From research to practice: How digital solutions are helping to counter the shortage of skilled labor

Fraunhofer IGD and Prognos pool expertise to surmount skilled worker shortage

Press Releases /

The shortage of skilled labor is having a negative effect across the entire economy, from the IT sector through to healthcare. The Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD has developed a range of technologies such as 3D planning tools, digital twins and visual control centers and applied them in practice, where they have been proven to boost the efficiency of skilled workers and initiatives towards a better qualified workforce. Analysis conducted by Prognos AG shows the great potential for jobs in Germany that can still benefit from these technologies.

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According to Prognos, more than 200,000 skilled workers in the telecommunications, urban and spatial planning sectors could potentially benefit from better digital planning tools.

Darmstadt: The increasing shortage of skilled labor is presenting companies with ever greater challenges. Not only the technical professions in development, planning and quality assurance are affected, but also non-technical professions such as nursing, where the failure to attract new talent has far-reaching consequences. The Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD and Prognos AG have conducted joint research into how digital technologies can help to remove these hindrances, with applications that accelerate processes, relieve skilled workers of repetitive tasks and support the drive towards a better-qualified workforce.

 

Innovations for greater efficiency and a better-qualified workforce

Digital technologies make it possible to organize activities in skilled occupations more efficiently and/or to automate them. This not only optimizes work processes, but also makes them more attractive to potential employees, which is also important for the recruitment and further development of qualified specialists. Fraunhofer IGD’s innovative solutions address precisely these points:

  • Digital 3D planning tools: For a reduction in planning times of up to 90 percent and improved decision-making
  • Authoring systems for digital twins: Facilitating in-company training and further education by enabling specialists without programming skills to create interactive training scenarios
  • Visual control centers for data-based decisions: Supporting specialists in production, healthcare and IT security through intelligent data analysis and visual processing

The Prognos AG team has analyzed the economic impact of these technologies. Their study shows that companies can achieve significant performance improvements through the targeted use of digital solutions..

 

Use of technology in practice: Digital planning optimizes fiber optic expansion

An example of the successful use of one of the technologies presented in the analysis paper is provided by the collaboration with Deutsche Telekom. The digital planning tool developed for fiber optic expansion has shortened planning times by as much as 75 percent. Marius Kraus, Product Owner Fibre3D, Deutsche Telekom Technik GmbH, spoke in glowing terms of the planning tool: “In one case, a colleague was able to prepare 27 locations in a single day and send them directly to the local authority for approval – all digitally. This would not have been possible with individual on-site appointments, taking photos and submitting applications afterwards. The traditional process involves our employees spending a lot of time on the road. It is now also much quicker to follow up on sites if a local authority requests any changes.” The Prognos analysis revealed that more than 200,000 specialists are employed in the telecommunications, urban and spatial planning and infrastructure planning sectors in Germany and could potentially benefit from better digital planning tools.

For a detailed analysis of the technological solutions and economic effects, see the detailed analysis paper Fachkräftemangel (Skilled Labor Shortage) which is available on the Fraunhofer IGD website and the Prognos AG website.

Meet us at the following trade fairs

Interested companies and industry representatives have the opportunity to find out more about Fraunhofer IGD’s latest developments and applications at three of Germany’s most important trade fairs: