Interview: Innovation, Community and End-to-End Integration

CAD+T | Interview with Managing Director Martina Schwarz: innovation, community and what's new at Holz-Handwerk

Möbelfertigung: Ms Schwarz, your big innovation recently was parts tracking with RFID. How are customers taking to it?

Martina Schwarz: The market launch of parts tracking using RFID technology has met with an exceptionally positive response from our customers. The take-up of this innovation exceeded our expectations, and we are thrilled with the feedback and the wide range of applications our customers are showing us. This commitment and the constructive feedback have inspired us to explore and implement further features and improvements. We see considerable potential in RFID technology to further increase efficiency and transparency in our customers' supply chains, and we are motivated to continue down this path together, as a partner at our customers' side. To make full use of what RFID technology can do, we offer it for many different areas of application, including warehouse management, production control and assembly.

Möbelfertigung: A lot has changed since the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. What would you say were the biggest changes for CAD+T?

Martina Schwarz: Without doubt this brought about a fundamental change in the way we work. The most significant adjustment was the accelerated shift of many applications, services and processes to the cloud. This initially challenging situation turned out in hindsight to be a valuable opportunity. The switch to cloud-based solutions has not only improved the efficiency and flexibility of our internal workflows but has also had a positive influence on the market. Two main effects stand out in particular. Firstly, increased accessibility and flexibility for customers, and secondly, the accelerated digitalisation of the industry. The rapid adoption of cloud-based solutions within our industry has had a domino effect on the entire market. This has increased the overall pace of innovation and opened up new opportunities for growth and development. All in all, this shift to the cloud has played a major part in shaping the market by redefining the standards for efficiency, accessibility and digital readiness.

Möbelfertigung: How do you see your current position in the market?

Martina Schwarz: We are currently positioning ourselves very strongly and positively in the market. Thanks to our continuously growing team and our strategic expansions, we are steadily strengthening our market presence. A fine example of our success is the opening of our new branch in Coimbatore, India, at the end of 2023. This expansion underlines our commitment to growth and our ability to operate globally. Our strength in the market is reflected not only in our geographical expansion but also in our capacity for innovation and our commitment.

CAD+T India team

Möbelfertigung: What would you say sets CAD+T apart from the competition?

Martina Schwarz: What really sets CAD+T apart from the competition is our ability to implement genuine end-to-end integration for production in batch size 1. Our approach goes far beyond providing a software solution. We offer a comprehensive portfolio that includes consulting on optimising production processes, recommendations for process improvement, the supply of hardware and the provision of specialised software. This holistic approach allows us to offer tailor-made solutions that are precisely matched to the individual needs of our customers. Through this comprehensive support and our commitment to innovation, we ensure that our customers not only keep pace with current technology but can also exploit its full potential to increase their efficiency and competitiveness.

Möbelfertigung: What are the most important new features in your software?

Martina Schwarz: The most important new features in our software comprise a wide range of innovations aimed at improving the applicability, efficiency and user-friendliness of our solutions. One game changer is the integration of an interface between SketchUp and CAD+T, which allows models to be transferred and edited seamlessly. This development opens up new possibilities for our users in planning and concept design and represents a significant advance in the compatibility and flexibility of our software. We have also expanded our range of cloud applications, for example with the launch of the new EOS app. And finally, in response to increased demand, we have extended our portfolio with additional services in the field of automation processes, which enable a holistic and material-independent view of production processes.

Möbelfertigung: You communicate very actively and offer a great many workshops. How important is the idea of community to CAD+T and its customers?

Martina Schwarz: The idea of community plays a central role for CAD+T and our customers. Our customers are characterised by a strong sense of community, and it is important to us to actively promote exchange within this global user community. We strive to create suitable platforms and opportunities for this exchange, whether by organising workshops, providing discussion forums or hosting events specifically designed to bring our users together. This strong sense of community among our users not only makes it possible to share knowledge and experience but also fosters innovation and collaboration. Moreover, cooperation between our customers has led to joint projects being carried out across national borders, making optimal use of synergies. This form of collaboration underlines the strength of our network.

Möbelfertigung: How was the last Customer Meeting in September, for example? What do you personally take away from an event like that?

Martina Schwarz: The last Customer Meeting in September, which was held in a hybrid format, gave us many valuable insights. We are very pleased to announce that in 2024 we will return to a “real” Customer Meeting, which for us means going “back to the roots”. The past few years have shown that technology opens up many new possibilities for us, but direct, human contact remains irreplaceable. Personally, I always come away from these events with important new ideas. A particularly formative moment for me was when a customer said to me: “You never stand still for a single day and you develop so quickly.” This compliment was not only flattering but also shows that our efforts to constantly innovate and develop are noticed and appreciated by our community.

Möbelfertigung: How do you assess the current economic situation overall?

Martina Schwarz: Assessing the current economic situation is complex, and many different opinions and estimates are circulating. Personally, I prefer not to rely on hearsay. It is undeniable that the post-pandemic phase, even if not as severely as forecast, has left its mark on the economy, but I am optimistic and firmly believe that our industry will emerge stronger from this challenge. At CAD+T we can count ourselves lucky to have a solid order book, which is not a given in these times. This reinforces our approach of continuously giving our best. The resilience and adaptability that many companies have shown during and after the pandemic are encouraging signs that we are able to grow and develop even under difficult conditions.

Möbelfertigung: Do you have any major projects or investments planned for the near future?

Martina Schwarz: Yes, we do indeed have some exciting projects and investments in the pipeline. One focus of our work is the continuous further development of our RFID solution. This technology is a core area of our offering, and we strive to constantly improve its functionality and applicability for our customers. In addition, we attach great importance to the further development of our software, in particular through the introduction of new features and functions. These innovations are based largely on feedback from our community. The close exchange with our users enables us to respond precisely to their needs and adapt our products accordingly. Another key area of investment is the development of our cloud solutions. Given the growing importance of the cloud for modern business processes, we are investing considerable resources in research and development in order to offer our customers advanced and innovative cloud services. On top of all this, further exciting projects are already in the pipeline, but unfortunately I cannot say anything specific about them at this point. One thing is certain, though: you will hear more about them soon.

Möbelfertigung: What can visitors to your stand at Holz-Handwerk look forward to?

Martina Schwarz: Visitors to our stand at Holz-Handwerk can look forward to an exceptional experience. We are there with a large team and an impressive stand, which we presented for the first time at LIGNA last year and which now celebrates its debut at Holz-Handwerk. It is designed to give everyone the opportunity to experience our latest features and solutions at first hand. Our aim is to create a platform for stimulating discussions about current trends, future perspectives and innovative ideas in the woodworking industry.