Bernhard, it’s been 35 years since you went to the notary and KEK was incorporated. What did you imagine the first five years of the company would be like back then?
(Laughs) The goal was to get a foothold and survive. None of us thought five years ahead. That might not sound very professional, but that’s how it was. It turned out to be particularly challenging that we had to take care of everything ourselves. And the realization that you’re responsible for everything yourself—nothing is handed to you on a silver platter. Another challenge: client acquisition. It wasn’t easy at all to land contracts. But we were happy to take on these challenges.
What motivated you to start your own business back then?
Above all, the desire to work on my own terms. But also the belief that I could do it and the prospect of a major contract that had already been promised. That contract, by the way, was canceled right after we launched the company. (Laughs).
In 1986, computers were still a rarity and smartphones were a long way off: How did you experience the digital revolution, and how did it affect your work?
The digital advancements of the past 35 years are truly incredible! I could write a book about it. Looking back, it’s hard to even imagine: The internet didn’t exist when we started out; ISDN, PCs, and fax machines were just beginning to emerge, and our first office had only four phone lines. Analog, of course. And naturally, there were no integrated software systems back then. There were only isolated programs for things like accounting, sales, purchasing, and so on.
Were there already established companies offering software development in the mid-1980s, or was KEK more of an oddball with a startup mentality?
We were more of a startup. But we were firmly convinced that the field of software development had a bright future ahead of it. And we believed in our abilities. Our first projects were custom programming jobs on the IBM 38. We purchased our first PC as early as 1986.
However, it became clear to us very early on that custom programming was not sustainable in the long run. So we decided to enter the project business and form a sales partnership with a software manufacturer. This is how, as early as 1987, we began focusing and specializing in small and medium-sized businesses and the process industry. We have never strayed from this path. The fact that even two changes in licensor could not shake us proves that this step was the right one.
What were the hardest times, and what were the best times?
The best times were definitely the 1990s. We had our well-defined niche, great clients who were more like fans, plenty of work, and a team of 25 people. There were always difficult times. For example, the split with software partners in 2000 and 2010 and the resulting search for new business areas and partners. The first bankruptcy of a client, who left us high and dry in 2005 with a 270,000-euro debt, was also not a pleasant experience. That makes me all the more pleased today that the company is currently in a very strong position and is on a solid path.
Why did you decide to switch to SAP in 2013?
After switching software partners several times, we recognized that SAP offers software with a bright future and great potential—potential that allows us to fully leverage our strengths. We believe SAP is ideal for small and medium-sized businesses and the process industry. The software is a tool that, combined with our expertise, can be tailored to meet each customer’s specific needs and deliver real added value.
You run KEK more like a family. Everyone on the team works independently; there are no rigid hierarchies. Today, that’s referred to as“New Work.”But back then, it was actually quite unusual.
It may be that this wasn’t always the norm in the past. I’m not in a position to judge that. But as far as I’m concerned: I don’t like an authoritarian style, and I can’t work that way. The challenge, however, is that everyone on the team has to learn to deal with it. Incidentally, I believe that those who take on more responsibility also deserve more freedom.
What experience has had a particularly profound impact on you?
Wanting to take responsibility and actually taking responsibility are two different things. It’s like with banks: when the sun is shining, they lend money, and when clouds roll in, they want it all back. In short, you’re responsible for almost everything yourself, and what you don’t take care of yourself won’t get done on its own.
How important is your career to you?
That’s almost a philosophical question. Of course, my job is very important to me. On the one hand, we want to make a decent living, and to do that, we simply have to earn money. But work should also be enjoyable, and that’s why it’s important to create an environment where you feel comfortable and actually look forward to going. It’s even more important to me personally because I’ve practically grown up with it. Even if not everything that glitters is gold, it is still my life. On the other hand, my family and everyone around me are, of course, also very important to me. And I’m glad that in my company, I can choose the people I work with and create conditions that, at least in my view, are good for everyone.
If you could display five items from your KEK life in a museum, what would they be?
(Laughs) Since I’m known to be a hunter-gatherer, I’m having a hard time narrowing it down to just five. But I’ll give it a try:
- There’s the first invoice, typed on a typewriter and containing a glaring spelling mistake—it’s hanging in my office, by the way.
- The first company sign featuring the original logo.
- The first major project contract I ever signed—one whose full scope had been unimaginable to me up until then.
- The week we landed two big, long-term contracts was like Easter and Christmas rolled into one.
- The company magazine marking our tenth anniversary, which describes some of the rather unorthodox job interviews. As a bonus, of course, there are photos of all the people who have been with me over the years—people about whom there is so much to tell that it could easily fill a book.
