Our company focus is on

    • Innovation and technology management
    • Project management
    • Creation of requirement analyses
    • Business process engineering
    • Consulting for start-ups and spin-offs, and university spin-offs
    • The creation of resilience and crisis management

    We only talk where we have comprehensive and proven expertise and can offer our clients added value mner know has matured over years of work, and goes back in part to the origins of these topics.

     

    Medical informatics and technologies: We work with you to develop the medical care of tomorrow

    The medicine of the future must become even more efficient to prevent costs from spiraling out of control. Patients also want treatment that is tailored to their individual needs. Accordingly, artificial intelligence, robotics and other innovative procedures offer new therapeutic approaches.

    We work with clinics, patients, research institutes, innovative start-ups, processes, IT environments and technical solutions to meet the challenges of tomorrow 

    We help to find the right technological answers, we provide support during evaluation, in all project phases right through to go-life 

     

    Industry 4.0 - Let's think together about innovative solutions for the industry

     

    Industry 4.0 uses automation and data analysis technologies to create “smart factories” consisting of networked machines that share production data with employees. The main benefits of this intelligent manufacturing approach include faster and higher quality production of larger quantities of products. An important part of Industry 4.0 is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the application of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in manufacturing: Think of sensors that monitor the maintenance status of a machine and transmit production data for analysis. Industry 4.0 also relies on technologies including wireless internet coverage in manufacturing facilities, ports and shipyards, automated robots and advanced data processing systems.

    Key findings

    Some of the biggest challenges in Industry 4.0 implementations include security concerns, technology standardization and interoperability issues, and workforce retraining.
    To overcome these challenges, manufacturers need to strengthen cross-departmental collaboration - for example, they can overcome financial challenges by launching smaller Industrie 4.0 projects and refining them with constant, valuable feedback from a mix of teams.

    Technology plays a key role in overcoming Industry 4.0 challenges and mitigating risk. Integration software helps to convert older systems into smart factories, while cloud computing protects against cyber attacks, for example.

    We support our customers with these issues:

    • How do we deal with legacy IT systems?
    • How do we minimize the risk of interoperability?
    • What does cost and resource constraints mean?
    • How do we fill the skills gaps in the workforce?
    • How do we deal with change management?
    • What does cyber security mean when dealing with Industry 4.0?

     

    Smart cities - how do we want to live in the future? what brings us added value in all phases of our lives?

    Smart Cities & Regions are innovative, progressive and networked municipalities, cities and urban regions that focus on people and the environment. They are characterized by a high quality of life and efficient use of resources.
    This is achieved through the intelligent networking of infrastructures with modern technologies and the involvement of relevant stakeholders. Social, economic and ecological requirements are taken into account.
    The Orca-Consulting  offers itself as an interdisciplinary and competent scientific partner for the development and implementation of Smart Cities & Regions, be it with applied research & development, services, (further) education or events.

     

    Our fields of activity 

    • Strategies, concepts, transformation processes, smart government
    • Actors, stakeholder involvement, governance, innovation networks, start-ups, innovation promotion
    • Participative foresight, scenarios, modeling, (polysun) simulations, digital 3D twins of cities
    • Big city data analysis, visualizations, data platforms
    • TREES, regional energy systems, decentralized energy systems, smart area and district development
    • Smart buildings, smart homes, smart neighborhoods, integration
    • Smart urban islands: networking buildings, energy production and demand, electromobility and energy storage
    • Heat network, anergy network, thermal energy management
    • Smart grids, energy storage, batteries, smart metering
    • Local renewable energies, PV, autonomous solar power wall
    • Smart mobility systems and solutions, BiCar, charging stations, traffic simulation, Mobility Lab
    • Sharing economy, car sharing, circular economy, service engineering, resource balancing
    • Wireless systems, energy harvesting, LoRa, Internet of Things, hackathons
    • Cloud Computing Lab, Smart Cell Technology
    • Digital signal processing, sensor technology, communications engineering
    • Augmented and virtual reality
    • Environment, spatial development, green space design, smart roofs

     

     

    How we envision the mobility of the future?

     

    From autonomous driving to multimodal mobility:
    The future of smart mobility 
    Constantly changing mobility behavior and the growing desire for sustainability and energy efficiency have increased the need for innovative mobility solutions. In this context, the concept of “smart mobility” has become established in recent years, which focuses on the use of technologies and data analysis to improve mobility and reduce traffic congestion. The idea of smart mobility is to make the transport system more efficient, environmentally friendly and safer through the use of networked and automated vehicles and intelligent traffic control.

    The evolution of mobility: from connectivity to autonomy
    Advancing digitalization and connectivity as well as increasing demands for environmentally friendly, sustainable and multimodal mobility have contributed to more and more companies, research institutions and governments investing in this area. Overall, the topic of smart mobility has developed into an important area of mobility research and development in recent years, with the potential to fundamentally change the way we get around.

    Future trends in mobility

    • Networking: The networking of vehicles and other mobility services will continue to increase. This can optimize traffic flows and improve safety.

     

    • Artificial intelligence (AI): Artificial intelligence will play an important role in improving the safety and efficiency of transportation systems. For example, AI-controlled systems can create traffic forecasts and optimize traffic flows.

     

    • Electrification: The electrification of transportation will continue to increase. Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly affordable and can offer an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional vehicles.

     

    • Multimodal mobility: Multimodal mobility, which combines the use of several modes of transportation, is becoming increasingly popular. For example, public transport, bicycles and car sharing are being used.

     

    • New business models: The introduction of new technologies and services will also give rise to new business models. For example, the networking of vehicles can give rise to new services such as delivery and logistics services.

     

    The smart workplace of the future will be a key factor in efficiency and recruitment

    What will the working world of the future look like?


    The world of work has always reflected social trends, technological upheavals and cultural norms. These developments will also shape the working world of the future. In addition to digitalization, globalization, demographic change, sustainability and changing values remain relevant trends with an impact on the areas of people, forms of employment, technology, flexibility and sustainability. ORCA-Consulting works on this broad range of topics across all specialist areas.

     

    Human beings
    Humans will remain the central players - even in the working world of the future. They determine its design. Concerns that they could be replaced by technology have long accompanied developments in the world of work. However, the number of employees in Germany continues to rise despite increasing digitalization. For people, the working world of the future will be characterized by increasing individualization - both of products and of work and its conditions.

    The pandemic has shifted the future of work to the present, with the new working patterns we have developed during the crisis becoming our next normal. 

    These issues will occupy us today and in the future:

    • Middle management will have different responsibilities
      Managers will have to face new realities. Social and political turmoil, the merging of work and private life and hybrid forms of work have made their role even more complex (and increased the pressure). Many employees are working in a hybrid world where they have more freedom to choose where, when and how much they work.

     

    • Skills development and digital dexterity are becoming more important than seniority and experience
      In the future, most high-value work will be cognitive in nature. Employees will need to use creativity and critical thinking and continuously develop their digital skills to solve complex problems. The digital economy requires new ideas, information and business models that are constantly expanding, combining and shifting to new ventures. Employees will need to keep their digital dexterity up to date to meet these demands. HR will need to establish and foster an environment of continuous learning so that knowledge acquisition and transparency across the organization can become part of daily operations.

     

    • Collection of employee data is expanding
      Hybrid working has sparked greater interest in monitoring workplace productivity and employee wellbeing. Gartner's analysis shows that 16% of employers are more likely to use technology to monitor their employees, such as virtual clocking in, monitoring workplace computer usage and monitoring email or internal communications/chat. While some organizations are tracking productivity, others are focusing on employee engagement and wellbeing to better understand employee satisfaction. Technology will identify when people have worked too much and when they need to recover by monitoring their biorhythms, nutritional needs and exercise requirements. Managers will use technology and information to promote a hybrid workplace that incorporates the working styles of all employees, not just those who are permanent or have strong digital skills.

     

    • Intelligent machines will be our colleagues.
      Intelligent machines are becoming increasingly astute and ubiquitous - not only when it comes to performing tasks previously reserved for humans, but  also when it comes to things that were thought to be impossible for machines.

     

    • We will work purposefully and with passion, not just for money
      Employees will want to make a meaningful social impact, and they will do so earlier in their lives rather than waiting for retirement.People will actively look for ways to connect the impact and value of their work to their mission, purpose and passions. Viewing the contributions of others on social media will motivate them to become more engaged and contribute to social innovation and equity.

     

    • Balancing remote work and personal life will bring challenges
      Employees working independently or in remote locations will face a dilemma - in order to upskill and manage better projects, they will take on more tasks, possibly to the point where they feel they are working around the clock. In response, it will no longer be enough to achieve a work-life balance and employees will try to focus more on life than work.

     

     

    The energy transition and the use of a smart mix of renewable energies is a guarantee for security and prosperity 

     

    The global energy transition: the biggest challenges facing our companies and our clients

    • Inadequate infrastructure and grid capacity
      One of the key challenges is the modernization and expansion of the existing energy infrastructure. The electricity grids in many countries are not designed for the fluctuating feed-in of renewable energies such as wind and solar power. Significant investment in smart grids, storage technologies and grid management systems is required to ensure a stable energy supply.

     

    • Insufficient storage technologies
      Renewable energies such as wind and solar energy are highly dependent on the weather, which leads to irregular power generation. Powerful storage technologies such as batteries, pumped storage plants or innovative approaches such as power-to-gas are needed to secure the energy supply even at times when there is no sun or wind.
      Power-to-gas (P2G) is a technology in which surplus renewable electricity, for example from wind or solar energy, is converted into gas to be used as an energy storage or carrier. Electricity is used to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen, which can either be used directly or further processed with CO to produce synthetic methane (natural gas). However, technological progress in this area is expensive and is still in its infancy.

     

    • Inadequate political and regulatory framework conditions
      Political support is crucial to the success of the energy transition. Unclear or contradictory legislation, a lack of incentives and slow approval procedures are hindering the expansion of renewable energies. In addition, there are strong economic interests in many countries such as Russia, Venezuela and Nigeria that are clinging to the status quo of fossil fuels. Political instability can also delay progress.

     

    • Insufficient financing and investment
      The transition to renewable energies requires enormous financial resources. While the cost of solar and wind energy has fallen in recent years, financing remains a challenge, particularly for large-scale infrastructure projects. Many developing countries lack the necessary funds and loans, further widening the gap between industrialized nations and poorer countries.

     

    • Resource dependency and environmental problems
      The expansion of renewable energies requires the use of rare raw materials such as lithium and cobalt as well as rare earths, which are needed for batteries, solar modules and wind turbines. The extraction of these raw materials is often associated with considerable environmental damage and frequently takes place in politically unstable regions. This leads to new dependencies and raises ethical and ecological questions.

     

    • Insufficient social acceptance
      The energy transition is bringing about far-reaching changes in society that are not always met with approval. The construction of wind farms, solar parks or new power lines often meets with resistance from the population, especially when these projects are planned near residential areas. The fear of job losses in traditional industries such as coal mining or oil and gas extraction is also a considerable hurdle.

     

    • Insufficient global coordination and cooperation
      As climate change affects all of humanity, the energy transition requires international solidarity. However, differing economic interests and priorities as well as unequal levels of development make global coordination difficult. The Paris Agreement of 2015 was an important step towards the energy transition, but the implementation of concrete measures remains a major challenge, especially in view of geopolitical tensions. The aim of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius - preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius - compared to pre-industrial levels.

     

    • Insufficient technological development and a lack of willingness to innovate
      Although renewable energies are becoming increasingly efficient, further technological innovations are needed to meet the challenges of the energy transition. These include more efficient solar modules, offshore wind turbines and methods for CO₂ capture and storage (CCS). Research and development in these areas is time-consuming and requires considerable investment.

     

     

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