The technicians look at the defective part and can immediately call up all related manuals or goods in stock . Every process step is displayed . In the event of very complex processes , they could , for example , call a colleague at the company location and solve the problem together with them via live stream .
BEUMER Group already uses tablets successfully at several airports that operate its baggage handling systems . This includes Singapore Changi Airport . As one of the main hubs for Southeast Asia , this airport is known to be very progressive and passenger-friendly . The baggage handling system was developed and integrated by BEUMER Group . The system supplier is exclusively responsible for ensuring troublefree operation , optimum maintenance and therefore the long-term coordination of the baggage handling systems . The Customer Support employees provide 24 / 7 operation at the baggage control rooms and necessary preventive maintenance to ensure continuous system availability and best performance .
Actively shaping progress instead of trying to keep up with it
You cannot stop progress . The question is who is driving it . Similar to the automotive industry , which is challenged by electric mobility and deals with the issue of who is going to develop and manufacture the vehicles and , above all , the drives in future , the intralogistics companies will soon be challenged by competitors who are not only from their own sector . Today they are Apple , Google and Facebook , also in this sector – and , in the case of BEUMER Group , even Spotify . The system supplier ' s product range does not include music , but its sortation systems were used for sorting or distributing CDs for the music industry . With the streaming services becoming more popular and CD production and sales significantly decreasing , this industry no longer needs sortation systems . " This was only a small niche sector , but it may also happen with any other of our industries ," fears Dr Beumer . " With our systems , we equip the baggage handling area of airports all over the world . However , there are service providers who pick up the baggage at the front door and take it directly to the destination . Passengers no longer have to take care themselves ." The so-called ' Unicorn Club ', i . e . start-ups whose assessed potential corresponds to billions , is steadily growing . Should suppliers like BEUMER Group wait until they are swept aside by these developments ?
Developing disruptive models from within
Certainly not . As a family business , BEUMER Group has a responsibility for its employees and customers . This is why the system supplier responds to these major changes and opted for fostering disruptive ideas by founding its own start-ups : " We have two spin-off companies which we have started to complement our existing innovation
department ," explains Dr Beumer . " They develop so-called minimum viable products , that is , prototypes that feature minimum equipment , whose market potential is checked until they have reached market readiness ."
The BEUMER start-up BG . evolution is located in Dortmund in the immediate vicinity of the innovation centre Digital . Hub Logistics . Here , companies and researchers work together to design the logistics for digital business models . Developments include , for example , an app enabling users to keep an eye on the current status of the machinery connected to their system via their smart phones or tablets .
Furthermore , BG . challenge was founded in Berlin . Here , the focus is on developing new business models which may disrupt existing business models from outside . BG . challenge offers start-up support for young entrepreneurs . " This helps us get ready for the future and puts us in a great position for the digital age ," says Dr Beumer .
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