Successful premiere for digitalBAU conference & networking

The importance of construction software and digitalization in the construction industry has increased massively in recent years. To be able to illustrate the rapid pace of developments, the digitalBAU conference & networking event format was held for the first time from July 4 to 6, 2023 at the Munich exhibition grounds with 2,000 participants. As an additional offering for BAU and digitalBAU this boosts the capacity for personal dialog and network expansion. In addition to an accompanying exhibition with more than 90 exhibitors, the focus was primarily on interactive sessions such as panel discussions, think tanks or BarCamps.

Messe München CEO Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer expressed how extremely happy he is with the premiere: “The construction industry was meeting in Munich again just a few months after the successful BAU comeback. The huge interest in the construction software and digitalization topics shows how important regular exchange is. With the BAU and digitalBAU trade fairs and the new conference & networking format, we offer manufacturers and users the ideal combination to stay on the ball with developments and trends.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joaquin Diaz, Chairman of the German Construction Software Association (BVBS) emphasizes the importance digitalBAU has for the industry: “Digitalization know-how will be a key component of the future success for all companies and institutions. digitalBAU conference & networking helps precisely here in soundly setting up and expanding this know-how.”

Dietmar Bernert, Vice President Hexagon Geosystems, Board Member of BVBS and Member of the BAU Board of Trustees is also impressed: “The new event format produced numerous discussions in the run-up stage, especially as it is scheduled close to BAU and at the beginning of the summer holiday period. The constructive Messe München and BVBS cooperation produced an event concept that is well received by the user base and the software industry. The excellent content of the conference program underscored the benefits for the entire construction industry.”

Otto Nowack, digitalBAU Exhibition Director, adds: “The participants received the combination of conference program, workshops and exhibition area very well. We’re really happy about the positive feedback for the first digitalBAU Conference & Networking. And now we’re looking forward to digitalBAU 2024 in Cologne even more optimistically.”

Conference program discusses new approaches and visions

The conference’s focus on the three event days was on different communication elements. The participants therefore could choose between traditional speeches, discussion rounds, interactive sessions, think tanks or BarCamps. “Conferences need a new setting. Knowledge transfer must be practiced beyond silo thinking. Transforming construction globally requires digital technologies. We experienced it all so superbly at digitalBAU conference & networking 2023 in Munich,” summarizes Prof. Christiane Fath, the conference program’s organizer.

200 speakers took part in the framework program and presented solutions and visions of the digital future in the construction industry. In addition, visitors to the Innovation Trail had the opportunity to experience technologies such as 3D scanning, robotic applications and augmented reality live. Startups were also able to use the DigitalLAB to present their products and at the same time to connect with key players.

More than 90 companies from ten countries exhibited innovations

An accompanying exhibition rounded off the new digitalBAU conference & networking format. The companies presenting themselves in Munich included BECHMANN, doka, BRZ, FARO, as well as NFG, PERI and RIB, among others. Björn Wolff, COO at Hottgenroth Software, couldn’t be more positive: “For us, digitalBau conference & networking is an outstanding platform to promote the interaction between the construction and IT industry, interested associations and the directly affected architects, planners and tradespeople.”

The next digitalBAU will be held from February 20 to 22, 2024 in Cologne.