6. July 2017

15 years of edr software – A passion for success

To mark the anniversary, our CEO Wolfgang Schmid provides exciting insights into the development of edr software, future goals and trends in the industry.

Blog editorial team: Dear Wolfgang, can you still remember your first projects? What were your biggest commissions?

Wolfgang Schmid: Our first projects were document management solutions and plan management solutions, i.e. digital construction files, at a time when the internet was not yet widespread. During the expansion of the airport terminal in Munich, for example, we were already operating a collaboration platform on which several 100,000 documents were exchanged digitally. Our digital defect management solution successfully demonstrated its capabilities for the first time during the construction of the 146 metre high Highlight Towers in Munich in 2003.

Blog editorial team:  edr software GmbH is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary. Where do you see the company on its 30th anniversary?

Wolfgang Schmid: I would be delighted if edr software continues on its successful path and our standard solutions for documentation and collaboration in the construction and property industry become indispensable in the future.

Our path to becoming one of the leading software providers and IT service providers for the construction industry

Blog editorial team: What do you think will be the key to success for edr software in the coming years?

Wolfgang Schmid: I believe our key recipe for success is – and will certainly remain in the future – our ability to always find the right mix of innovative and tried-and-tested solutions. And, of course, our self-image as more than just a software provider focussing solely on product sales. For us, the central driving force has always been the needs of our customers.

Blog editorial team: At the end of last year, the decision to separate from the Rauscher Group was finalised through a management buy-out. What prompted you to take this step?

Wolfgang Schmid: Both the companies of the Rauscher Group and edr software had successfully expanded their market position in the years prior to the MBO. The MBO was a logical step to make even better use of the core competences of the respective companies to secure key competitive advantages in the long term.

Blog editorial team: Does edr software still have anything to do with the Rauscher Group today?

Wolfgang Schmid: Yes, of course. Quite a lot, in fact. We still share the same office building, for example. But that’s not all. The culture of appreciation towards customers and employees that Dr Rauscher has anchored in his group of companies is also lived on in our company. We also complement each other perfectly in terms of expertise, especially in the BIM area. We continue to work closely with the three companies in the Rauscher Group. Our customers, some of whom we work with together, benefit above all from our broad expertise in the areas of planning, construction processes and digitalisation.

Blog editorial team: What has changed in the company since then?

Wolfgang Schmid: We have grown considerably in the meantime and have strengthened our services and marketing departments in particular. After 15 years and the separation from the Rauscher Group, it was also time for an all-round facelift. New corporate design, new website. Blue became turquoise.

Blog editorial team: Despite all the changes, what has remained the same?

Wolfgang Schmid: Our passion for the construction and property industry. This passion has enabled us to create solutions that work for 15 years. Because we listen to our customers. That’s why customer service remains our top priority.

Our visionaries – the trailblazers for your digital transformation

Blog editorial team: 15 years of edr software – what do you think has changed in the construction industry since then?

Wolfgang Schmid: The topic of digitalisation has arrived on construction sites. Hardly anyone questions the added value of functioning software solutions anymore. At the same time, customers’ demands have become much higher, as technological development is currently progressing very rapidly and different fields of technology can be combined in new ways.

Blog editorial team: How is edr software coping with change?

Wolfgang Schmid: As an innovative company, we not only stay close to technological issues, but also remain in close contact with our customers. This means that we always keep an eye on changing requirements and can respond to them in a targeted manner with new features and configuration options for our solutions.

Blog editorial team: Has there been a moment in the past 15 years that has particularly stuck in your memory?

Wolfgang Schmid: For me, there is no one single moment. It’s always those moments when a customer shares their enthusiasm with us. Our passion for the construction and property industry drives our work. When we also feel this passion on the customer side and realise that everyone is enjoying the project, then I know that we have done something exactly right.

Blog editorial team: Dear Wolfgang, thank you very much for the interview.

The somewhat different facts about the anniversary are here for you at the end.

Have fun with it!

In 15 years…