DEKRA back on course for growth

Effects of the coronavirus pandemic largely overcome

DEKRA is returning to its long-standing growth trajectory in 2021. The turnover of the globally active expert organization is expected to increase by around nine percent compared to the previous year to almost 3.5 billion euros. This means that turnover is even higher than the pre-corona record year 2019 (3.4 billion euros). The permanent workforce will grow by around 900 to around 30,800. Including temporary staff, the total number of employees will increase by around 2,500 to a total of around 46,500 by the end of 2021. “We are ‘back on track’ thanks to the agile commitment of our employees worldwide, our strong market positions and the consistent implementation of our digital agenda,” said DEKRA CEO Stefan Kölbl. For example, the company was able to further expand its position as a recognized partner for the testing, inspection and certification of intelligent and networked products. In addition, DEKRA has positioned itself as an important partner for sustainability and driven forward the internationalization of the business, for example through additional testing laboratories in Asia. Stefan Kölbl: “Looking back, it is clear that we coped well with the peak phase of the pandemic. By the 100th anniversary of our founding in 2025, we will have taken off as a global partner for a safe and sustainable world.”

DEKRA proved its resilience in year two of the coronavirus pandemic. “There wasn't a day when we didn't carry out an audit,” reported Stefan Kölbl. DEKRA mobilized the entire organization within a very short time. Vaccination campaigns took place in all major markets. In Germany, for example, a total of 30,000 DEKRA employees, family members and customer companies have now been vaccinated. DEKRA has demonstrated agility with many services: For example, the expert organization has established FFP mask testing in record time and established a leading market position in this area. Remote plant inspections and audits have also been significantly expanded and, where legally possible, the majority of training courses have been conducted via the virtual classroom.

DEKRA has also used the time of the pandemic to further align itself with the future. According to Kölbl, the digital networking of products and systems has made it necessary to broaden the concept of safety. The focus remains on people. However, in addition to the aspect of physical safety and integrity (safety), personal data and networked systems must also be protected from external attacks (security). DEKRA has also firmly anchored the concept of sustainability in its self-image. “Our goal is not only to become a global partner for a safe world, but also for a sustainable one,” explained Stefan Kölbl. “As a strategic goal, we have also established that DEKRA will be CO2-neutral by 2025.” With the highest award from EcoVadis, the Platinum rating, DEKRA is already one of the top 1% of sustainable companies in the ranking.

Consistent digitalization

DEKRA's new Strategy 2025 and digital agenda were associated with strategic decisions in 2021. This includes the world's largest non-listed expert organization concentrating on five focus areas in which both existing services are improved and new digital services are developed. The focus areas are “Vehicles & Mobility in the Future”, “IT & Cyber Security Services”, “Remote Services”, “Data-driven, AI-supported Services” and “Sustainability Services”. By 2025, DEKRA will invest massively in further digital transformation and use a large part of the planned investment of 500 million euros for this purpose. DEKRA CEO Kölbl adds: “We will have digitalized our entire service portfolio by 2025.”

Zu den Erfolgen im Bereich der automobilen Cybersicherheit gehört die Verlängerung der Benennung von DEKRA als Technischer Dienst durch das Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt: Damit erhält DEKRA den Status eines Typprüfers für die Einhaltung der neuen internationalen Vorschriften zur Cybersicherheit und Software-Updates. Nach den UNECE-Regelungen R155 und R156 müssen die Hersteller über die gesamte Lebensdauer eines Fahrzeugs entsprechende Managementsysteme nachweisen und diese alle drei Jahre überprüfen lassen. Stefan Kölbl: „Wir werden in Zukunft nicht nur das Endprodukt periodisch überprüfen, sondern über die gesamte Lebensdauer des Fahrzeugs, von der Entwicklung bis zur Stilllegung, eingebunden sein.“ Mehrere Fahrzeughersteller nutzen bereits Cybersicherheitsdienstleistungen von DEKRA. DEKRA rechnet in diesem Geschäftsfeld in den nächsten Jahren mit einem starken Wachstum und erwartet bis 2025 einen Umsatz im hohen zweistelligen Millionenbereich.

Cybersicherheit für das Internet der Dinge

Im Markt für Cybersicherheit bei Konsumgütern hat DEKRA sein Angebot um Prüf- und Zertifizierungsdienstleistungen nach der Norm ETSI EN 303 645 der europäischen Normungsorganisation ETSI erweitert. Sie regelt weltweit die Sicherheit von internetfähigen Konsumgütern. Die Zahl dieser so genannten IoT-Geräte (Internet of Things) nimmt rasant zu. DEKRA prüft sie und bestätigt mit einem Cybersicherheitszertifikat, dass die Produkte die Anforderungen der Norm erfüllen. Das erste Zertifikat wurde in diesem Jahr an einen großen Hersteller von Haushaltsgeräten aus China vergeben.

In the important growth market of China, approval was also obtained in accordance with the IEC 62443 cyber security standard. This concerns the security of IT networks and systems in the industrial environment.

In industrial companies, for example, safety-related questions are constantly being asked about cranes and elevators, pipe wall thicknesses and air quality. Online monitoring services, remote assisted inspections and remote inspections with remote-controlled robots and drones are used in these areas. The latter, for example, at dangerous or difficult-to-access points in the production process. In 2021, for example, DEKRA received an order worth millions from one of the world's largest chemical companies for remote inspections with robots.

Digital claims management on the rise

Digitalization is also finding its way into areas that were previously characterized by analogue processes, such as claims management. To position itself for the future in this area, DEKRA acquired a stake in Swiss company Spearhead AG in 2021. The company supports insurers as well as fleet operators in the digital processing of vehicle claims. “With our investment in Spearhead, we are continuing to work intensively on simplifying and accelerating our customers' business processes with digital solutions,” says Kölbl. “This will enable us to tap into growth markets in the claims management of the future.” DEKRA expects digital solutions to be used for around 30 percent of damage assessments by 2025.

Growth in traditional core business

In periodic vehicle inspections, DEKRA's traditional core business, three new markets - Finland, Chile and Mexico - were entered in a single calendar year for the first time this year. Following the takeover of a local Finnish provider with six stations, DEKRA is now active in 23 countries and inspects a total of more than 27 million vehicles annually. “By entering the market in three countries this year and expanding our business in other markets, we have further consolidated our position as global market leader,” says Stefan Kölbl. Turnover from vehicle inspections, which remains DEKRA's largest business segment, is expected to increase by 6.6 percent to 1.2 billion euros in 2021.

Great potential for sustainability services

 

As part of its sustainability strategy, DEKRA 2021 has strengthened its commitment to renewable energies and the circular economy. For example, it has expanded its testing expertise in the area of charging infrastructure for electric cars. This includes, for example, the innovative “Plug and Charge” technology, which simplifies and accelerates charging processes. DEKRA has responded to the growing demand in China with a new testing laboratory specifically for photovoltaic (PV) components. Currently, seven of the ten largest PV module manufacturers are already DEKRA customers.

DEKRA supports sustainable waste management with the new “Zero Waste” seal. It is awarded on the basis of a new DIN SPEC standard developed by a commission with DEKRA's involvement. DEKRA is also committed to the safe and economical use of climate-neutral hydrogen technologies. The company has been a member of the Hydrogen Europe association since 2021 and will contribute its expertise as a testing, inspection and certification company.

DEKRA sees great potential in sustainability services relating to the CO2 footprint of companies. DEKRA has validated the process of the global CO2 compensation service for customers, the “Lenovo CO2 Offset Service”, for the world's largest PC manufacturer Lenovo. “As the first audit of this kind for an electronics manufacturer worldwide, the collaboration with Lenovo is groundbreaking,” says DEKRA boss Kölbl, who expects strong demand with annual double-digit growth rates in sustainability services such as determining the carbon footprint, greenhouse gas balancing for products and companies, sustainability audits, sustainability management systems and product testing in accordance with current environmental standards and special consulting services.

Outlook

DEKRA anticipates a challenging business environment in 2022. Supply chain problems are likely to continue into the new year, and economic restrictions are expected to remain in place due to coronavirus. Nevertheless, the testing organization is confident about the new year. “We will use the momentum from 2021 to achieve organic sales growth of between four and six percent in 2022,” said the DEKRA CEO. He believes the conditions for this are in place: DEKRA is well positioned internationally in its markets. In addition, the megatrend of safety and sustainability continues to gain momentum and importance: “We have to shape the framework conditions for a secure digital future today,” said Stefan Kölbl.