Modern Communications in German Businesses: Faxes Fade, Emails Flourish, AI Remains Elusive
The majority of five businesses have discontinued the use of fax machines. - Nearly half of the businesses have discontinued the usage of faxes.
The landscape of communication in Germany's businesses has transformed, with fax machines on the verge of becoming obsolete. A recent survey by the digital association Bitkom revealed that only 18% of companies still regularly use fax for internal or external communication, with the number declining from 30% in the previous year [1]. Bernhard Rohleder, CEO of Bitkom, commented, "The fax machine is gradually disappearing. It's become a symbol of backwardness" [1].
Email, the old reliable digital communication tool, now dominates every office, with 100% of the surveyed companies using it frequently [1]. Smartphone communication is almost as widespread (94%), with landlines still hanging on (93%) [1]. Video conferences are common, with 67% of companies using them regularly, while messenger services have gained popularity, being used by two-thirds of companies for both internal and external communication [1].
However, the enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) remains underwhelming among German firms [1]. Bitkom highlighted that employees' skepticism, uncertainty about others' experiences, and the perceived lack of profit make companies reluctant to adopt AI [1]. Rohleder warned, "Waiting is the wrong strategy with a technology like AI - companies that lag behind risk losing their competitive edge. Businesses need to start incorporating AI solutions and train their employees appropriately" [1].
The current AI acceptance in German companies presents a mixed picture. Although AI has infiltrated larger companies, SMEs, crucial to the German economy, struggle to deploy AI at scale due to internal expertise limitations, legal uncertainties, and data protection concerns [2]. Meanwhile, cultural and traditional business models, regulatory issues, perceived risks, and preference for sovereign AI solutions contribute to the reluctance towards AI implementation [2].
- Bitkom
- Germany
- Berlin
- Bernhard Rohleder
- Digitalization
[1]: Bitkom Study: Four out of Five Companies Have Abandoned the Fax[2]: Overall: Current State of AI Acceptance in German Companies[3]: Reluctance Towards AI Implementation: Current State of AI Acceptance in German Companies
- In light of the transformation in business communications, Bitkom suggests that companies in Germany, particularly SMEs, should reconsider their employment policies to incorporate AI, as this technology could provide a competitive edge.
- The finance department of a business in Germany might find it beneficial to implement AI solutions, given the reluctance of larger companies towards adopting these technologies, which could lead to opportunities for smaller businesses to gain an advantage.
