CEO Dr Fritz Audebert sees his global company ICUnet.group in a better position than before.
How does a company that has built up a global network and lives from handling international business relationships get through the coronavirus crisis? The sudden lockdown has left Dr Fritz Audebert, CEO of ICUnet.AG, almost in despair. "If you had asked me at the end of March, I would have been devastated," says the 54-year-old, who runs his company from Passau with 180 permanent employees and 350 freelancers. Six weeks ago, he would not have thought it possible that the crisis would turn into an opportunity and that the company, with 21 branches worldwide and an annual turnover of 16 million euros, would now be in a better position than before. PNP spoke to the company founder about the situation in Corona times.
Dr Audebert, how did the sudden turnaround come about that now makes you more confident?
"We have been able to acquire three new major customers in recent weeks: Continental AG, Novomatic and Bilfinger SE. The three companies have purchased the Global Mobility software developed by our own software specialists. Global players such as Allianz, Brose, AUDI, Porsche and MAN are already using it, as are 50 other highly successful international companies."
Global Mobility software: what does it mean?
"Apart from our tool, there is currently only one other IT solution from the USA in the world that HR departments can use to efficiently process all international personnel movements. A unique feature of the ICUnet solution is its end2end approach. This means, for example, that the VW personnel manager can see at a glance how many of his employees are currently working in Mexico or Brazil. Companies can also use our software to handle their entire business trip management. They know which employee's visa or work permit is due to expire, whether a flight has been postponed or whether the hire car is ready, to name just a few examples. This can avoid many inconveniences and save companies millions of euros, allowing them to concentrate on their core competences. ICUnet.AG has invested almost two million euros in the development of this software in recent years in order to be able to handle all international processes digitally."
But in times like these, even business trips have virtually come to a standstill. Many have realised that video calls can also be a solution. "Of course, global mobility is not so easy at the moment, but things are slowly picking up again. Air traffic will certainly not reach the volumes it had before coronavirus. But video conferencing alone is not enough. Our customers tell us that they can't replace face-to-face contact. Speaking of video conferencing: on the one hand, we have found that many employees are not properly equipped technically and, on the other hand, it makes a big difference how webinars are conducted so that customers and employees are kept in the loop. Good online contact with an Indian colleague must be established differently than with a South American, for example. This is where our strength lies, because our team is also multinational."
Do you have short-time work?
"At first, during the lockdown, we were busy bringing our customers' employees home or frantically looking for accommodation, as many hotels suddenly closed from one day to the next. That was a challenge to master. But our employees always found a way, which is great. They have my full trust. Performance = can x want x may. Setting guardrails is a management task. Before the crisis, we had 5,000 training participants worldwide. As the market leader in e-learning in the intercultural field, we were able to implement some of the training from face-to-face formats to virtual formats. Thank God there is the instrument of short-time work. This allowed us to somewhat compensate for the abrupt drop in demand in this area."
How did you come up with the idea of building such an intercultural, global network?
"I was born in Landshut, Germany. I first trained as a wholesale and foreign trade merchant at the Pollozek company in Pfarrkirchen, then studied business administration and was subsequently office manager at the Simbach am Inn forestry office. This was followed by the still unique Passau cultural management studies. "Those who don't become anything become cultural managers," the business administration and law students wrote on the wall of the toilets at the university. That challenged me. "That can't and shouldn't be the case in an increasingly globalized world," I thought to myself at the time. That was 19 years ago. Shortly afterwards, ICUnet.AG received the most important award for company founders in Germany, the "German Founder's Prize", from Federal President Johannes Rau."
ICUnet – sounds interesting, but what exactly is it?
"I see you in the Internet" is one of the word plays that you can do with our company logo. But it also contains intercultural network or international community."
"Make success global" is also a slogan that you like to use. But why from Passau of all places?
"Maybrit Illner also asked me that when I received the German Founder's Prize. It's quite simple, because I really like the city. Today, 45 employees are employed at our headquarters on Fritz-Schäffer-Promenade/Rindermarkt, 15 in Hauzenberg and another 120 worldwide. They all take care of the complete business travel management of companies, the entire relocation issue including its regulations. ICUnet.AG is internationally positioned, 40 nationalities and 60 languages. We do the so-called move management worldwide. This includes, among other things, our experts having furniture shipped, renting apartments, taking care of school counseling for children of the respective relocated employees, as well as for dogs and horses that are moving with them. In a nutshell: Absolutely everything the customer wants."
And what does the boss personally take care of?
"During the crisis, I had to become more of a communicator, motivator, and moderator than ever before. Normally, we don't have conferences with our employees across all borders in short intervals throughout the team - now we do once a month. Everyone from China to Mexico to Singapore is on the call."
As a global player, how do you see the future of Europe in international comparison?
"It is important that we Europeans do not try to emulate China. We cannot build a second Silk Road, our strengths lie rather in the diversity of our individual countries. And this is where I see a great opportunity. Here I come back to the forest: a mixed forest is much more stable than any monoculture - see the current spruce forests in Lower Bavaria!"
Interview: Elke Fischer Passauer Neue Presse 10.07.2020