How to make working remotely work
Since the coronavirus pandemic, many more companies are starting to appreciate the value of working digitally – Pokeshot sets off to show them how to make it work
Normally, they would have met in Am Studio 2 in Adlershof, where Pokeshot has its headquarters. However, now, during the pandemic, it is better to keep a safe distance. Instead of shaking hands, waving hands pop up on the screen. Stephan Müller-Ziebur, CEO, und Christian Müller, procurator, quickly set up an online meeting and say hello. At 12pm sharp, after three to four clicks and officially confirming the meet-up, everybody is chatting about recent events and whether the fact that there are two Müllers are any indication of relation. It is, in fact, a complete coincidence.
Pokeshot’s concept can can be boiled down to the following: making the most of digital communication. Quick, hassle-free, and effective. ‘We consult companies which tools and software to use, be it online chats and meetings, or smart data depots. Instead of becoming places where data go to die never to be used again, like on so many company servers, they should be easy to use,’ says Müller-Ziebur. They also provide employee training, either on-site or online in webinars, enabling participants to track the proceedings on their screens as well as asking and discussing questions via video. ‘Additionally, we developed the assistant Mr. Smart. He guides users through the interface to help them get a good grasp on the software and handle them more effectively,’ adds Christian Müller. ‘A bit like Clippy from earlier Microsoft Office versions, just smarter.’
The company entered the market ten years ago, originally under the name ‘Social Media Solutions’, based in the attic of a semi-detached house in Rangsdorf. In 2012, Pokeshot, named after a type of volleyball attack, moved to Adlershof. A great location, affordable rents as well as bike racks and showers were the clinchers, according to Müller-Ziebur, who came to the office to collect the mail.
‘Meanwhile, we have 14 employees in Erding near Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin Adlershof, many of whom work remotely.’ There it is again, that new way of working that saved so many companies when the coronavirus pandemic began. Many more were now demanding it – which was not a problem for Pokeshot. Their training concepts can also be scaled to larger companies. Their list of customers now includes Audi AG, BVG, Berlin’s public transportation company, and Berliner Sparkasse, Berlin’s public saving bank.
‘Digital work has its pitfalls,’ warns Müller. The biggest mistake is trying to simply digitise analogue habits with a cookie-cutter approach. ‘Many spend too much time in meetings that are badly prepared and hardly documented – it’s such a waste of resources!’ Instead, he aims at focused preparation and results that are comprehensible as well as accessible. ‘This is a key skill for unlocking a company’s future success,’ he says.
Soon, artificial intelligence (AI) will contribute to curating company knowledge, making it accessible, and safeguarding its long-term usability. ‘AI is able to seek out content on blogs, for example, which the responsible experts have already noted, or point them towards important studies that match their topic and are available online,’ says Müller. ‘Artificial intelligence can also be used to describe a company’s processes,’ says Müller-Ziebur. ‘This can help new staff to quickly identify what is used for marketing, which documents to use, and who has which skills.’
As far as ideas for digital solutions go, the duo still has many of them.
By Ralf Nestler for Adlershof Journal