
12th sam® user workshop 2024 in Hamburg
Two intensive days full of new and useful information about sam®, but also some - sometimes very personal - insights into the inner workings of secova
The 12th sam® user workshop 2024 in Hamburg was once again “as always” and therefore completely new…
1. as always: an intensive, two-day mix of specialist and guest lectures on the sam® EHS solution system and special topics from the fields of occupational health and safety. In addition, the proven sam® Cafés as an exchange platform between users and the respective experts from secova. There was also plenty of opportunity for networking and exchange with other workshop participants during the breaks and especially during the evening program.
2. brand new: the latest news, enhancements and optimizations for sam® and its function modules. What is already there, what can we already see of future solutions, what ideas will sam® use to further develop itself as an innovative and user-friendly solution for its users?
Another new feature this time was that the introductory presentation (“News and interesting facts about sam® and secova”) not only provided those present with sam®-specific news, but also gave them an insight into the inner workings of the company itself.
How can secova continue to be so successful, what does the “secova spirit” mean and what values does everyone in the secova team feel committed to? What does“New Work” mean in concrete terms here and what steps have been taken to inspire all employees in such a way that they have turned secova into a company that has won several“Best Employer” awards?
It is the human, very personal, the closeness as well as the open and direct way of dealing with each other that characterize secova both internally and externally. Participants were also able to experience this “spirit of secova” during the 2024 user workshop on site in Hamburg.
At sam®, functionality and usability have always gone hand in hand. The clearer and easier to use, but also the more “pleasing”, the more user-friendly a software solution is. It will then be even better accepted by everyone and actually used as a matter of course. For this reason, secova has not only completely redesigned and optimized the dashboard, but also developed a completely new tool: The sam® safety avatar. In future, all employees will receive their virtual image, which they can also design themselves. Above all, however, it always shows them their current safety and training status(what do I still have to do, what has already been done, where is there a need for action, what do I need for certain activities, etc.). The aim: to get employees even more “actively” enthusiastic about “their” occupational safety!
For creative, sometimes unconventional new ideas for sam®, there is the secova lab. How can the latest technologies be optimally used for occupational safety? – Roman Maier (Lead Product Management) spoke about this on the first day. In addition to general issues, his topics included “Content of the future”, “Modern security culture” and “AI in the EHS context”. Innovate or die – also a driving force for secova to think today about tomorrow and the day after tomorrow with possible new solutions for the future.
The outlook:
sam® will continue to be innovative and “different” at all levels, content will become increasingly visual and interactive, mobile applications(sam® EHS Manager app, VR, AR) and AI elements will become ever more important for even better and more effective protection.
secova is increasingly providing its customers with various additional services from cooperation partners for special tasks: For example, the ISOPA/Alipa diisocyanate training courses. Or the option of ordering the required protective equipment directly from the integrated catalog of our partner UVEX in the new sam® PPE Manager module. Training courses on cyber security are available from the specialist G-DATA. Christian Laber from the Bochum-based company explained how awareness can be significantly improved with their “security awareness training”. The second guest speaker in Hamburg reported on completely different dangers: stuntman Holger Schumacher (pictured) is an expert in risk competence & culture. In his presentation on the topic of “Risk Assessment”, he emphasized the importance of risk assessment, but also of the team/corporate culture.
Extensive information transfer, but also an informal and relaxed get-together among partners
Intensive knowledge exchange and concentrated expert knowledge on the individual functional modules of the holistic EHS solution system sam® was provided on both days in the sam® cafés. This time, there were deliberately different invitations to introductory rounds and expert discussions, so that users could choose “their” suitable cafés according to their level of knowledge and interest. This provided deeper insights into the still new sam® qualification matrix. Or tips and tricks for using the completely revised app for IOS and Android users. And the latest sam®-VR or -AR applications to try out. The respective experts from the secova team were available to answer numerous questions.
Sergej Pede (Head of Sales secova) provided the first concrete insights into the sam® PSA Manager, which will be presented at A+A in fall 2023. What personal protective equipment do my employees need for which assignments? Is everything still there or does something need to be replaced/added? Are there any corresponding hazards or training requirements? – It is the ideal tool for this topic.
Two secova colleagues approached the workshop participants from a slightly different direction. Samira Wachsmann and Katja Lequen were primarily interested in how users rate their user experience (UX) when using sam®. As a UX designer at secova, her aim is to record and evaluate these experiences and incorporate them into the software design. Where does the user expect which function, what makes the software more user-friendly overall and more attractive both visually and in terms of operation? Both had designed questionnaires for the sam® Cockpit, the new dashboard, the EHS training app and the sam® safety avatar. Both had interested workshop participants in Hamburg test the relevant areas and then evaluate them. This resulted in a very differentiated profile for each individual tool – in terms of operation, clarity, benefits and ease of understanding. Would the tool actually support users in their work? Did they need support for their use? The answers will now be evaluated and the results will then be incorporated into the UX design of sam®.
This year’s keynote speaker took a completely new and deeply personal approach. Not a guest, but secova founder and CEO Jörg Klaas gave a comprehensive overview of his eventful life to date. From a secondary school student with rather mediocre grades to his vocational training and growing enthusiasm for the world of computers to his focus on occupational safety. And then the idea of being able to carry out instructions electronically in a much simpler and audit-proof manner – which ultimately led to secova’s success story via an unplanned “jump in at the deep end”. He also told us about the transformation of the somewhat chubby, burger-loving young family man into a slim vegan single parent with an interest in Asian wisdom. A thoroughly emotional portrait of a clearly focused man despite all the professional and private blows of fate…
There were opportunities for the participants to engage in personal discussions in between, albeit rather briefly, during the coffee and lunch breaks and at the end of the workshop. The end of the first day was quite different: the evening program took everyone present to Hamburg’s famous Speicherstadt warehouse district. The guests were not only treated to food and drink in the historic attic, but were also “enchanted” by two artists. A caricaturist also produced a “slightly different portrait” of his volunteer models on the iPad on request. And here there was plenty of time to talk shop, but also just for a nice chat.
The The 12th User Workshop 2024 was again rated very highly by the participants – there was a lot of praise for the organization, content, support and location. Next year there will therefore be 13th time there will be a user workshop. However, due to renovation work “in secova’s living room” – the Hotel Atlantic Kempinski in Hamburg – it will take place at a different location. The exact when and where will be announced. However, early registration is highly recommended, as this year’s user workshop was fully booked shortly after registration opened. The possible number of participants will continue to be limited for organizational reasons…
Teilen:
Matching sam® function modules
sam® EHS Manager App
– Environmental scan (QR code & iBeacon)
– Mobile, native app for iOS & Android
– Training modules EHS OSHA
– Offline-capable
That could also be interesting :)

