Many companies have faced an existential crisis in recent months due to challenging economic conditions, Germany's unique structural situation, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation has been further aggravated by sharply rising capital costs, heightened risk aversion among financiers, and debt obligations from the pandemic period. According to enomyc author Dr. Stefan Frings, multiple crises present the perfect opportunity for decisive action.
Many companies have faced an existential crisis in recent months due to challenging economic conditions, Germany's unique structural situation, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation has been further aggravated by sharply rising capital costs, heightened risk aversion among financiers, and debt obligations from the pandemic period. According to enomyc author Dr. Stefan Frings, multiple crises present the perfect opportunity for decisive action.
"I have never seen an OTC company in crisis that lacked pharmaceutical or product expertise," says marketing and sales expert Peter Klein. "Most of them lack digital know-how and digital marketing expertise." So what makes OTC products relevant? Why should pharmaceutical manufacturers see themselves as customer-centric companies? Insights and recommendations for action - now in an interview.
The real estate sector is currently facing one of the most severe crises in its history. In the short term, few expect a genuine recovery. What can companies do now to escape the industry's downward spiral? Christian Kuhs, founder and Business Development at Nordantech, discussed this with enomyc founder and Managing Partner Uwe Köstens and enomyc partner and real estate expert Matias Otto on the #SHIFTHAPPENS Podcast by Nordantech.
What effect does the family factor have on change processes in family businesses? Our partner Dr. Tim Bauer researched this topic years ago. In 2012, he completed his PhD on "Innovation Processes in Family Businesses." Prior to that, he worked at the Chair for Family Businesses, advised young founders, and studied renowned family businesses from the German Mittelstand. That he now advises family businesses in transformation processes is partly because he himself comes from a family business and managed the company for a decade with his brother.
Relocation, reshoring, offshoring, and rebuilding: The geographical shifts of internationally producing companies resemble a busy puzzle. While BASF closes facilities at its German headquarters and invests $10 billion in constructing a mega factory off the coast of southern China, Tesla explores alternatives to production sites in China and Taiwan. Meanwhile, Stellantis plans to scale down its electric vehicle production in China, and Neura Robotics is returning to its German headquarters from China this year. The reasons for these production relocations vary by industry, from high factor costs and geopolitical risks to tariff avoidance.
Whereas crises used to be exceptional, they have become a constant due to the pandemic and wars. Currently, they are also prevalent in companies. enomyc founder and Managing Partner Martin Hammer has witnessed far more than a thousand companies in crisis – and has successfully led many out of it. A conversation about the causes and symptoms of crises, and the Tarragona Strategy, a proven concept not only in medicine.
The StaRUG x Leoni AG case is making history in corporate restructuring. Specifically, it represents a paradigm shift. According to the summary of the restructuring plan, the expected return for the shareholders affected by the plan in the next best alternative scenario was 0%. This has never happened before. How has this case affected restructuring practices since then? Who are the winners and losers? And what opportunities or risks does StaRUG hold for LLCs? Ralf Ehret, Partner and Head of Debt Advisory, provides insights.
Optimizing the product range involves far more than just updating the product and service offering. Rather, it is about drawing a sharp line between profitable and market-relevant products and those that tie up resources without generating corresponding returns. Anyone who dares to take this step should not shy away from complex processes, comprehensive data analyses and a structured examination of market dynamics.
"Human beings have three ways to act wisely," once taught Confucius. "First, by reflection, which is the noblest; second, by imitation, which is the easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest." Is China taking the easiest path? And will it be bitter for Germany? How economic policy and SMEs might react to China’s economic trajectory is discussed by Christian Zeller, partner at enomyc, in this interview.
Many SMEs are being forced to optimize their operational processes due to growing pressure on earnings. What is often overlooked is the overhead area. Experience shows that many medium-sized companies in particular are lugging around unnecessary ballast. Yet there is enormous potential for reducing costs in the overhead area: 15 to 18 percent is not uncommon.
The European Commission wants to ensure greater fairness with a regulation to combat late payment in commercial transactions. It also wants to increase the competitiveness and resilience of SMEs. That sounds good, but it also has its downsides, according to Marc Fahrig and Ralf Ehret. The experts explain what companies should prepare for now.
Disruptive technologies such as genAI are becoming increasingly important in the business world. This presents the upper midmarket segment with the challenge of not only understanding these technologies as a trend, but also applying them in practice in order to best increase efficiency and innovative capacity. Concerns that the barriers to entry are too high for SMEs are unfounded, says head of innovation at enomyc and author, Franz Wenzel.
