-> Turnover grew in 2017 to a record 549 million euros
-> Extensive investment in training as well as infrastructure
-> Tackling the reform bottleneck: Policy must create futureproof framework conditions
-> Friedrich P. Kötter: “We want to be pioneers in the digitalisation of the security and facility services industries”
Essen/Düsseldorf. The nation-wide service group KÖTTER Services increased its turnover last year to a record 549 million euros (+0.7%). The driving force for the organic growth was the industry-specific “smart service solutions” for security, cleaning and personal service. They provide the customer with crucial advantages, including integrated provision around core business, synergy effects and uniform standards.
“The ongoing growth underlines the futureproof set-up of all our business units and that our company strategy, based on long-term business relationships and a strict quality policy, is paying off”, says Friedrich P. Kötter, a member of the administrative board at KÖTTER SE & Co. KG Security, Düsseldorf. “We will resolutely follow this path.” This includes not pursuing growth at any cost. “Growth is not an end in itself, but rather must always be based on a solid foundation. We do not achieve success using dumping prices, which more and more of our competitors are pursuing”, explained the vice-president of the Bundesverband der Sicherheitswirtschaft (Federal Association of the Security Industry). “Even if this means losing individual orders. But we are responsible for all our employees.” The second and most important reason for the consolidation of employee numbers at 18,600 (-1.6%) is the increasing mechanisation and digitalisation of services at the company level.
Development overview for individual divisions
- Security: Renewed growth was achieved in the Security division, resulting from new orders and contract extensions. This was boosted by “smart security solutions”, ranging from security services and technology to risk and health management. “The tailored linkage of people, technology and organisation, which we are expanding within the KÖTTER SYMTO operator model by taking on investment, offers clients wide-ranging advantages in security and efficiency”, said Friedrich P. Kötter. “This approach grants us important advantages in the fiercely competitive security market.” KÖTTER Security also scored points as a quality provider for special services, e.g. in public passenger transport (PPT) or company and plant fire services.
- Cleaning: The positive development in the Cleaning division likewise resulted from new orders and contract extensions. Its position as an industry specialist and quality service provider e.g. for logistics companies, credit institutes, industry or healthcare was decisive. KÖTTER Cleaning stood out thanks to its unique cleaning concepts, which take into account specific hygiene requirements and environmentally friendly cleaning processes, among other things.
- Personal Service: The Personal Service division, which celebrated its 20-year anniversary last year, was also able to assert itself on the market. Its position as an industry specialist for the takeover of definable business processes on the basis of work or service contracts paid off here. The service provider offers customers in industry, logistics, retail etc. specialist and management personnel in the commercial, technical and business fields to cover order peaks or takes over on-location management of temporary workers deployed by the company.
Investment in infrastructure, training and quality
Development of continuing investment in infrastructure, personnel and quality management is being supported.
Focus on infrastructure: The standout example for 2017 is the new emergency and service call centre (ESCC) which, together with the new high-tech computer centre and increased security of supply for the whole campus at the Essen head office, goes far beyond the strict requirements of European standard 50518 and thus sets standards Europe-wide in the security and facility services industries. The high standards in IT, data, reliability and transmission security are accompanied by organisational measures in accordance with DIN EN 50600 (computer centre infrastructure) and DIN ISO 27001 (information security management systems). “This overall solution forms the basis for secure digitalisation”, Friedrich P. Kötter emphasises.
Focus on personnel: Around 900,000 hours of training were carried out in 2017. Almost two thirds of these were carried out in our own academy, which further expanded its network of locations and is also able to focus more precisely on the training and recruitment requirements of regional markets thanks to its spin-off as KÖTTER Akademie GmbH & Co. KG.
Focus on quality management: Along with the NSL certification spearheaded in 2017, the year also saw the successful adjustment of the certifications DIN EN ISO 9001 and 14001 (quality and environment management systems) to current requirements. This also guarantees customers high, industry-specific and legally compliant processes.
Highly digitalised smart service solutions are shaping future development
The crucial impetus for future development should be provided by the digitalisation offensive, which has made a big statement with the new NSL. “We want to follow this path aggressively and expand our smart service solutions with highly digitalised components such as retrieval of live information, digitalised quality control or digitally optimised processes in personnel management”, the family entrepreneur emphasised. “That way we will become an even more integral part of our customers’ value creation chain.” At the same time, Security 4.0 will contain comprehensive answers to the growing challenges presented by cyber crime.
Politics can’t rest on the current good economic situation
At the same time, in Friedrich P. Kötter’s view the topic of digitalisation is “a cautionary example for urgently needed reforms where policy has to move up a gear”. The flourishing economy cannot blind us to the fact that e.g. the broadband network in many regions is not keeping up with the particular technological requirements of “Industry 4.0”. “Germany must keep pace with the global competition. Otherwise this reform bottleneck will cost medium- and long-term growth - with negative consequences for us as a service provider”, explained Friedrich P. Kötter. He sees a similar urgent need for action to modernise the classical transport infrastructure, reduce bureaucracy and address the high tax burden on companies.