Sick AG: Further Training with a Feel-Good Factor

Continuing Education at Sick AG: A Campus with a Wow Effect

Even before the COVID pandemic, SICK AG began to invest in the future-proofing of its training program: All measures such as customer training, safety training and technical training were combined and digitalized in one place: the current campus of the SICK Sensor Intelligence Academy (SIA). This is more than just a physical location, where employees and customers learn in various training scenarios on site and globally networked. Nico Zimmermann, head of the SIA Campus, reports in the interview on backgrounds and best practices.

What role does media technology play in this?

All rooms are equipped with camera systems, microphones, whiteboards and large displays. This allows us not only to conduct in-person events with European colleagues here on site, but also to connect employees from all over the world to the training. Our collaboration tool is Cisco‘s Webex, which creates a seamless connection between people in physical and virtual spaces. That is a key success criterion in the collaboration.

How have you experienced avodaq as your technology partner?

We have had a partner with avodaq for the planning and implementation of media technology, who has really understood and fulfilled our requirements. In addition, the employees of avodaq were always constructively critical – they did not sell us a digital tool, but we developed solutions for our training scenarios together.

Can you give an example of the specific benefits of digitalization?

Each room has a tablet that can be used to operate the technology. The user interface for this is kept as simple as possible. You no longer need to perform a test run in advance, it works. And the screens in the entrance area do not only show meeting schedules like in the conference hotel. We also include our available training as well as small videos of the employees and teams who work at the SIA Campus on that day. Because they make an important contribution to team spirit.

How do you measure the success of the SIA Campus?

One of the most important parameters is the revenue development. We have generated high revenues in recent years, also because we rent out the academy to external parties. So some customers and companies in the region conduct their training with us. The second important key figure is the satisfaction of customers and employees, for example with our equipment and infrastructure. Before the construction of the SIA Campus, many training participants wished that we held further events in a hotel. That has changed significantly.

What distinguishes the spirit of the Academy from a normal building, and how is it created?

Customers find an ideal atmosphere with us to conduct stimulating conversations in small and larger groups. You simply feel better in an attractive environment. And we are not the classic bureaucratic team with well-established processes and specifications – for us, customer centricity with great support and comprehensive service is clearly important. We want customers to want to come back, and for that the spirit is a key to success. The modern building envelope and the beautiful rooms certainly contribute to this, but the digital interior is what makes the difference.

What is your personal highlight of the SIA Campus?

Every new morning on the premises is wonderful. This is also due to the successful combination of the listed Buchholz Castle and the avant-garde architecture into an inspiring ensemble. In addition, we are located in a small wine-growing village around the corner from the SICK location in Waldkirch. Many engineers have given us feedback that they can clear their heads here and rethink solutions. Together with the digital connection to the world and an excellent service by the team, the spirit of the SIA Campus can work.

Best Practices for Modern Continuing Education

• From the perspective of the building, it is above all about flexibility. This is achieved if each of the rooms can accommodate multiple use cases.
• A different color palette was deliberately used in the SIA Campus than in the group. This brings life to the rooms and supports the unique SIA spirit. In addition, the upscale interior creates a certain feel-good atmosphere.
• A screen and a speaker per room are not modern media technology: For product management meetings, videos must be able to run, while other teams hold hybrid meetings. This places high demands on everything from the sound in the room to the translation technology.
• The entire media technology on the tablets, for example, must include a user interface that works as simply as on the iPhone. The trainer can operate all functions with three buttons. This also contributes to the good fuel.

SICK AG is currently building another location of the Sensor Intelligence Academy in Minneapolis (USA). The findings from the campus in Germany were incorporated into the planning.