FFP3
masks under the microscope.
Testing in three-shift operation
While before the pandemic, three to four mask models
were tested per year for compliance with EN149, this
number has risen to as many as 30 mask models per
month. And the demand for testing is high. DEKRA
now works in three shifts, and three other test labora-
tories in Stuttgart, Dresden, and Bochum are involved
Jörg-Timm Kilisch,
in elements of the testing. Managing Director DEKRA Testing & Certification
The procedure for the CPA rapid test took about
PHOTOS: THOMAS KIENZLE (2), FRIEDHELM SCHWICKER
three and a half days. In “normal times”, DEKRA esti-
1 2
mates 150 hours for a complete approval procedure Mr. Kilisch, can How can you
for an FFP2 mask. “However, since we’ve switched to so-called CPA recognize a mar-
protective masks, ketable FFP2 or
shift operation, we can ideally complete a round of
which were put on FFP3 protective mask?
testing in one and a half weeks,” explains Jörg-Timm the market via the FFP2 and FFP3 protective
Kilisch, Managing Director of DEKRA Testing & Cer- accelerated testing masks bear a CE label
tification. An important criterion is the flow-through procedure between with a four-digit identifica-
test. Since there are different classes of protection, March and the end tion number. At DEKRA,
of September 2020, for example, it is “CE
the limit values for aerosol permeability also differ.
continue to be 0158”. They’ve undergone
For an FFP1 mask, the limit value is 20 percent. For an distributed and used? the EU Conformity
FFP2 mask, it’s less than six percent. An FFP3 mask CPA masks remain safe Assessment Procedure
may allow less than one percent of aerosols to pass to use for the stated in accordance with PPE
through in both directions. purpose until the end of Regulation (EU 2016/425)
their expiration date – and meet the require-
including for employers ments of EU Standard
– and are marketable in EN 149.
Germany according to
3
the Central Office of the How can an
Federal States for Safety employer ensure
Technology (ZLS). The that FFP2 or
dealer proves this with FFP3 masks for its
a test report from the employees meet the
recognized test institute legal requirements?
and a certificate of mar- The dealer, importer,
ketability from the Markets or manufacturer must
Authority. Aside from this, provide proof that the FFP
an FFP2 mask offers the mask model has success-
greatest external and fully undergone the EU
self-protection. Conformity Assessment
Procedure – i.e. CE label
and EU Declaration of
Conformity. Ideally, they
In the test laboratory can present the EU Type
DEKRA ran tests on the basis of Examination Certificate
the CPA rapid test in Essen from from the recognized test
March to September 2020 institute.
World of Work
Into a
New Era The world of work is changing rapidly. Yet companies, managers
and their employees can all adapt successfully and humanely,
despite or even because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Text Georg Weinand
O
ur working world is chang- the coronavirus pandemic, and with it opportunities for growth in the service
ing rapidly. Driving forces a noticeable change in attitudes toward sector, especially in the areas of health,
such as digitization and Arti- the consequences of digitization. Without care, and education. Here, humans can
ficial Intelligence are not only digital working equipment, many compa- also play off their strengths over Artifi-
increasing companies’ performance and nies would have been stuck with no way cial Intelligence to great effect. “In the
efficiency, but also leading to new forms to operate. Employees also recognized the future, people will emphasize what makes
of work and management, as well as the advantages of working from home. them different from technical solutions
redesign of supply and value chains. Peo- It is no news that the working world in their field,” explains the labor expert,
ple often view such rapid changes with is changing. “People have always tried to “especially where the collaborative reso-
ambivalence. While some emphasize the automate stressful or repetitive tasks,” lution of complex activities is paramount,
dangers for companies and their employ- says Professor Werner Eichhorst of the and where cooperation, interaction, and
ees, others’ primary thought is of oppor- IZA Institute of Labor Economics in empathy are required.”
tunity. At the end of 2019, in a survey Bonn. From this perspective, digitization
conducted by opinion research institute and the application of Artificial Intelli- Networked value creation
YouGov, 60 percent of the 3,600 respon- gence are further steps in the long-term Economic globalization also remains an
dents still believed that digitization in process of technological change. Due to important factor influencing the transfor-
Germany would cause more jobs to dis- our aging society with longer life expec- mation of the working world, although it
appear than it would create. Then came tancies, Werner Eichhorst even sees has come under pressure due to recent
10 DEKRA solutions 1/2021trade restrictions and coronavirus-in-
duced mobility limitations. But Covid-19
could also turn the tide again: “If the pan-
demic turns into a serious economic cri-
sis and thus intensifies cost competition,
companies will try to tap into new savings
potential, which in turn could mean more
outsourcing and globalization,” Eichhorst
explains.
This uncertainty is reflected in compa-
nies’ supply and value chains. Professor Evi
Hartmann from the Friedrich-Alexander
11 DEKRA solutions 1/2021World of Work
“In places where companies were previously dependent on
one global supplier, they’re switching to multi-sourcing”
Prof. Dr. Evi Hartmann, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg says: tive Board Member for Human Resources Soft skills as hard currency
“We have not yet seen any major deglobal- and Legal Affairs at Stihl. During the pan- At the same time, the framework in which
ization. But where companies were previ- demic in Spring 2020, Stihl was able to work takes place is changing – be it more
ously heavily dependent on a global sup- largely maintain operations at all produc- flexible working hours, new remunera-
plier, they’re now increasingly switching tion sites, without needing to cut working tion structures, or simply the place where
to so-called multi-sourcing, effectively a hours. Supply bottlenecks were cushioned work is carried out. If everybody no lon-
worldwide network of suppliers.” In addi- with existing stocks. Digitization has also ger heads to the office each day, compa-
tion, warehouses are becoming larger had considerable impacts on the develop- nies, managers, and employees will have
and more numerous, and operating with ment of supply and value chains, says Evi to have a rethink. For Trend Researcher
larger buffer stocks rather than rely- Hartmann: “It strengthens the real-time Franz Kühmayer from the Future Insti-
ing on continuous just-in-time delivery link-up of partners along the chains, tute in Frankfurt am Main, one thing is
practises. makes supply chains more transparent clear: “Managers must develop themselves
This is exemplified by Swabian indus- and sustainable, and serves to improve into cultural promoters and coaches who
trial company Stihl, known worldwide the exchange of information as well as enable employees to make decisions inde-
for its chainsaws. “High service stan- the stronger networking of market partic- pendently and with confidence.” Employ-
dards have always been important to us, ipants.” In particular, increased transpar- ees must realize the advantages they
even before Covid-19. We want to be able ency changes the balance of power along have over machines and algorithms. “We
to deliver at all times and therefore don’t supply chains in the long term. “In short: are creative and social beings. In the
work according to a strict just-in-time con- More digitization means more fairness – future, occupations and qualifications
cept,” says Dr. Michael Prochaska, Execu- that benefits us all.” that require these two skills will become
increasingly important. I’m convinced that
soft skills are the hardest currency of the
New Work future,” announces the Austrian.
Flexible self- The physical and mental health of
organization at employees must also remain in focus after
the workplace
the pandemic, says Kühmayer. For compa-
and in the team
nies, this means firmly anchoring health
in their corporate culture and offering
concrete measures. Working under rap-
idly changing work conditions can have
health consequences. Dr. Wladislaw Rivkin
of Aston University in Birmingham is per-
forming research into this: “The change in
the working world requires a high degree of
adaptability from employees, for example
when acquiring new skills. This requires
willpower to motivate them to deal with
new content. This in turn can lead to states
of exhaustion in the form of burnout or
depression,” explains the psychologist.
The result is high absenteeism and work-
force turnover. To prevent this, Rivkin rec-
ommends “servant leadership” to manag-
ers. The primary goal is the advancement
of employees. “Employees’ influence on
12 DEKRA solutions 1/2021Quality inspection
A collaborative robot
supports the employees
workflow or the way tasks are distributed Breakthrough in people’s minds ply delegating digitization processes to
protects their health and leads to increased Dr. Josephine Hofmann from the Fraun- the IT department,” Hofmann notes.
intrinsic motivation,” says Rivkin. hofer Institute for Industrial Engineer- Anna Kaiser, Vice President of the
Christian Liedtke, a specialist for Work ing IAO in Stuttgart isn’t surprised. From German Federal Association of the Digi-
4.0 in the HR Department of Deutsche her point of view, Covid-19 in particular tal Economy (BVDW) in Berlin and Man-
Kreditbank (DKB), would probably agree means an immense push towards virtual aging Director of software company Tan-
with Rivkin. In recent years, the Berlin- work. “Due to the pandemic, we’re expe- demploy, reinforces this: “Every company
ers have set their company on a new foot- riencing the breakthrough of the digiti- must first ask itself what goals it wants to
ing under the banner “New Work” for the zation of work and cooperation with a achieve with digitization.” Only then does
benefit of their employees. “New Work is speed of change that seemed unthink- it make sense to see whether and to what
intended to give employees the freedom to able only a short time ago,” says the busi- extent digital technology can be helpful
develop teamwork and personal responsi- ness information specialist. Perhaps the in this process, because: “Digitization is
bility, as well as to ensure that obligatory most important change took place in not an end in itself but should primarily
and interrelated cooperation works well,” the minds of those involved: “It became serve to make life and work better for as
explains the HR expert. “We have intro- clear to many that physical presence isn’t many people as possible.” Today, people
duced flexible work in terms of time and absolutely necessary to be able to work can work together more flexibly, produc-
location, and equipped employees with together successfully.” This also applies tively, and resource-efficiently than ever
mobile digital work and communication to companies’ top management: “Digitiza- before. “That’s great, if they actually put
tools as needed,” Liedtke specifies. The tion must be a strategic topic driven by top it into practice,” advises Kaiser.
workspaces have also been redesigned management in all areas of the company, This willingness to implement is
to create team areas, creative rooms, and not least because it offers the opportunity proven at Stihl. “Digitization is an integral
retreats, in addition to work and project for new business models,” explains the part of our corporate strategy,” explains
areas. Executives and employees seem to work expert. She adds that the speed and Personnel Director Prochaska. Digital
like the new era: “As a matter of fact, peo- complexity of the digital transformation transformation not only creates new pro-
ple’s wishes are leaning towards even more requires not only enough material and fessions and jobs within the company, but
self-organization and self-determination personnel resources, but also the neces- also makes work much easier in many
in daily work design, and a departure from sary cultural and persuasive work within departments. “Digital tools have decisively
the culture of presenteeism.” the company. “That’s not possible by sim- improved the cross-border and location-in-
13 DEKRA solutions 1/2021Damage control
The AI is used
to analyze large
amounts of data
dependent cooperation and networking of
our global manufacturing network with
our 41 sales and marketing companies,”
says the business psychologist. Production
at Stihl’s headquarters in Waiblingen also
benefits from digitization and automation.
For example, employees are supported by
a collaborative robot in the quality inspec-
tion and packaging of cut-off machines.
“The robot performs the quality inspection
for the employee and then transports the
cut-off grinder, which weighs around ten
kilograms, into packaging. This amounts
to a daily relief of around eight
metric tons for our employ-
ees,” Prochaska explains.
This way, digital tech-
nologies not only
ensure greater pro-
cess speed and effi-
ciency, but also pro-
tect employees’ health.
Allianz, the world’s second-
largest insurer, also relies on Artificial
Intelligence. “We use AI for customer inter-
action with chatbots as well as for risk
analysis and proposal preparation for
insurance contracts. AI is indispens-
able for us, especially when analyz-
ing large amounts of data,” reports
Gregor Wills, Allianz Spokesman
for Digital Issues. The same applies
to the automation of claims: “In travel
insurance, our process automation solu-
tion can determine with 97 percent accu-
racy whether a claim should be paid or “AI can already replace a doctor’s medical virtually, openness to change, and inter-
rejected manually. histories in medical offices or help out in est in technology – these are the new gold
callcenters by preselecting people to be standards of human skills. Equipped with
Gold standard of skills called,” reports the economist and philos- this basic configuration, the future world
“AI will find its way into every company opher. Like his research colleagues Eich- of work holds unimaginable possibilities.
and qualification level, as well as every pro- horst and Kühmayer, Wintermann is con- “Thanks to Augmented Reality, people will
fession,” says Dr. Ole Wintermann, Labor vinced that soft skills will become much be able to carry out activities for which
Market Researcher at the Bertelsmann more important than hard skills for human they have not previously been trained,”
Foundation in Gütersloh. At the moment, activities in the working world. The ability Wintermann asserts. And Virtual Reality
however, the focus still lies on activities to communicate and solve problems, the will support intercontinental collaboration
that represent routines or are data-heavy. ability to analyze, the ability to collaborate in real time. Nevertheless, the introduc-
14 DEKRA solutions 1/2021World of Work
INTERVIEW
Three
Questions
tion of AI is no walk in the park. “Com-
panies that want to enable collaboration For...
between people and AI should start with
small-scale experiments to learn how to
redesign processes,” says H. James Wil-
son, Global Managing Director at Accen-
ture Research in San Francisco. The Wit-
zenmann Group from Pforzheim is taking
exactly this approach. As befits a “hid-
den champion” of German medium-sized
businesses, the automotive supplier is
approaching the task with preci-
sion and caution: “The cur-
rent hype surrounding the
topic of AI is raising many Dr. Karin Müller, Head of the Human &
expectations,” says Steffen Health Department at DEKRA
Cordes, Head of the Department
1
for Digitization and Business
How can compa- such as the simultaneous
Model Innovation. However, he nies support health care of children or
says that one must first build and performance of people in need of care.
up one’s own knowledge so home office employees? It’s important to switch
that a realistic assessment Employees’ social contact off from work. Rituals or
to the company mustn’t social activities such as
of the technology is pos-
be interrupted. Managers sports or meeting friends
sible. “In our company, all must know how to manage can help here. To avoid
AI applications are in the test employees who don’t work physical damage, it’s
phase. In cooperation with external on site. Further training important to pay attention
partners such as the Fraunhofer Institute measures can help here. to the ergonomic design
Virtual team events can of the workplace.
for Manufacturing Engineering and Auto-
help replace personal
3
mation IPA, we’re bringing the necessary contact between employ- Can home office
expertise in-house,” reports Cordes. In ees. The workplace design also have a
line with Wilson’s vision, projects are cur- is important, for example positive effect on
PHOTOS: METAMORWORKS/ISTOCKPHOTO, MO WÜSTENHAGEN/DKB,
rently running in document processing, whether the screen is set the physical and mental
STIHL, OSTAPENKOOLENA/ISTOCKPHOTO, THOMAS KÜPPERS
up correctly or the study is well-being of employ-
quality control in production, as well as
bright enough. Exercises ees?
prototypes for automation applications. encouraging employee The elimination of long
“For example, we’re expecting support health on professional journeys to the workplace
for work that’s tiring for people. This will screen savers are also is a real plus. There’s also
increase efficiency and allow employees beneficial to well-being. more time for health-pro-
moting activities such as
2
to focus more on value-adding activities.
What are the most sports or regular visits to
At the same time, by providing internal common health the doctor. In addition,
support for the projects, we’re trying to risks to employees people become more
reduce the workforce’s fears about AI,” in the home office? established in their own
explains the department head. Involving It’s well known that most social environment. Many
accidents happen in the employees can also work
employees is also an important factor for
household. When working better and more concen-
Wilson because what applies to changes at home permanently, trated at home, which
in the working world also holds true for psychological stress increases satisfaction with
AI: “It needs people to make it work.” factors can be added, their own work.
15 DEKRA solutions 1/2021Effects of the Economy (2)
Prognosis for changes to real
GDP compared with previous year:
Pandemic UK
- 11.2 %
Nothing has changed the world more quickly or
profoundly in recent decades than Covid-19. We
provide an overview of short- and long-term changes. India
- 9.9 %
Text and Research Jana Bronsch-Chassard
France
- 9.1 %
Consumer Behavior (1)
World‘s most in-demand products – demand changes in online
buyer behavior. Comparison period March 2019 to March 2020: Germany
- 5.5 %
5 GWI Coronavirus Research July 2020 | n: 15271 Internet users aged between 16-64, in 20 countries, asked in multiple waves through the pandemic;
Toilet paper + 190 %
Sources: 1 OECD: OECD Policy Responses to Coronavirus (Covid-19) Connecting Businesses and Consumers During Covid-19: Trade in Parcels;
Household cleaners + 195 %
Japan
2 OECD Economic Outlook, December 2020; 3 DHL: Post-Coronavirus Supply Chain Recovery 2020; 4 DHL: Press Release on 27.11.2020;
Laundry supplies + 200 % - 5.3 %
Power generators + 210 %
Women‘s health + 215 % USA
- 3.7 %
Pasta + 249 %
Hand soap & sanitizer + 262 %
Weight training + 307 % China
+ 1.8 %
Packaged foods + 377 %
Dried grains & rice + 386 %
Bread machines + 652 %
Disposable gloves + 670
eCommerce Media Consumption (5)
The already booming sector of online shipping Change to global media consumption
was further boosted by the pandemic: behavior through Covid-19:
Volumes (3)
In May 2020, eCommerce 1.6 bn Watching more news coverage + 56 %
Shipments
volumes in Europe were 89 %
Watching more shows / films on streaming services + 54 %
higher than in May 2019
Record Watching more videos ( e.g. on YouTube) + 51 %
Consignments (4) Spending more time socializing as a family + 46 %
In Germany DHL already surpas-
sed last year‘s record number
of consignments by the end Spending more time cooking + 43 %
of November 2020. 1.6 Billion
items were sent, compared with Spending longer on social media + 43 %
1.58 billion across all of 2019.
Spending longer on messaging services + 42 %
Watching more TV on broadcast channels + 39 %
+ 89 %Digitization (6)
The crisis has accelerated digitization of the world of work. Average share of customer interac-
65
tions that are digital (in %). *Years ahead of the average rate of adoption from 2017 to 2019.
58
55
Asia-Pacific 53 Europe North America Global
Adoption Adoption Adoption Adoption
acceleration: acceleration: acceleration: acceleration:
4 years* 3 years 3 years 41 3 years
36
32 32
25 25
22
19 19 20 20
18
Jun May Dec Jul Jun May Dec Jul Jun May Dec Jul Jun May Dec Jul
2017 2018 2019 2020 2017 2018 2019 2020 2017 2018 2019 2020 2017 2018 2019 2020
7 WorldEconomicForum: Accelerating_Digital_Inclusion_in_the_New_Normal_Report_2020; 8 Nature Communications, published: 14 October 2020;
In April 2020 ... (7)
global usage of collaboration software increased by more than 600 %
6 McKinsey & Company: How Covid-19 has pushed companies over the technology tipping point—and transformed business forever;
global Internet usage rose by approximately 70 %
global remote desktop usage increased by circa 40 %
1.9 Metric
Environment (8) Gigatons
Global CO2 output
sank during the pandemic:
-72 %
-25 % 0.8 Metric
Gigatons
9 DEKRA Testing and Certification GmbH; Infografic: Dennis Lewczenko
Global Emissions
The Covid-19 pandemic led to a reduction in
global CO2 emissions of 1.9 metric gigatons.
Shipping Aviation This is the greatest reduction since the year
In the first half of 2020, CO2 emissions In July 2020, the CO2 output of the 1900. The largest reduction prior to this was
generated by international shipping was 25% aviation industry was 72% lower than in during the Second World War and totaled 0.8
lower than in the same period in 2019. the same month in the year before. metric gigatons.
Protective Facemasks (9)
DEKRA tests of mask models in line with EN149:
Pre-pandemic 3 – 4 mask models per year
up to 30
Since start of pandemic mask models
each monthInterview
Actively Seizing
Opportunities
Immense changes are characterizing the
world of work. Professor Heike Bruch talks How should managers be
acting - currently and
agility and the courage to rethink. generally - if they wish to
Interview Jana Bronsch-Chassard sustainably pursue New Work?
To avoid a leadership vacuum, modern
leadership should be consciously rein-
forced through empowerment and active
Professor Bruch, has New Work With regard to the urgently leadership skills development. Uncertain-
received an additional boost from developed new forms of work, ties are absorbed through clear communi-
the pandemic? there’s often talk of “the new cation of action-leading New Work rules
The results of our current studies show normal”. Is the flexible – combined with resilience training, man-
a sharp jump in adoption of new work working environment agers can protect their employees from
concepts. Coronavirus restrictions have becoming a normal condition exhaustion and enable healthy high per-
led to significantly more people working or are you already noticing a formance. In addition to the conscious
from home, virtual teamwork, and more longing for old patterns? development of the company’s DNA, this
use of digital technologies. However, other For many companies, the changes caused is necessary to successfully enter the new
aspects of more modern forms of work by Covid-19 are an immense opportunity working world and establish a sustainable
have not changed, such as greater self-de- to adopt New Work principles on an accel- New Work culture.
termination or working in fluid teams. erated timeline. It’s precisely this opportu-
This is significant because there are still nity that companies now need to actively What learning effects
enormous opportunities in terms of devel- tackle in order to systematically develop has the working environment
oping a New Work culture. this culture of leadership and collabora- experienced during the
tion, and to actively strengthen a modern pandemic in recent months?
For many companies, the way of working. Above all, this transfor- Many companies and employees who were
restructuring of work was an mation requires commitment from senior unsure whether mobile and flexible work
organizational tour de force. management. would go well in their organizations were
But has it also brought about positively surprised and have now gained
changes in workplace culture? How can companies use the personal experience. Many companies
Our “New Work & Culture Check” shows impact catalyst positively and showed enormous agility during the cri-
that although forms of work have changed, sustainably for themselves? sis: Employees tackled problems pragmat-
corporate culture has hardly evolved at all. Firstly, an awareness for the urgency of ically, rapidly and cooperatively – there
Team structures have become slightly more cultural development must be created. was an extremely positive energy. What
flexible, and agile methods are also being This requires not only a clear positioning previously would have been dismissed as
used more in individual cases. However, statement by top management, but also a unthinkable became possible under pres-
some key success factors of New Work hav- vision of the future for the new beginning, sure. More change was implemented in six
en’t yet changed enough: a culture of trust, which employees can use as a guide. Only months than in the last three years. What
PHOTO: IFPM
modern leadership, and self-competencies when everyone understands the Why and can we take from this? Courage, speed, and
that employees need in order to work in clear priorities are set, will everyone pull trust in people and their commitment to a
flexible structures triggered by the crisis. in the same direction. common future.
18 DEKRA solutions 1/2021Prof. Dr. Heike Bruch
is a Professor for Leadership
at the University of St. Gallen,
where she heads the Institute
for Leadership and Human
Resource Management. She is
a board member of the German
Society for Human Resource
Management (DGFP), advises top
executives throughout Europe on
leadership and cultural change,
and founded ‘energy factory St.
Gallen’ in 2006. Heike Bruch is
one of the 100 most successful
women in Switzerland. She has
been awarded several times for
her work as a leading scientist in
personnel research in German-
speaking countries. Her work
focuses on “Energy & Dynamics”,
“Leadership Transformation”,
“Speed”, as well as “New
Leadership & Work”.Can
Flexibility
The boundaries
between home and
work environments
are blurring
20 DEKRA solutions 1/2021Career
You Hear Me?
From home office to “Zoom fatigue”, business communication has
undergone rapid changes, and video conferencing has become another
part of our everyday lives. Quality, however, often leaves much to be
desired. There’s room for improvement in more than just the technology.
Text Prof. Dr. Katja GußmannCareer
C
an you hear me now?” the German Chancel- home office and mobile work possible for their employ-
lor mirrored the feelings of many citizens at ees, something that many works councils have been
home and abroad, when, close to the cam- fighting for in vain for years. Employers are realizing
era with a searching look on her face, she that while space and travel costs can be reduced, tech-
finally found the “on” button for the microphone. This nical infrastructure must be reinforced. What really
happened at the WHO video conference in April 2020. falls by the wayside is the “human factor”. And after a
Everybody who goes through the daily routine of video few months of sometimes excessive screen usage, this
conferencing in their home office is familiar with the factor becomes apparent in many small things, all of
scenario. Since the pandemic has demanded that peo- which may lead to what can be referred to as “Zoom
ple all over the world adhere to physical distancing fatigue”. Even the most high-resolution screen and
measures, we have all been moving closer together on the most beautiful digital avatar cannot replace per-
screen. Whether via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Webex sonal encounters, as a critical part of our communica-
Meetings – thanks to the novel coro- tion is non-verbal. But video
navirus, video conferences have conferencing continues to
become part of the new daily profes- define our everyday profes-
sional life, with all its advantages sional lives. So the question
and disadvantages. remains, what can we do to
No more business trips, no more make it more bearable?
chats with colleagues in the break
room, but also no more waiting in
traffic jams during rush hour. At
breathtaking speed, companies made
New normal
Taking a video call from a
park bench? No problem!
Mobile work or home office?
“Home office” refers to a permanent
home workspace. In many countries,
they remain subject to occupational
safety and health regulations. This
is not the case with “mobile work.”
Here, the focus lies on the work
order, which can be fulfilled outside
company walls; the employee can
choose to be at home or in a cafe.
22 DEKRA solutions 1/2021Pay attention to video and sound quality
“Great importance is attached to a stable Internet
How to make your
connection and good image quality, but most of us video conference a success
underestimate the importance of sound quality,” says
Michel Doermer, Board Member of the Federal Asso-
ciation for Media Training in Germany. He makes
Before the meeting
the case for microphones – even inexpensive devices
make listening easier. Plus, those who are easy to Equipment: test Internet connection, camera and microphone,
hear find it much easier to get their points across. and familiarize yourself with the app’s features: hand-raise,
But when shaky Internet connections are combined chat or screen sharing tools, group rooms, uploading and
with poor sound quality, it is a perfect storm for “Zoom sharing files, etc.
fatigue.” Simultaneous interpreters are suffering in A calm background image stops extra information
the extreme, as the following example from Canada being shared
shows. In April 2020, the rate of sick leave rose rap- Send a meeting agenda in advance
idly among simultaneous interpreters of bilingual par- Wear appropriate clothing
liamentary debates, which were held via video confer-
encing. One of those interpreters is Carmen Figueroa
Sotelo, who says: “We rely on seeing the speaker’s lips
and their body language. Often, screens freeze and During the video call
there’s a lot of audio feedback due to many parlia-
mentarians’ poor home office equipment setup. This Close all other programs
makes our work much more difficult, quickly leading Put away your phone and focus on the video conference
to exhaustion and even acoustic shock.” No reading or writing mails and messages on the side
Stick to the rules: click the hand-raise icon, don’t interrupt
The right means
Rest your eyes from time to time – look into the distance
Yet even if the technology works, there is still much Use breaks to move around
that can be optimized, accord-
ing to Media Trainer Michel
Doermer. “It’s all about reduc- After the meeting
ing disruptive factors,” explains
Doermer: the indoor palm tree Provide all participants with a document containing
in the background, the pat- the meeting’s key points
terned t-shirt, the shadow on For subsequent exchanges, alternate video calls with
the user’s face. All inevitably phone calls or email conversations: choose the appropriate
encourage you to think about form of communication for each occasion
the person, less about what
they’re saying. Such quality fac-
tors need to be brought to atten-
tion. Even video interviews on television are rife with
such violations, such as high-ranking board mem-
bers of large corporations unfazedly having their From the company’s perspective
face recorded by a laptop camera from a worm’s-eye
ILLUSTRATIONS: SOPHONK/ISTOCKPHOTO (5)
view. “There’s no great demand among our associa- Train employees on how to use video conferencing tools
tion members for video conference training,” Doermer Check or provide the necessary technology for mobile
notes accordingly. The motto seems to be “video call- work / home office
ing – anyone can do it”. This also leads to video calls Define codes of conduct
being held when a quick phone conference would be
more effective. For some topics, it’s enough to pick
up the phone. If presentations are necessary, video
conferencing makes sense. The rule of thumb could be: shorter meetings, more breaks, and high-quality
be that delicate issues require physical presence. technology. Thus everyone gets a chance to speak,
And if it has to be a video conference, the rule should and – critically – be heard.
23 DEKRA solutions 1/2021Safe and Secure
Whether working from home, commuting on the train, or even sitting in a café,
we can easily fall prey to cyber criminals. Responsibility for corporate data and IT
security lies equally with both the company’s IT department as well as its employees.
Author Hannes Rügheimer
S
orry, the presentation is too
large to send by email again,
here’s the link to the PPT in my
Dropbox.” Let’s be honest, if you
received this email from the address of a
colleague, would you resist the impulse to
click on the link? If it then turns out to be
a disguised attack by a cybercriminal, the
damage is already done.
In particular, working from home – a
concept which has gained traction during
Covid-19 – as well as any other work per-
formed outside the company’s secured IT
infrastructure poses great dangers for IT
security. Information technology depart-
ments are working at top speed to safe-
guard employees’ laptops, even when
they’re sat at their home kitchen table, con-
nected to the Internet via their home WiFi.
Especially when at home, the temptation
to mix company systems with private solu-
tions is often great. “Employees should be
careful to only use their approved device,
and only via approved access points,”
advises Ingo Legler, Expert for Informa-
tion Security at DEKRA, and warns: “Even
if something else works and is much sim-
pler, it’s also much easier for hackers.”
Sensitizing Employees
For employees working from home, com-
pliance with a set of basic IT security
standards is essential. Even the home
office itself can prove problematic. The
coffee table, around which the rest of the
family plays or watches TV, not only lacks
basic ergonomic requirements, but is also
left wanting when it comes to security. “At
24 DEKRA solutions 1/2021Work Security
Security Tips For Home Office Users
• Have a healthy skepticism – • Be careful with emails of
toward emails but also calls from unknown origin. Especially with
supposed colleagues that you unexpected emails, always ask
don’t know personally and don’t yourself: Am I a customer of
recognize on the phone. theirs? Did I buy something or
have contact with them recently?
• Leave everything as set by your What could the sender do with
firm’s IT support and only make my data? If in doubt, it is always
changes after consulting with better to seek assistance from
them, even if you “know how to IT support.
do it”.
• It’s most secure to display attack techniques used by cybercriminals
• Never transport data on email in plain text – i.e. in
to circumvent security mechanisms by
unauthorized media (such raw text format. While not very
exploiting human weaknesses and colle-
as USB drives, HDDs, SSDs) colorful, it shows telltale links or
or cloud services (Dropbox, planted HTML codes that may gial helpfulness. The email mentioned pre-
OneDrive, iCloud). Do not lead to dangerous pages in the viously is an example of such an approach.
connect USB drives of unknown background or circumvent securi- As another example, how would you react
origin – for example ones that are ty mechanisms. to the following call? “Hi, this is Steve from
available at conferences – to your IT. Due to home office regulations, we’re
device without checking them. • When checking Internet switching to stronger passwords. I’ll set
addresses, always read from that up for you. I need your current pass-
• Passwords must be kept right to left: the web address word, with which I’ll generate a new one to
secure – preferably in your https://amazon.payments. give to you.” Security-conscious users will
head. If you suspect that it invoice.billig.panzerknacker.en
have immediately identified that revealing
has been hacked, change it (or doesn’t refer to an Amazon page,
your current password turns the worst-
have it changed) immediately in but to a (fictional) page of the
consultation with IT support. Beagle Boys in Duckburg. case security scenario into a reality. While
the impostor keeps the employee busy on
the phone for a few more minutes, his
accomplice slips into the company net-
work from the next desk.
“Humans represent the biggest vulnera-
the very least, home office users must get bility – but can also be the greatest defense,
into the habit of locking their computer if they’re attentive and know what they’re
when they leave it,” advises IT expert doing,” sums up DEKRA security expert
Legler. The Windows key plus L or the Ingo Legler. This is why, especially in the
“three-finger salute” of CTRL+ALT+DEL current situation, it’s essential that com-
serve this purpose. panies not only issue guidelines and tech-
Ingo Legler has a whole host of other nical security measures but also sensitize
ILLUSTRATIONS: IGOR KORCHAK/ISTOCKPHOTO (2)
security tips that employees should take
to heart when planning their home or “Humans represent their employees to the risks and refresh
their IT security training. “Beware of new
mobile office (see box). But his advice
goes even further, as IT security threats
the biggest acquaintances who show great interest in
your work,” says Ingo Legler, reiterating
are not always technical in nature. “When vulnerability, but key content of such digital security train-
it comes to data security, humans present
the biggest gateway for cybercriminals, can also be the ing courses. “As time since the most recent
training increases, employees’ awareness
and not even technology can reliably seal
it off,” explains the expert. He addresses
greatest defense” of IT security rapidly decreases,” Legler
states. “Employers must therefore edu-
the danger of so-called social engineering. Ingo Legler, cate, educate, educate. Awareness is the
It has long been one of the most successful DEKRA Security Expert be-all and end-all.”
25 DEKRA solutions 1/2021Oh how nice is…
City Rankings
Be it Tokyo, London, or Vienna - urban life is than ever before: a total of 77.4 percent according
more popular than ever. According to the United to Statista. Our ranking overview shows which
Nations (UN), the proportion of the population cities around the world impress with their own
living in urban centers will increase by around one special qualities and why Google Street View and
billion to 5.2 billion people by 2030. In Germany Instagram hashtags also play a role in the rating.
in 2019, there were more people living in cities Text Caroline Neuber
Tampa A beautiful life:
The greenest city
View from the Ferris
The fact that plants and trees are very wheel in Vienna
important for cities was clear long
before the climate debate of recent
years. Greenery not only improves air
quality but also city atmosphere. To find
out which cities are particularly green,
researchers from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) and the
World Economic Forum 2016 have
designed a platform that measures just
that. Using Google Street View data,
the platform looks at how large a city’s
“green roof” is. With a share
of 36.1 percent, the city
of Tampa, Florida,
ranks first, followed
by Singapore with
29.3 percent.
Vienna
The most liveable city
According to the Global
Liveability Index 2019 of
the Economist Intelligence
Unit, Vienna is the city with
the best quality of life in an
international comparison.
The Austrian capital scores
particularly well in health-
care, culture, and educa-
tion. But it isn’t just the big
global metropolises that
impress with their offerings
and beauty. DEKRA
Assurance Services have,
for example, awarded
Dortmund as a “City with
Excellent Quality of Life”.
In particular, criteria such
Tampa’s green areas
as cleanliness, safety,
keep promises
made by the Google
sustainability, and urban
data (image above) living are assessed and
tested.
26 DEKRA solutions 1/2021You can also read
