insights.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises associate “insolvency” with shocking events. In practice, it is often different. The collapse is announced weeks, sometimes months in advance. The

It’s not the idea that fails first. It’s the execution – and that depends on data, processes and speed. Many SMEs plan their international expansion as

Many machine manufacturers have been selling according to the same pattern for decades: machine out, service in, spare parts later. This works – until customers start

For many SMEs, “predictive maintenance” sounds like a luxury reserved for large corporations. In reality, it is often a very down-to-earth issue: avoiding downtime, planning for

Downtime is rarely “bad luck”. There are usually warning signs beforehand. In German SMEs, maintenance is often planned as follows: fixed intervals, fixed checklists, fixed spare

Those who understand their customers’ operations sell more than just a system. In traditional mechanical and plant engineering, the competitive advantage often lies in the details:

When warning signs are ignored, growth turns into a total loss. Wirecard was a model company for a long time. Then the house of cards collapsed.

If you ‘just roll out’ abroad, you are buying into expensive misconceptions. Many German SMEs are internationalising because the domestic market is becoming saturated. That is

Doing business abroad can make strategic sense. However, it can tie you down for years if you underestimate the liability risks. When medium-sized companies consider expanding