Successfully through the lockdown with digital helpers

Crafts 4.0: During the lockdown, many skilled tradespeople are unable to work at all or can only work under difficult conditions. Digital assistants promise rapid support: With free apps and software tools, businesses can save significant time and money – on the go, in the office, and from home.

This article is part of the special feature on digital craftsmanship.

In recent months, the Corona pandemic has triggered a real surge in digitalization in the skilled trades: According to Deutsche Telekom 's " Digitalization Index for SMEs 2020/2021 " , almost 40 percent of skilled trades businesses have digitized their processes in the short term . At the same time, many businesses moved their office work to home offices and equipped employees with smartphones, tablets and software solutions.

However, complete digitization of all areas isn't always necessary: ​​Free apps and software solutions offer an interesting alternative , digitizing only individual processes while still saving time and money. Free solutions are particularly useful for getting to grips with digital processes and testing the performance of the products . The range of digital tools extends from office suites and cloud solutions to time tracking tools and online calendars and appointment schedulers for client meetings.

Office packages and cloud storage

A true alternative to paid office suites is, for example, " OpenOffice " from Apache , which is also available in adapted versions for smartphones and tablets. This free software package offers everything businesses need for their daily office work: It includes apps for word processing , spreadsheets , and presentations . The programs are compatible with Microsoft Office formats.

Anyone who wants to store important data not only locally on their own systems but also in the cloud can take advantage of a free offer from Deutsche Telekom: " MagentaCloud " offers Telekom customers a full 15 GB of free storage space . Non-customers still get 3 GB . The offer includes TÜV-certified data security and the option to share data with employees. This allows, for example, field staff to easily access important customer data or documentation.

Online calendar and time tracking

Another way to organize and collaborate efficiently is through digital calendars . With " Kalender.digital, " companies can organize, plan, and share their projects and appointments online. Employees can easily access their personal calendars via a browser and stay up-to-date even with last-minute changes. A useful addition to online scheduling is digital time tracking : With the " Qlaqs Timesheet " app, employees can record their working hours based on projects or tasks.

All they need is a smartphone or tablet. This even allows for automatic starting and stopping of time tracking – via Wi-Fi, location services, Bluetooth, or NFC. If no internet connection is available, the times are still recorded and transmitted at a later time.

Paperless office

Businesses can take a step closer to a paperless office with the " CamSanger " app: Any document can be scanned , saved , shared , and approved via smartphone or tablet . If employees frequently write receipts, the " Thumbify " app helps reduce the time spent and the amount of paperwork. Digital signatures are even possible with a smartphone or tablet, and receipts are sent via email . Also practical is the " Norm2Go " app for checking the current validity and up-to-dateness of standards.

Manage appointments and finances

Craft businesses offer their customers a simple way to book appointments online with the " Timify " software. Here, prospective customers can secure a suitable appointment around the clock via the internet – naturally tailored to the desired service , employee schedules , and existing appointments . And there's also a multifunctional app for "finances": For those who want a clear overview of their bank accounts, the " Outbank " app is a valuable tool both on the go and in the office.

Photo: © Thomas Busch