ENG: Controller in digital world: seize opportunities!

05/22/2017

42nd Controller Congress: Largest controlling conference in Europe opened in Munich / ICV Chairman Gänßlen: "Paradigm change in company management"

Munich, May 15, 2017- The 42nd Controller Congress under the heading "Agile Controlling in Digital Reality – Managing Upheavals Successfully" was opened in Munich on Monday, May 15. There was plenty of discussion material for the 650 participants in Europe's largest controlling appraisal, explained ICV Chairman Siegfried Gänßlen in his welcoming speech. He asked the controllers to throw old patterns of behavior overboard, to become more innovative and to develop more start-up mentality.

"We meet in exciting times," says the long-time CEO of Hansgrohe SE, Siegfried Gänßlen: "In almost all areas, there are fundamental changes that are “anything but everyday" in their intensity, range, complexity and dynamics. "For digitalization is not just about technological innovations, but also enables entirely new business models and turns markets around completely, the controllers are also called upon to question everything," explained the ICV Chairman.

“Digitization is on the road and means that control-relevant data is now available in real-time for management - even without the controller’s work. But there is an increased need for coordination as a result of the increasing self-controlling of the executives. And, what is now the 'one version of the truth'?" Gänßlen sees it as the task of the controllers to ensure that controlling skills are communicated to the management and that the rationality assurance is guaranteed.

Company examples showed that already today many of controller activities are automated, especially in reporting and planning, continued Gänßlen. "We are already in a time of transformation. In enterprise management, the paradigm shift takes place: from reactive to proactive-predicting." Data-based, quantitative-statistical correlations can be identified and continuously checked for validity. New models served as the basis for advanced scenario planning, qualification of strategic options and the evaluation of business cases.

The ICV Chairman devoted himself to the current and future tasks of controllers. "High-quality IT systems do not develop themselves: business-specific design will have to be delivered by the controlling experts, says the ICV Chairman. "The tooling must be created in collaboration with Data Scientists. We receive a new distribution of the controlling tasks and a strongly changed controller profile." Data analysis already proves to be a competence field of specialists. Data Scientists are required as experts with their technological, mathematical and analytical competencies.

Many publications, studies and forecasts have dealt with the subject of digitization and artificial intelligence. The one hand scenarios would highlight new opportunities for controllers, others describe the massive loss of work in the controlling, which would mean job losses of the controller. The Chairman of the International Association of Controllers (ICV) warned that the controllers would have to enter the process of change. The existing toolbox, the skills and the mindset should be reestablished. The new skills required are knowledge in statistics and information technology and communication skills, as well as a solid understanding of the business model and the value chain of the company. "We have to throw old patterns of behavior overboard, become more innovative and develop more start-up mentality", demands Gänßlen from the controllers.

According to Gänßlens, the increasing automation also creates free spaces for controllers; new tasks and new jobs. "Through their deep insight into the company and the business models, controllers have the ideal prerequisites for assuming higher management positions. The way to the top of the company is also feasible", the ICV Chairman is certain. The most recent example of these perspectives is Dr. Richard Lutz, the new CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG. Dr. Lutz, who has been a member of the ICV Board of Trustees for several years, spoke at the 42nd Controller Congress on Monday morning. His theme: "Deutsche Bahn in times of digitization".

The International Controller Association (ICV) has in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and 12 other countries in Central and Eastern Europe around 6,500 in practical Controlling active members. The key objective of ICV controlling philosophy is reaching permanent economic success. With its honorary chairman Dr. Albrecht Deyhle the association, founded in 1975 has shaped the Controlling in German speaking countries placed and influenced. The ICV merges controllers, CFOs, managers and scientists and  it is strictly oriented its members’ benefit. Experience, communication and being focused  on future-oriented trends are foundations of ICV. ICV combines practical experience with the latest research results and prepares its knowledge for practical implementation. The ICV is makes personal contribution to the success of its members and to the sustainable performance of companies. Siegfried Gänßlen is the chairman of ICV, CEO of Hansgrohe SE, Schiltach, Vice-Chairman of ICV is Prof. Dr. Heimo Losbichler, FH Steyr.

 

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