11th sam® user workshop 2023 in Hamburg

“After a two-year break, finally being able to embrace our customers again as the entire secova team!” – this is how Nicolas Lulay summarized his special joy and the overriding feeling for the sam® user workshop 2023. In secova‘s “Hamburg living room”, the Hotel Atlantic Kempinski, 110 sam® users and a large secova team met again for two days. The focus was not only on the “what” – i.e. lots of new and interesting facts about the extensive EHS software solution sam® for professional compliance management, but also the “how” at sam® and secova itself: For example, there were results from and insights into extended product management (PM), in-house content creation and the topic of “New Work”.

The two “Chief Officers” Nicolas Lulay (COO) and Jörg Klaas (CEO) reported that a lot has happened around sam® and secova since the last user workshop in 2020. In addition to strong employee growth, this also includes the establishment of a suitable organizational structure with corresponding management positions (CEO, COO, CPTO…) and hierarchies. The strong and unifying ‘we’ feeling remains a defining feature, which is why secova has teams for the different areas of responsibility. They work almost independently on their own various projects, but coordinate with each other on overarching issues as required. Clear responsibilities in line with jointly agreed objectives are the key to success here.

Nicolas Lulay also gave an insight into secova’s new “Customer Service Management (CSM)”. The aim of future support approaches is to actively approach existing sam® users and support them in using the system optimally for their tasks. The possibilities and opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) can offer in various areas of the world of work were not just a glimpse into the future, but in some cases already present in everyday life. The topics of new products and improvements to sam® were only briefly touched on – this was covered in greater depth in the subsequent presentations from the product management and content areas. In conclusion, the COO emphasized how happy and proud he is that the presentation and moderation parts of the workshop are now spread across many dedicated shoulders in the secova team.

Roman Maier (Head of PM) invited everyone to take a look at the new products at sam®. With the question “who reparks the forklift truck?” he referred to the possibilities offered by the new sam® qualification matrix function module. This provides companies with a precise overview and current status of all employees’ skills and knowledge at all times, enabling them to recognize potential as well as any necessary training requirements. It is therefore the ideal supplement to the sam® EHS basic system for instructions – the ideal combination of “duty” and “free program”. As is well known, many roads lead to Rome – but probably also to Lüdenscheid, as a traffic sign confusion showed as an example. To prevent this from happening to external company visitors, the sam® external company management module includes the gatekeeper with precise advance instructions for safe access.

The sam® EHS Manager app for mobile devices allows you to access and record relevant information on occupational health and safety anytime, anywhere. Whether for inspections as part of an audit, a change in the workplace or a possible new hazard in the working environment: with the sam® app, all relevant information is available directly on site. The developers have already added numerous functionalities to this mobile application tool and will continue to expand it.
Finally, Roman Maier provided a brief overview of many topics and “adjusting screws” that product management is currently working on in coordination with the development team.

sam® offers its users a high level of functionality combined with ease of use. The solution system also provides high-quality content, as team leader Christoph Lulay reported. This is basically available to all users – usable 1:1 and customizable with just a few clicks, plus in various areas within the entire system. This content is being continuously expanded, such as the current EHS training catalog with its more than 500 German and foreign language topics, the media library, the introduction of “learning nuggets”, the expansion of EHS gamification with virtual, interactive content and a strong focus on the “right language”. However, the team’s overarching claim is: “Content for all of you (= all customers)!”

The sam® user workshop 2023 clearly focused on the sam® cafés on both days – stations and discussion rounds on various topics, some of which had already been highlighted in the two PM and content presentations. There were expert tables on the various functional modules and areas, as well as the opportunity to get to know these innovative uses of sam® better in your own VRor app session.
Of course, the opportunity for networking and the mutual exchange of experiences could not be missed. Workshop participants were thus able to get to know the great variety and the interaction of the individual modules within sam® in both breadth and depth in a practical way.

The first workshop day ended with a guest lecture by Frank Busemann, former decathlete and current motivational coach, on the topic of “Analogies of high-performance sport and the parallels to everyday working life”. Five of his “secrets of success” for sport and work are: 1. just do it, 2. use talent, 3. play to your strengths, 4. Courageously to success and 5 Do not give up!
The evening event – a joint dinner in the rooftop restaurant of the “Panoramadeck Hamburg” – took place “high up” with relaxed accompaniment from two “Hamburg originals (comedians)”. Here, informal chatting and simply relaxing together as per one’s desire was possible.

At the beginning of the second day, People & Culture Manager Katja Nowotny presented the topic of “New Work” in connection with “Occupational health and safety in the modern working world” using the example of secova’s HR work in an “invigorating” presentation. Putting people at the center, responding to their individual needs with the greatest possible flexibility (in terms of space and time) and valuing them – that’s what counts. Offering modern, technically and ergonomically well-equipped workstations is one part of this. But is the answer to the increasing risk of “stress or mental strain at work” perhaps not just to be found in various individual measures? In what ways could “New Work” offer solutions and have a preventative effect? The overall aim is to create a pleasant environment and an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. Establishing uniform values for a “team spirit” that is lived by everyone – this is definitely crucial for a collective sense of well-being! The brand new HR short film, which was shown to the workshop participants in a preview and gave them goosebumps, shows what secova itself understands by this.

Active participation was also required during a short meditation and an active fitness session for everyone. Marc Lehmann then gave a best practice presentation on how Sanacorp Pharmahandel GmbH is moving “Together into the future” with sam® and the introduction of the EHS solution system in his company. Afterwards, the participants returned to the sam® cafés to deepen their own knowledge, listen to the experiences of other users or get to know previously unknown pages and solutions relating to sam®.
The sam® user workshop 2023 ended with a final vote and numerous feedback cards submitted. secova would like to thank its customers and friends for participating and providing much positive feedback. By the way: Early registration is strongly recommended as the number of participants is limited. This year’s workshop was already fully booked several months in advance…