Rethinking energy supply 

regionalwerke GmbH & Co. KG sees itself as a service provider for a decentralized, digital and citizen-owned energy transition. The aim is to promote regional value creation and energy self-sufficiency, actively involve local councils and citizens and thus shape the energy transition in the interests of the general public - in every district.
The focus is on the idea: "More us - as a matter of principle." This means that added value remains in the respective region, decisions are made collectively and people benefit directly from the transformation in the energy industry. The way: By establishing a regional plant in each district, local authorities in the district join forces to implement sustainable infrastructure projects - from photovoltaics and district heating to charging infrastructure. And regionalwerke GmbH & Co. KG supports the local councils on this path as a central service company.

Digital sovereignty as a key principle

For regionalwerke GmbH & Co. KG, it was clear from the outset: The digital basis must not be based on dependency, but on self-determination and fairness. SmartWe impressed both technically and in terms of digital sovereignty: "Our partners and local authorities can be sure that their data is in good hands," says Andreas Engl, Managing Director of regionalwerke GmbH & Co. KG. "SmartWe stands for data protection, transparency and co-design. These are precisely the values that drive us."

Processes that connect: standardized and flexible

The introduction of SmartWe meant much more than just a new tool for regionalwerke GmbH & Co. KG. The solution is the beating heart of digital collaboration for each individual regional plant on site and offers the optimum range of functions. Specifically, SmartWe manages stakeholders, planning processes, communication, participation processes, documentation and data exchange centrally: This creates transparent processes in which all relevant information such as appointments, minutes and contracts are bundled in one place. In terms of any-relationship management, SmartWe maps all relevant market participants and their relationships with each other; all information can be found quickly at any time. Additionally, the solution integrates geoinformation to store important data, and real estate situations can be visualized geographically.

A solution that grows with you

Similarly, the added value for newly added regional utilities is evident from the outset: With SmartWe, proven predefined procedures can be implemented quickly and effectively as a blueprint ensuring a consistent quality standard.

From the start, the entire planning and implementation process, from conception to foundation to the start of operations, is fully supported by the CRM solution. Individual market participants can gain access to the CRM platform at an early stage in order to exchange information directly and efficiently.

At the same time, the platform enables individual customization: Each regional plant can organize its processes, partners and communication channels in a way that suits its region. "In technological terms, SmartWe is the connecting element in the digital ecosystem of our regional plant strategy for the energy transition," says Managing Director Andreas Engl, "It simplifies collaboration, strengthens exchange and gives us the freedom to act independently of large platform operators."

At the same time, SmartWe is so user-friendly and intuitive to operate that every regional plant can largely manage without IT support from third parties. Step by step, routine processes can be optimized independently through semi- or full automation and integrated assistants to save time.

We.Network for local dialog with citizens

SmartWe is complemented by We.Network which is the first fair.digital social network to enable exchange between all those involved in a project on site. We.Network serves as a communication and information platform that allows citizens and project partners to participate at an early stage and keeps them fully informed.

The future: digitally sovereign together

The use of SmartWe to date shows how digital innovation and social added value can go hand in hand. "With SmartWe, we have found a platform that perfectly matches our philosophy and our claim to digital sovereignty," says Andreas Engl, founder and Managing Director of regionalwerke GmbH & Co. KG. "The collaboration with the SmartWe team and CAS Software takes place on an equal footing and is characterized by openness, respect and a practice-oriented roadmap. We are delighted to be shaping the decentralized energy transition with CAS Software as an experienced digitalization partner and SmartWe as a platform that grows with us."

Would you like to find out more about regionalwerke? You can find more information (only in german) at regionalwerke.com or, alternatively, in the free regionalwerke performance magazine.