Strategy
Shaping the future through innovative, sustainable and implementation-oriented approaches
Our strategic consulting supports municipalities, companies and organizations in shaping their digital transformation and sustainable development. We develop tailor-made concepts that define short- to long-term goals and include concrete and field-tested action plans to implement innovations in a targeted manner. In doing so, we combine technological expertise with sustainable thinking and rely on effective communication and strong participation.
Development of digital strategies & specialist strategies
Smart city applications and solutions require strategy! This is especially true for complex digitalization projects and specialist applications. We constantly analyze the latest trends, test them for feasibility and always have an open ear for our customers’ needs. This is how we create tailor-made solutions for every need – innovative, pragmatic and individual.
Project reference: #AAHDH TogetherDigital
Model municipalities Smart Cities
As part of the federal model project “Smart Cities Model Projects” of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, the cities of Aalen and Heidenheim have joined forces and successfully submitted an inter-municipal application under the motto #AalenHeidenheimGemeinsamDigital.
One of the aims of the project is to improve the quality of life of citizens. This is based on five measures: A Digital Urban Development Concept (DSEK), a Convergent Network Plan, an Urban Cockpit Solution, Smart Parking and Smart Urban Logistics. The citizen participation component with new digital platforms will play a key role. We are pleased to be supporting the municipalities of Aalen and Heidenheim in the implementation of this project.
Pia Dudel
Smart City Manager
Heidenheim
For us, the ZDE is not just a service provider, but rather a partner who is working with us on the road to the smart city. The most important ingredients for this successful collaboration are open and trusting communication – paired with technical expertise and innovative ideas – which is exactly what we get and value from ZDE!
Smart City & Smart Region Strategies
The big bracket! A smart city or smart region strategy brings together the approaches from all other concepts and specialist strategies. It forms the master plan for the digital municipality or the digital district. Based on a comprehensive inventory, it shows the vision, provides concrete options for action and thus paves the way to a sustainable, digital future.
1
STRATEGY
We solve administrative challenges with an interdisciplinary team and offer customized, creative concepts. After analyzing the status quo, we develop a plan together with you and work out the necessary questions and solutions for your digital strategy in innovative workshop formats, BarCamps and online participation.
2
COMMUNICATION & PARTICIPATION
Participation should be integrated into the entire project process in order to create a coherent communication culture. Two of the most important success factors are the right communication and participation management, based on a comprehensive stakeholder analysis. We offer both the planning and implementation of contemporary participation formats, both on-site and online. We use our experience from innovative event formats to find the right mix for you.
3
MEASURE GENERATION
Your strategy is in place, and the ideas of the stakeholders have been integrated. Now it’s time to quantify these ideas, summarize them, and prioritize them. We use a proven model to assess the technical and financial feasibility of your measures and provide a well-founded statement on funding eligibility. We support you in identifying suitable funding programs, applying for funding, submitting applications and providing implementation advice, developing specifications and managing tenders.
4
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
During the strategy phase, it becomes clear that silos within the administration must be broken down, triggering new fields of activity and a change process. These include new areas that require cross-interface collaboration:
- Data analysis and evaluation
- low-/no-code programming
- Open data provision
- Dealing with new data infrastructures
5
IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT
We not only develop concepts and strategies, but also implement them together with you. We leverage our broad network and the technical solutions of our partners. Our in-house team of experts supports you in implementation, developing sensor applications and innovative digital solutions. The implementation phase often begins with real-world laboratories and citizen science projects. The implementation phase often begins with the implementation of real-world laboratories and the establishment of citizen science projects.
Organizational change & development
Carrying on as usual? That doesn’t work. Digitalization makes it clear to us that organizations need to evolve, question old principles, and, if necessary, throw them out the window. We accompany our clients on this journey as sparring partners – so that in the end, you have exactly the processes you need. We are on hand with advice and support, including concrete support with regard to personnel development.
New specialist topics include developing a data strategy, establishing a data culture, and connecting the strategy to action areas such as retail concepts, transport development, and climate protection. We have tested these topics at the European project level and bring this experience to your project.
Planning and implementation of communication & participation measures
Digital future, and no one’s getting there? Not with us. Good, strategically thought-out project communication and effective stakeholder engagement are at least half the battle. We place great importance on these areas and have the necessary in-house expertise to implement them in an innovative and engaging way for everyone involved.
Needs analysis
What are the requirements for your communication and participation? In this basic module, we will clarify precisely this question and lay the foundation for targeted project communication.
Derivation of individual goals
The exact goals in the areas of communication and participation vary from case to case. There is no one-size-fits-all blueprint. Therefore, we provide tailored advice and, through dialogue, define appropriate goals for your project.
Stakeholder and issues management, target group analysis
To engage and communicate effectively, a precise understanding of the stakeholders and target groups is necessary. Building on this, issues management is developed as a central tool of your communications strategy.
Concepts and strategies
Whether analog, digital, or hybrid: Pursuing your individual communication and engagement goals requires a professional concept. We would be happy to develop this concept together with you!
Planning and implementation of participation formats
We are there for you not only in the planning but also in the actual implementation of a wide range of participation formats.
Campaign development
What core messages should your project’s image consist of? And what language and tone does your target audience understand? We’ll work with you to develop the right campaign.
Public relations and strategic communication
We are also happy to support you with public relations and strategic communication related to your projects.
Integration into your overall strategy for the digital future
A good engagement and communication strategy should be closely linked to your overall project strategy to ensure the desired goals are achieved. We’re happy to help and work with you to create a coherent whole!
Development of future neighborhoods
Conventional approaches to neighborhood planning are increasingly reaching their limits. Sustainable neighborhoods require interconnected solutions and close collaboration between diverse stakeholders and companies. We analyze needs across all affected areas, create synergies, connect partners, and work with them to develop smart concepts. Groundbreaking neighborhoods that are innovative, livable, and sustainable? We’re happy to help!
Goals & Benefitsfor municipalities
- LInformation Platform & Image
- LIncreased efficiency and coordination
- LSavings & optimization of personnel resources
- LMonitoring Urban Development & Real-Time Planning
- LMonitoring the achievement of goals
- LForward-looking creation of housing (including social housing)
- LControl model through the construction of the district platform
Goals & Benefitsfor residents
- LHigher degree of participation in developments in one's own environment
- LTransparency of administrative actions and policies
- LLeveraging innovative technologies
- LSupply
Goals & Benefitsfor Utilities and Municipal Utilities
- LAttractiveness and sales promotion
- Lmodern image
- LFulfilment of tender criteria
- LInnovation
Goals & Benefitsfor the real estate industry
- LThe planning process is optimized
- LCoordinated information on one platform
- LOverview of synergy potential through transparency of SWK's range of services
- LCentral contact person for all needs
- LMonitoring and optimisation of the connection process
- LOptimisation/partial elimination of specialist planning
Funding management
Effective funding management is key to turning visions into reality. We handle the entire funding research process, identify suitable programs, and ensure complete processing – from application to successful implementation and invoicing. This ensures access to the right funding and creates the financial foundation for sustainable and future-oriented projects.
Support with the application process
Development of a content-based funding concept
Technical funding research and recommendations
Funding assessment for measure development
Funding management after the application phase
Implementation of funding projects at state, federal and EU level
Preparation of cost plans
Evaluation of measures
Writing interim and final reports
Climate & sustainability strategies
Carry on as before and hope that it won’t get so bad?
No, that’s not an option. Climate change and its increasingly noticeable consequences leave organizations of all kinds with no choice but to develop sustainable strategies and fundamentally change their mindset. We help with holistic, far-sighted climate and sustainability strategies tailored to your individual needs. Let’s discover together how ecological and economic goals can be reconciled!
ZDE – Your partner for entry-level and orientation advice
Expertise from projects with, among others:
- German Energy Agency (dena)
- KEA Baden-Württemberg – Data management renewable energies
- BSI – Secure data transmission in municipalities
Supporting municipalities with:
- Potential studies on climate protection and mobility
- Application for municipal climate networks
- Municipal heat planning (Project organization, stakeholder participation, communication)
Stakeholder Participation & Communication in Municipal Heat Planning
Municipal heat planning, and everyone just has questions, questions, questions? We know this and are happy to help. The success of complex projects is based on transparent communication and the active involvement of all stakeholders. Together with fantastic partner companies, we bring all relevant stakeholders together and promote creative, effective, and dialogue-oriented collaboration on equal terms. With our extensive experience, we do everything we can to ensure that your heat planning is supported by all stakeholders and becomes a success.
Stakeholder-workshops
The focus is on identifying and actively involving key local actors and all other relevant stakeholders.
- =All stakeholders at the same table from the start
- =Comprehensive information for all stakeholders
- =Involvement and active participation by the stakeholders
- =Incorporate local knowledge and diverse perspectives
Who are the stakeholders?
Citizen dialogue
An open dialogue to explain the impact of municipal heat planning on citizens and to manage expectations.
- =Explanation of general topics
- =Keynote speeches on the project status
- =Keynote speeches from independent partners, explaining, for example, legal topics
- =Platform for exchange between citizens and project stakeholders
Climate potential analyses
Effective climate protection requires clear data and well-thought-out strategies!
We conduct comprehensive climate analyses for municipalities and districts, collecting relevant data, compiling it, and interpreting it precisely. From the results, we derive directly implementable recommendations for action and support our clients in developing targeted measures – sound, practical, and tailored.
Municipalities play a key role in implementing climate protection goals. Continuous climate monitoring is essential to systematically measure and reduce CO₂ emissions in relevant sectors such as mobility, energy, and infrastructure.
We support municipalities by providing a sound CO₂ footprint as a starting point. By collecting and analyzing various data sources—such as consumption data or particulate matter measurements—we create a comprehensive picture of current emissions. This data is visualized in a dashboard to create transparency and derive targeted climate adaptation measures.
Thanks to many years of experience, we develop individually tailored strategies for reducing emissions and support their implementation on site – for a sustainable, climate-friendly future.
What is your project about?
We are happy to work for you and with you on your digital future – creatively, solution-oriented and highly motivated!
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