Vernetzt Digital

What Vernetzt Digital does

Vernetzt Digital is a registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein, "Vernetzt Digital e.V.") headquartered in Berlin, founded in 2019 by Robert Schovenberg, CEO of we22 AG, and Prof. Dr. Jens Böcker of Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg. The entity operates as an open initiative dedicated to advancing digitalization within the German construction industry, with a particular focus on marketing and sales along multi-level distribution channels (Hersteller, Großhändler, Fachhändler, Verarbeiter). It is not a software company; it is a knowledge-brokerage and convening platform whose "product" is an expert network, events, publications, and benchmarking services rather than a commercial offering.

The core technology underpinning the initiative is a website platform at vernetzt-digital.de serving as the central hub, supplemented by a quarterly Vernetzt Digital Magazin, a Mailchimp-based newsletter, and a free assessment tool called "Check Digitalisierungsgrad Fachpartner" that benchmarks trade-partner digitalization. Activities include podium discussions, webinars, workshops, market analyses, and scientific studies (e.g., the Representative Fachpartneranalyse covering 68,000+ processing companies). The organization also coordinated a branch-wide Corona aid package in 2020 that delivered free websites to roughly 1,000 craft businesses, supported by major partners including Würth-Gruppe, STRABAG SE, ZEG, KANN, Rathscheck, PRÜM-Türenwerk, GARANT, and Wertbau.

Vernetzt Digital has no disclosed revenue or pricing model. As an eingetragener Verein it is funded through sponsorship and member support rather than commercial product sales; pricing is not publicly disclosed and no funding rounds have been raised. Headcount sits in the 11-50 range, and operations are confined to the DACH market, with Germany as the primary geography. Leadership comprises Chairman Robert Schovenberg (also CEO of we22 AG), with Steffen Heym and Peter Mandel serving as Deputy Chairmen; the broader expert network includes Prof. Dr. Michael Bohne (media law), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerald Ebel (logistics), Olaf Deininger (business journalist), and Dr. Steffen Wenzel (politik-digital e.V.).

Name

Vernetzt Digital

Legal name

Vernetzt Digital e.V.

Website

https://vernetzt-digital.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vernetzt Digital e.V. is a Berlin-based nonprofit association that serves the German construction industry as an open initiative, convening experts, manufacturers, wholesalers, and trade partners to advance digitalization across multi-level sales channels via networking, events, publications, and benchmarking tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Industry Network & Digitalization Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer Experience (CX) & Digital Experience (BPAHAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Channel/Partner Sales Support (Reseller Enablement, Deal Reg) (BPAAADAH)

Keywords

• Construction industry digitalization
• Industry network platform
• Digital maturity assessment
• Construction market research
• Multi-level distribution consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vernetzt Digital operates as an open initiative and registered association that fosters networking, dialog, and practice-oriented exchange between industry experts and digitalization specialists in the German construction industry. It delivers free services including a Digital Maturity Check for trade partners (Fachpartner), a digital magazine, events and webinars, and representative market research/analyses on digitalization along multi-level distribution channels.

Product overview

Vernetzt Digital is an open initiative focused on digital transformation in the construction industry, particularly in the areas of marketing and sales along multi-level distribution channels. The organization offers a networking platform connecting industry experts with digitalization specialists, publishes a quarterly magazine covering digitalization topics, provides a digitalization assessment tool (Check Digitalisierungsgrad) for evaluating trade partner digital readiness, organizes events and web seminars, conducts research and market analyses, and has initiated support programs like the digital help package for SMEs during the Corona crisis. The initiative is not a software product but rather a collaborative network and knowledge-sharing platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vernetzt Digital Initiative (Open Networking Initiative) An open initiative that promotes networking, dialog, and practice-oriented exchange between industry experts and digitalization specialists from companies, universities, and associations to develop sustainable digitalization strategies for the German construction industry.
• Vernetzt Digital Magazin (Digital Magazine) A digital magazine containing news from the initiative and articles about digitalization of sales and marketing in the construction industry, published for industry participants.
• Check Digitalisierungsgrad Fachpartner (Digital Maturity Check) A free assessment tool that provides insights into the digitalization degree of trade partners (Fachpartner), benchmarks against market competitors, provides optimization pointers for the online customer journey, and recommends actions to strengthen digital sales channels. Intended for manufacturers and wholesalers in the German construction industry.
• Events and Web-Seminare (Events and Webinars) Podium discussions, web seminars, and events on digitalization topics in the construction industry, including best practices and recommendations for multi-level distribution. Intended for industry participants across manufacturers, wholesalers, specialist dealers, and processing companies.
• Repräsentative Fachpartneranalyse (Representative Trade Partner Analysis) Analyses and studies on the digitalization degree of Fachpartner (trade partners) in the construction industry, including evaluations of websites, online marketing presence, and link structures to manufacturers. Conducted in cooperation with Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg Master students.
• Digitales Hilfspaket für die Bauwirtschaft (Digital Help Package for the Construction Industry) Industry-wide aid initiative that digitally supported small and medium-sized craft businesses (Handwerksbetriebe) with free company websites, industry content, and online marketing services during the Corona crisis. Delivered to 1,000 craft businesses with the support of partners including Würth-Gruppe, STRABAG, ZEG, KANN, Rathscheck, PRÜM-Türenwerk, GARANT, and Wertbau.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped create 1,000 free websites for craft businesses during Corona pandemic
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Würth-GruppemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Supporting partner in the Corona aid package initiative, providing digital support to small craft businesses in the construction industry.
• STRABAG SEmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Supporting partner in the Corona aid package initiative for digitalization of small construction businesses.
• ZEG Zentraleinkauf Holz + Kunststoff eGmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Supporting partner in the Corona aid package initiative for construction industry digitalization support.
• KANN GmbH BaustoffwerkeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner supporting the Corona aid package for construction industry digitalization.
• Rathscheck Schiefer und Dach-SystememinorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner in the Corona aid package supporting digitalization of small construction businesses.
• PRÜM-Türenwerk GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner supporting the Corona aid package for construction industry digitalization.
• GARANT Türen und Zargen GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner in the Corona aid package for digital support to craft businesses.
• Wertbau GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner supporting the Corona aid package for construction industry digitalization.
• we22 AGmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Co-founding company; CEO Robert Schovenberg is founder of Vernetzt Digital and CEO of we22 AG. The initiative emerged from this software company's leadership.
• Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-SiegmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Academic partner; Prof. Dr. Jens Böcker is co-founder of Vernetzt Digital and Professor for Marketing at the university. Provides scientific foundation and research capabilities.
• Dr. Steffen Wenzel (politik-digital e.V.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork expert member - Managing Director of politik-digital e.V., contributing expertise on digital policy matters.
• Prof. Dr. Michael BohneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork expert member - Professor for Media Law at FH Dortmund, contributing legal expertise on digitalization topics including data protection and competition law.
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerald EbelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork expert member - Professor for Logistics and Business Administration, contributing expertise on digital transformation and construction industry challenges.
• Olaf DeiningerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork expert member - Business journalist with extensive experience in strategy studies, market overviews, media development, business software and IT solutions.
• XOM Materials (Klöckner)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent and open industry platform founded by steel distributor Klöckner that connects different market participants. Mentioned as example of successful digital infrastructure in the industry.
• Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (Master Students)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration where Master students conducted research on impacts of Corona crisis on the construction industry, presenting survey results.
• SHK-Branchenportal / ARGE Neue MedienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExample of successful cooperation: Over 100 brand manufacturers founded working group to digitize the sanitary-heating-air conditioning industry across all levels of multi-level distribution.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• KEWAZO: Construction robotics startup whose CEO was interviewed by Vernetzt Digital. Operates in the German construction digitalization/automation conversation the initiative convenes.
• 1Komma5°: Digital platform for decentralized energy and heating solutions with a strong German construction/crafts footprint. Represents the kind of digital-first installer/craft network Vernetzt Digital discusses as a model.
• Madaster: Material passport and circular construction data platform. Operates at the intersection of digitalization and sustainability in European construction, an adjacent theme Vernetzt Digital covers through its network.

Broad incumbents

• PlanRadar: SaaS platform for construction and real estate project management, defect tracking, and digital collaboration. Operates in the same German-speaking construction market Vernetzt Digital targets, providing the digital workflow tooling the initiative advocates.
• we22 AG: Software company whose CEO (Robert Schovenberg) co-founded and chairs Vernetzt Digital. Provides the underlying digital tooling and software perspective for the German construction industry that Vernetzt Digital evangelizes.
• Capmo: Munich-based construction project management software vendor. Operates in the same German construction digitalization category Vernetzt Digital promotes and represents the type of commercial platform the initiative helps members evaluate.

Direct peers

• SHK-Branchenportal / ARGE Neue Medien: Working group founded by 100+ sanitary-heating-air conditioning brand manufacturers to digitize the industry across all levels of multi-level distribution. Mirrors Vernetzt Digital's coalition approach applied to an adjacent construction trade.
• XOM Materials (Klöckner): Open, independent B2B industry platform founded by steel distributor Klöckner that connects market participants. Directly cited by Vernetzt Digital as an example of a successful industry-wide digital infrastructure initiative — the closest analog in business model and scope.
• BauInfoConsult: German market research and consulting firm focused on the construction industry, producing studies, analyses, and trend reports — comparable to Vernetzt Digital's research and Fachpartneranalyse activities.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für digitale Bauprozesse (DGfdB): German association promoting digitalization of construction processes, bringing together industry and academic stakeholders. Closely aligned mission and association-style operating model with Vernetzt Digital.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vernetzt-digital

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vernetzt Digital