Historical information loses its value when it exists but is difficult to find or use in day-to-day work. Many organizations face exactly this challenge. Archives built up over decades, printed reports, and documents stored across different locations contain valuable knowledge. But as long as this information exists only on paper or in individual PDF files, it remains largely inaccessible to modern processes.Wolfsberger Stadtwerke faced this challenge as well. The company manages a contract archive dating back to 1901. At the same time, it regularly collects water measurement data that, until now, was available only in printed reports or PDF files. While these two use cases are very different in nature, they share the same objective: making information accessible and efficient to use in daily operations.

The first use case focused on digitizing historical contract documents. Property transfers, lease and rental agreements, construction plans, and utility line documentation had been collected over more than 125 years. Finding a specific document required manually searching through physical folders and archives. There was no digital document management system with search capabilities.The second use case involved drinking water quality. Results from regular water analyses were available only as printed reports or PDF files. As a result, the data could not be analyzed in a structured way or connected with other data sources. Future analyses, such as combining measurement data with weather data from GeoSphere Austria, first required a reliable digital foundation.Both challenges reflect a situation common to many infrastructure companies and public sector organizations. Digitization often starts with capturing information. The real value, however, comes from turning that information into usable knowledge.

Two Challenges, One Goal

Digitizing documents does not automatically make their content usable.For the water measurement data, accuracy was critical. Even a single incorrectly recognized character or number could lead to incorrect conclusions. The automated extraction process therefore had to be reliable, with results that could be verified.The historical contract documents presented a different challenge. Many were written in Kurrent script or highly stylized handwriting. They also included different document types, construction plans, and utility line documentation from various decades. Traditional OCR methods quickly reach their limits with this type of material. The goal was not simply to extract fragments of text, but to identify structured information such as the year an agreement was signed, cadastral numbers, or the people involved.

Why Scanning Alone Is Not Enough

Together with Wolfsberger Stadtwerke, EBCONT developed a serverless, NIS2-compliant AWS data platform that supports both requirements on a shared technical foundation.AWS S3 serves as the central data lake for documents and data assets. AWS Lambda handles automated information processing. Structured data is stored in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL, providing the foundation for further analysis.For the water measurement data, EBCONT uses Amazon Textract. The service automatically extracts measurement values from reports covering the years 2011 through 2024. The results are then validated against a benchmark dataset to ensure high data quality.For the historical contract documents, Large Language Models accessed through Amazon Bedrock are used to help interpret content, extract structured information, and make historical documents, construction plans, and utility line documentation digitally accessible.Use Case 1: Water Measurement Data as a Foundation for Informed AnalysisFor the first time, the platform makes water measurement data available in a structured format. Instead of manually transferring information from individual reports, relevant values are extracted automatically and validated for quality.A proof of concept was also developed to connect the measurement data with weather data from GeoSphere Austria. This creates a reliable foundation for future analyses and potential predictive models.Use Case 2: Turning a Historical Archive into a Digital Knowledge BaseMore than 60,000 pages of documents are being digitally processed and made accessible in a structured way for the first time. These include historical contracts, construction plans, and utility line documentation spanning more than a century.

One AWS Data Platform for Two Different Use Cases

Until now, there was no complete overview of the information contained in the historical archive. Structuring the content will make it possible to assess documents more systematically and identify relevant information more easily. This creates greater transparency and provides the foundation for systematically reviewing previously unknown contract records.The next phase of the project will focus on expanding the solution for production use. Planned features include a document dashboard, global full-text search, OpenSearch-based classifications, and preparing the data for the potential use of chat agents.

The benefits extend far beyond digitization itself.

The project has made more than 60,000 pages of historical documents accessible and, for the first time, structured water measurement data from 2011 through 2024 in a digital format. This reduces manual effort, creates transparency across information accumulated over decades, and provides a foundation for future automation and informed decision-making.Christian Schimik, Managing Director of Wolfsberger Stadtwerke, describes the value of the project as follows:“The goal of digitizing these documents is not only to enable targeted searches and prepare for the future, but also to understand the past and make it usable by structuring the information contained in more than 60,000 pages of documents.”

From Documents and Data to a Digital Knowledge Base

Digitization does not end with scanning documents or capturing data. Its greatest value emerges when information is structured and transformed into knowledge that supports people in their daily work.This is the foundation Wolfsberger Stadtwerke and EBCONT have created together. A historical archive built up over more than 125 years and dispersed water measurement data are gradually becoming a digital knowledge base that simplifies processes and supports informed decision-making.

Digitization Does Not End with Capturing Information

Whether you’re working with a historical archive, document management, or a data platform, <a href="mailto:harald.kerck@ebcont.com">Harald Kerck</a> is available for an initial, no-obligation conversation to explore how you can make your information assets more accessible and easier to use digitally.

How EBCONT helps Wolfsberger Stadtwerke make a historic archive and critical measurement data searchable, ready for automation, and built for the future.

When Kurrent Script Meets AI: Turning 125 Years of History and 60,000 Document Pages into a Digital Knowledge Base

As a leading European platform for legally binding e-signatures with locations in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, MOXIS is built on maximum availability and uncompromising data privacy. These aren&#39;t optional extras&mdash;they are the foundation of the company&#39;s entire business model.

Until recently, infrastructure monitoring followed a traditional approach, which created distinct day-to-day challenges:

<ul>
	<li>
	Reactive operations: Performance drops and technical issues were usually only detected after they had already occurred.
	</li>
	<li>
	Gradual performance degradation: Subtle, slow-burning system declines often went unnoticed, buried in everyday background noise.
	</li>
	<li>
	Time-consuming troubleshooting: When an issue did arise, finding the root cause required tedious, manual analysis.
	</li>
</ul>

For a company handling highly sensitive customer data, this was not a sustainable long-term approach. The goal was clear: detect and resolve issues before they ever impact the end user.

The Bottleneck: When Monitoring Only Warns You After the Fact

Together, MOXIS and EBCONT built a centralized observability solution powered by the Elastic Stack. Log data from all 400+ systems now flows into a high-performance Elastic cluster. Instead of isolated, siloed solutions, there is now a single, consolidated view of the entire infrastructure&#39;s health.

Additionally, Java-based applications are monitored using Application Performance Monitoring (APM). This surfaces bottlenecks right at the source, long before the system noticeably slows down. The project was executed through a structured, four-phase approach: from the initial assessment and building a robust cluster to the gradual integration of the first dashboards and alerts. Since launching in 2023, the system has been continuously expanded to include new data sources.

The Architecture: All Data in One Central Location

With this consolidated data foundation in place, automated machine learning processes take over the heavy lifting. They continuously analyze performance patterns, autonomously correlate log data, and immediately flag anomalous behavior.

As soon as irregularities occur, automated alerting pipelines kick in. Integrated SLA monitoring is deeply woven into daily operations, allowing the operations team to step in early and nip potential IT issues in the bud. This approach has noticeably driven down the number of reactive support tickets.

&quot;With Elastic Observability, we have successfully shifted to proactive operations. Today, we catch bugs and performance bottlenecks before our customers even have to open a ticket. It has become a foundational pillar for the quality of our SaaS operations.&quot;

&mdash; Stephan Kochauf, COO of MOXIS

Early Detection: Automated Analysis Instead of Manual Troubleshooting

One critical factor sets this project apart from standard cloud solutions: the entire infrastructure runs fully on-premises and containerized via Docker in an Austrian data center. No sensitive signature or log data ever leaves the environment for external clouds. The project proves that cutting-edge early detection and strict European data privacy standards can go hand in hand perfectly.

Uncompromising Data Privacy: Intelligent Analysis Entirely On-Premises

The MOXIS use case clearly demonstrates that proactive monitoring isn&#39;t a question of company size, but of the right architecture. For those looking to keep complex software structures stable while maintaining full data sovereignty, this on-premises architecture delivers the ideal solution.

Ready to shift your IT monitoring from reactive to proactive? Let&#39;s start an informal conversation about what a modern observability infrastructure could look like for your systems.

Get in touch directly with our expert&nbsp;<a href="mailto:christoph.eder@ebcont.com">Christoph Eder</a>.

Key Takeaways for SaaS Providers

Supporting over 400 client instances from an Austrian data center with absolutely zero tolerance for downtime, MOXIS—a leading European platform for legally binding e-signatures—faced a challenge familiar to many SaaS providers: traditional monitoring eventually becomes a bottleneck. Partnering with EBCONT, MOXIS broke through this barrier, successfully shifting from reactive firefighting to proactive operations.

Proactive IT Operations: How MOXIS Catches Issues Before They Become Tickets

Not exactly what you&#39;d expect to hear at a cybersecurity executive breakfast. Yet that idea became a common thread throughout the morning: resilience isn&#39;t built through constant action. It&#39;s built by knowing what truly matters, filtering out the noise, and staying capable of making the right decisions when it counts.

At EBCONT&#39;s Executive Breakfast, The Resilient Organization, leaders from business and IT explored how organizations can strengthen their resilience in the face of growing cyber threats, increasing regulatory complexity, and an increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape.

Sometimes, it&#39;s okay not to care about everything.

Tilman Epha, Sales Director DACH | XM Cyber

Cybersecurity isn&#39;t about fixing every vulnerability. It&#39;s about fixing the right ones.

Tilman Epha explained why prioritizing vulnerabilities solely by CVSS scores often misses the bigger picture. What matters isn&#39;t how severe a vulnerability appears on paper. What matters is whether it is actually part of a viable attack path within your own environment.

At the same time, AI is dramatically accelerating the speed of cyberattacks. Tasks such as reconnaissance, information gathering, and creating highly convincing phishing emails now take minutes instead of days.

The most common entry points remain remarkably consistent:

<ul>
	<li>Misconfigurations</li>
	<li>Stolen credentials</li>
	<li>Excessive privileges</li>
</ul>

The encouraging news: only about 2% of known vulnerabilities are actually part of critical attack paths. Organizations that consistently identify and remediate these exposures can reduce their overall cyber risk disproportionately.

This aligns with Gartner&#39;s prediction that organizations adopting Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) will experience at least 50% fewer successful cyberattacks by 2028.

Not Every Vulnerability Is a Real Risk

Sven Kirchmayer, Principal Solution Architect | Elastic

The biggest challenge in modern cybersecurity isn&#39;t a lack of data. It&#39;s a lack of visibility.

Sven Kirchmayer explained that security data is often spread across 60 to 80 different tools. The result: organizations see countless individual events but struggle to connect them into a clear, actionable picture.

This is where true resilience is put to the test.

The cycle is simple: See. Understand. Act.

In practice, the breakdown usually happens between seeing what&#39;s happening and understanding what it actually means. That&#39;s where organizations lose valuable hours, sometimes even days.

The numbers put the challenge into perspective:

<ul>
	<li>On average, it takes 241 days to detect and contain a cyberattack.</li>
	<li>If an attack remains undetected for more than 200 days, the average additional cost is $1.88 million.</li>
	<li>For larger organizations, one hour of IT downtime can result in losses of more than $300,000.</li>
</ul>

Another strategic consideration is where this data is processed. Elastic can run on premises, in any public cloud, or on European cloud infrastructure, giving organizations full control over where their data resides and how it is managed.

There&#39;s No Shortage of Data. Only of Visibility.

Andreas H&ouml;llrigl | STACKIT (Schwarz Digits)

Andreas H&ouml;llrigl emphasized that digital sovereignty is no longer just an IT topic. It&#39;s a strategic business decision that directly impacts an organization&#39;s ability to act. The freedom to switch providers when needed creates real negotiating power, making decisions about where data is stored and processed a matter for executive leadership.

For years, many organizations justified their dependence on non-European hyperscalers by pointing to a lack of viable alternatives. That argument is becoming increasingly difficult to defend.

The European Union is investing heavily in its own digital infrastructure while advancing initiatives such as the European Chips Act and broader technology sovereignty programs to strengthen Europe&#39;s digital independence.

One visible example is STACKIT. The company has been selected by the European Commission as one of four providers for sovereign cloud services and has also been approved by the Dutch government as an official cloud alternative.

Digital Sovereignty Has Become a Business Decision

Executive Roundtable 
Moderated by Christopher Anderlik | EBCONT

With J&uuml;rgen Heschl (Red Bull), Oliver Monari (Austrian Post), Stefan H&ouml;ller (St. Vinzenz Group), and Michael F&uuml;rlinger (Gartner KG)

The event concluded with an executive roundtable that brought together practical perspectives from different industries. Rather than focusing on theory, the discussion centered on real-world experiences and lessons learned.

One message quickly became clear: resilience doesn&#39;t mean preventing every disruption.

Not every incident requires maximum escalation. In some cases, an application can be unavailable without putting the entire organization at risk. The real challenge is knowing what matters most, setting the right priorities, and staying calm under pressure.

The same principle applies to cybersecurity as it does in everyday life: locking your front door won&#39;t stop every burglar, but it makes opportunistic attacks much less likely. For organizations, that means consistently addressing known vulnerabilities and eliminating the most obvious attack paths first.

The logistics perspective reinforced this idea. Traffic jams, supply chain delays, and unexpected disruptions are part of daily business. Resilient organizations aren&#39;t defined by the absence of problems, but by how quickly they adapt and recover.

The discussion also highlighted the value of short decision-making paths. Family-owned businesses, for example, can often respond especially quickly during a crisis. One example shared was the rapid setup of a COVID testing center, made possible by pragmatic decisions and the ability to adapt without delay.

The roundtable concluded with a simple but powerful takeaway:

Resilience isn&#39;t about making sure nothing ever goes wrong. It&#39;s about being prepared, focusing on what matters most, and staying capable of acting when it matters most.

Resilience Is Proven When Things Go Wrong

We&#39;re happy to share the presentation materials upon request.

If you&#39;re interested, feel free to reach out to <a href="mailto:christopher.anderlik@ebcont.com.">Christopher Anderlik</a>.

Continue the Conversation

Cyber threats are evolving faster, regulatory demands are becoming more complex, and digital dependencies continue to grow. Building a resilient organization takes more than strong technology. It requires clear priorities, transparency, and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure. Key takeaways from our Executive Breakfast on organizational resilience.

Focus first. The foundation of organizational resilience.

For the fourth time, EBCONT proudly welcomed colleagues, clients, partners, and friends aboard the Pride Boat. Once again, the Danube became the setting for an unforgettable evening filled with meaningful encounters, inspiring discussions, and a vibrant atmosphere.

From Vienna to Greifenstein and back, one theme united everyone on board: togetherness. Together with colleagues, customers, partners, and guests from companies including IKEA, &Ouml;BB, Bayer, Wiener St&auml;dtische Versicherung, Erste Group, and many others, we experienced the value of exchanging perspectives beyond organizational boundaries.

One of the highlights of the evening was our panel discussion on LGBTQIA+ employee networks and allyship. The conversation reinforced an important message: diversity and inclusion do not stop at company borders. By sharing experiences, learning from one another, and supporting each other, we can create meaningful and lasting change together.

As if the evening itself wanted to underline this message, a brief summer shower accompanied us on the Danube before giving way to a beautiful rainbow stretching across the sky. It was a magical moment that perfectly captured the spirit of the event.

Of course, the celebration continued long after the discussions ended. There was laughter, dancing, and unforgettable moments shared together&mdash;creating the unique atmosphere that has become the hallmark of the EBCONT Pride Boat.

For the fourth consecutive year, the EBCONT Pride Boat set sail!

But Pride is about much more than celebrating for one evening. It is about fostering workplaces where everyone&mdash;regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity&mdash;feels safe, respected, and empowered to be their authentic selves.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making Pride Boat 2026 such a memorable experience, especially Bettina Richter, EBCONT&#39;s DEI Lead, whose dedication made this event possible. We are already looking forward to setting sail again next year.

Pride is about connection, solidarity, and embracing diversity. The fourth EBCONT Pride Boat was much more than an event—it was an evening of inspiring conversations about allyship, genuine connection, and a rainbow stretching across the Danube, creating a powerful symbol of what is possible when we live diversity together.

EBCONT Pride Boat 2026 – United in Diversity 

Today, digital sovereignty is critical for keeping businesses and institutions agile and resilient. To make this abstract concept highly tangible, ORF and the Association of Austrian Software Innovations (V&Ouml;SI) have launched a groundbreaking initiative. Under the banner &quot;Comparable. Explainable. Sovereign.&quot;, an interdisciplinary team of experts is creating the first transparent reference model to accurately measure digital sovereignty.

As an active member of this Special Interest Group (SIG) Digital Sovereignty, EBCONT is working alongside leaders from business, research, and the public sector&mdash;including the Federal Chancellery and the Federal Computing Center (BRZ)&mdash;to establish clear criteria that expose hidden tech dependencies.

The model targets the three core pillars of sovereignty:

<ul>
	<li>Operational: Staying fully agile in daily operations.</li>
	<li>Strategic: Maintaining long-term freedom of choice.</li>
	<li>Legal: Ensuring compliance and true data ownership.</li>
</ul>

Collaboratively Building Objective Metrics for Tech Independence

At EBCONT, we believe IT sovereignty is all about self-determination. Through years of partnering with our clients, we know firsthand that you can&rsquo;t buy sovereignty off the shelf. That&rsquo;s why we leverage a robust partner ecosystem to back up this independence with solid tech architecture.

We treat technological autonomy as a non-negotiable part of modern risk management. It&rsquo;s about proactively spotting threats to business success&mdash;like over-reliance on a single platform or brittle global supply chains&mdash;and neutralizing them with tailored architectures. Our experts Christopher Anderlik, Thomas Kiniger, and Dominik F&uuml;rst are driving this initiative forward, lending their expertise to ensure IT landscapes stop being a &quot;black box.&quot;

Tech Freedom Over Vendor Lock-in

The SIG Digital Sovereignty is developing a strictly non-commercial, vendor-neutral model. By establishing clear standards for software origin, licensing, and data residency, we are bringing true transparency to the market. EBCONT is proud to champion this process, giving public sector entities and regulated industries the confidence they need when making complex tech decisions.

Ready to see where your IT landscape stands? &gt; Discover how to evaluate and optimize your digital sovereignty using these new standards. Our security, architecture, and IT governance specialists are ready to assess your current setup and chart a clear path to tech independence.

Read the official press release here: <a href="https://voesi.or.at/digital-sovereignty" rel="noopener" target="_blank">voesi.or.at/digital-sovereignty</a>

A Sovereignty Audit for Your IT Landscape

EBCONT has joined forces with VÖSI and ORF in a new expert initiative aimed at putting a concrete number on digital sovereignty. By building an objective KPI model, the working group is developing a 'Digital Sovereignty Score' to help companies and public institutions spot vendor dependencies and confidently take control of their IT strategies.

Measuring the Unmeasurable: EBCONT Helps Shape VÖSI’s New Digital Sovereignty Framework

The recognition honors EBCONT as a partner that has consistently grown its Lenovo service business &mdash; with a clear focus on Premier Support, TrueScale, and Sustainability Services.

That Lenovo introduced the &quot;Service Champions Club&quot; as a standalone award in 2025 is no coincidence: services have become a core part of modern IT procurement, not an afterthought.

When an award reflects what you do every day

As a Lenovo 360 Gold Partner and Preferred Partner for Azure Local and Microsoft CSP, EBCONT combines powerful hardware with flexible as-a-service models &mdash; tailored for mid-market and enterprise needs. This recognition reflects something EBCONT has practiced for a long time: IT doesn&#39;t end at the point of purchase. From rollout to ongoing support to sustainable lifecycle management, we think end-to-end

What this award means for our customers

Markus Ferstl is happy to help: <a href="mailto:markus.ferstl@ebcont.com">markus.ferstl@ebcont.com</a>

Planning a hardware refresh, exploring as-a-service, or looking for a Microsoft CSP partner?

EBCONT is among Lenovo's top partners in the DACH region — and has now been officially recognized with the Lenovo Service Champions Club 2025 award, ranking #1 Gold in the ALPS region.

EBCONT named #1 Gold: Lenovo Service Champions Club 2025, ALPS Region

44% of companies consider themselves highly family-friendly &ndash; yet only 24% of employees agree. This gap highlights an important reality: work-life balance is far more than a benefit on paper. It is experienced in everyday working life &ndash; through genuine flexibility, support for personal responsibilities, and an understanding of different life stages.

This is exactly where kununu&rsquo;s award comes in. It makes visible how employees truly perceive their working reality &ndash; based on independent reviews. Only around 3% of companies meet the required criteria, and the award will be presented for the first time in 2026.

EBCONT is among this select group of employers whose employees report a particularly high level of satisfaction with their work-life balance. Because family-friendliness is not defined by individual measures, but by everyday practice: flexible frameworks, understanding for individual life situations, and the natural integration of different life phases.

&ldquo;Today, work-life balance goes far beyond traditional family models. It includes a wide range of life realities &ndash; from childcare to caring for relatives,&rdquo; says Nina Zimmermann, CEO of kununu. &ldquo;With this award, we are recognizing companies for the first time that enable this diversity in everyday working life and thus set a strong example for modern employer attractiveness.&rdquo;

&ldquo;For us at EBCONT, work-life balance means creating conditions that reflect the real-life situations of our employees. The fact that our colleagues experience this in their daily work and confirm it on kununu makes this recognition particularly meaningful to us,&rdquo; says Johannes Litschauer, Managing Director of EBCONT.

The award is based on clearly defined criteria and is granted exclusively on the basis of authentic kununu reviews. It highlights how crucial the employee perspective is when it comes to shaping work-life balance in a credible and sustainable way.

We are incredibly proud: EBCONT has been awarded the kununu Top Rated Family-Friendliness 2026 distinction and is therefore among the few companies where work-life balance is truly lived in everyday working life – as confirmed by independent employee reviews on kununu.

EBCONT is named a Top Rated family-friendly employer by kununu!

The Children&rsquo;s Portal has established a central digital platform that significantly simplifies the search and pre-registration process for childcare and early education facilities. At the same time, administrative processes for municipalities and provider organizations have become more efficient and transparent.

EBCONT played a key role in shaping both the concept and the implementation of the platform&rsquo;s usability. A clearly structured layout, intuitive user guidance, and easy-to-understand processes were at the heart of the design approach. The goal was to make digital workflows as simple as possible&mdash;for families as well as for administrative bodies.

The award for the Province of Styria confirms that a consistent focus on usability and process quality delivers real results. Positive feedback from stakeholders and the high level of platform adoption demonstrate that modern service design can make a decisive contribution to the quality of public services.

Vesna Krnjic, Technical Project Lead for the Children&rsquo;s Portal at the Province of Styria, emphasizes the importance of a &ldquo;user-friendly platform for parents and guardians&rdquo; and highlights that modern technologies ensure reliable use aligned with the needs of the target group. &ldquo;We are absolutely delighted that the Styria Children&rsquo;s Portal has been honored with the &lsquo;Manage Instead of Administer&rsquo; Award 2025. This recognition confirms that we have successfully modernized administration and created real added value for citizens. My special thanks go to EBCONT&mdash;the professional and collaborative partnership on equal footing was key to the success of this project.&rdquo;

We warmly congratulate the Province of Styria and all project partners on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to many more successful collaborations in the future.

&nbsp;

At the beginning of the year, the Styria Children’s Portal was honored with the ‘Manage Instead of Administer’ Award 2025 by the Styrian Economic Chamber (WKO Styria). This award recognizes projects that modernize public administration and create real added value for citizens.

Styria Children’s Portal wins award

What a strong result: EBCONT has been named a &ldquo;Top Employer&rdquo; for the tenth consecutive year in 2026!

And that&rsquo;s not all &mdash; we also made a remarkable leap in the rankings, climbing from 131st to 48th place. This makes us one of the biggest climbers of the year.

Within the &ldquo;Internet, Telecommunications &amp; IT&rdquo; sector, EBCONT further strengthened its position, improving from 11th to an outstanding 5th place. This result highlights the continuous development of the privately owned IT service provider as a modern, employee-focused employer.

The award is based on a comprehensive and independent study: more than 340,000 evaluations from employees, trend readers, and members of the career networks Xing and kununu were included in the ranking. In total, over 1,400 companies with at least 200 employees in Austria were analyzed. One of the most heavily weighted questions was: Would you recommend your employer?

Johannes Litschauer, CEO of EBCONT: 
&ldquo;This development clearly shows what is possible when many committed people pull together. Thanks to everyone who shapes EBCONT and makes it so special.&quot;

EBCONT has been named a ‘Top Employer’ for the tenth year in a row in 2026 and is one of the year’s biggest risers, jumping to 48th place. Within the IT sector, the company has also advanced significantly and now ranks in the top five.


10-Time Top Employer — Now Ranked Among the Top 50!

For us, expansion means far more than additional space. It represents even closer proximity to our customers, room for developing innovative ideas, and a modern working environment in which our teams can thrive. With our new office at Kranichberggasse 2 in Vienna&rsquo;s 12th district, we are creating the ideal conditions for this.

In mid-March, we celebrated this important milestone together at an opening event. Numerous long-standing clients and valued partners &ndash; including Gerhard Wagner (KSV), Franz J&auml;gersberger (BMF), and Gerlinde Scholler (Schrack Seconet) &ndash; accepted our invitation and made the occasion truly special.

Our site manager Florian Walter, who has been closely connected with clients in the region for many years, provided initial insights into the new premises: 
&ldquo;I am very much looking forward to this location generating many new impulses and to further developing innovative projects together with our clients. With the new office, we are strengthening our presence in the south of Vienna and creating space for even closer collaboration and sustainable solutions.&rdquo;

With EBCONT Vienna South at EUROPLAZA, we are sending a clear message: 
Welcome, future. Welcome, expansion.

EBCONT continues its growth trajectory and expands its presence in Vienna: We are delighted to announce the opening of our new location at EUROPLAZA Vienna South – at the same time marking our return to one of Vienna’s most important office hubs.

EBCONT opens a location at EUROPLAZA Vienna South

Educational publishers today face the challenge of balancing rising expectations, complex product portfolios, and ever-shorter production cycles. Together with the Austrian Federal Publishing Office (&ouml;bv), EBCONT implemented a modern publishing architecture that centralizes content, streamlines processes, and enables automated multi-channel delivery&mdash;from mathematics textbooks to interactive digital exercises.

Educational Publishing at a Turning Point

The &ouml;bv&rsquo;s production previously relied on Word manuscripts, PDF-based corrections, and separate systems for digital exercise formats. As product complexity increased, this approach became increasingly labor-intensive and difficult to scale.

With the introduction of a centralized content model in SiteFusion, &ouml;bv is moving toward managing all content in a structured, single source. Learning objectives, tasks, solutions, and metadata are stored in consistent data pools and automatically delivered to all output channels&mdash;whether print, HTML, or digital exercise formats.

A content-first approach that simplifies production

In the first phase, selected authors and the editorial team work together in a shared online portal. Corrections, feedback, approvals, and the parallel creation of tasks and solutions all take place within a single, end-to-end workflow.

Examples of the improvements:

<ul>
	<li>Automatic numbering and linking</li>
	<li>Extended exercise types in Fonto</li>
	<li>An optimized user interface</li>
	<li>Transparent, traceable feedback processes</li>
</ul>

The result: less manual effort, fewer sources of error, and significantly more efficient workflows

Collaboration that saves time and improves quality

Thanks to the XML-first approach, InDesign files for textbooks and solution books can be generated automatically&mdash;including mathematical typesetting and language-specific variants.

At the same time, the new architecture enables output as HTML packages that can be transformed into more than 20 interactive exercise types. This is complemented by diagnostic tools for competency analysis&mdash;an important step toward modern digital learning formats.

Automated production for print and digital

All channels draw from the same structured content base. 
The result: no duplicate data, no version conflicts, and fewer errors&mdash;combined with significantly shorter production cycles. New product ideas can be realized faster because the foundation is already consistent and scalable.

One source, many formats: true multi-channel publishing

From the migration to DITA LCE strict to the expansion of exercise types, &ouml;bv and EBCONT have established a robust technical foundation.

Centralized competency catalogs, automated workflows, and standardized outputs provide the basis for responding flexibly to new market requirements.

A scalable foundation for future innovation

We&rsquo;re happy to discuss the potential that structured content, automation, and the right technology can unlock for your organization.

 
We look forward to your challenge: 
juergen.ritschka-kohl@ebcont.com

&nbsp;

Looking to modernize your publishing workflows?

With centralized content management, automated workflows, and smart technology, ensuring consistent quality across all channels.

From Manuscript to Multi-Channel
How the Austrian Federal Publishing Office modernized its production processes

Many organizations use Elastic, but turning it into truly sustainable value for security, search, or observability takes deep expertise. That&rsquo;s exactly what EBCONT has been bringing to the table for over a decade: solid architecture consulting, proven best practices, and hands-on experience from more than 60 Elastic projects.

This combination has also convinced Elastic &ndash; earning EBCONT the recognition as Elastic Innovation Partner 2025.

Precise Search, Strong Security, Full Control

For more than 12 years, Elastic technology has been a core part of our work&mdash;across large enterprises as well as the public sector. During this time, we&rsquo;ve delivered a wide range of tailored solutions: from precision search to robust security setups all the way to full observability platforms.

We support our clients throughout the entire lifecycle: from architectural decisions to setup and stack upgrades to ongoing operations.

What&rsquo;s Behind the Innovation Award

<ul>
	<li>Security &amp; SIEM: from log correlation to threat detection</li>
	<li>Observability: monitoring, alerting, and performance transparency</li>
	<li>Search &amp; AI: enterprise search, semantic search, and AI-powered features</li>
	<li>Data Integration: connecting a wide range of data sources to Elastic</li>
</ul>

And on top of that: with EBCONT, Elastic can be seamlessly integrated on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments.

Our Elastic Focus Areas at a Glance:

As an Elastic ELITE Partner and authorized reseller, EBCONT delivers an end-to-end offering&mdash;consulting, implementation, and operations from a single source:

Consulting 
&bull; Strategic architecture consulting, best practices, and performance optimization 
&bull; Workshops and training for teams, plus technical deep dives

Implementation 
&bull; Setup and upgrades of the Elastic Stack 
&bull; Tailored solutions: from SIEM to observability to AI-powered search 
&bull; Integration of diverse data sources and existing systems 
&bull; Regular joint events with Elastic for updates and deep-dive insights

Operations 
&bull; On-premise, cloud, or hybrid operations 
&bull; Managed Service with SLA support 
&bull; Administration of Elastic subscriptions

Our difference: consulting excellence, deep technical expertise, and a seasoned operations team. The result isn&rsquo;t proof-of-concepts that sit in a drawer&mdash;it&rsquo;s scalable, secure, and future-ready platforms.

More Than Consulting: A Holistic Elastic Approach

The title Elastic Innovation Partner 2025 stands for trust, expertise, and tangible results. For EBCONT, it&rsquo;s both a confirmation and a motivation: to continue delivering projects that make an impact&mdash;technologically smart, collaboratively strong, and always with an eye on the bigger picture.

Conclusion: Innovation in Action &mdash; Now Awarded

Whether SIEM, search, or observability&mdash;if you want to get more out of Elastic, we&rsquo;re here to help. 
We&rsquo;ll show you what&rsquo;s technically possible, what makes sense from a compliance perspective, and what delivers sustainable business value.

Get in touch and put Elastic to work where it matters most.

Use Elastic with Purpose &ndash; with EBCONT as Your Implementation Partner

Outstanding Partnership – EBCONT Recognized for Innovative Elastic Solutions

EBCONT Honored with the Elastic Innovation Partner Award

Johannes Litschauer, CEO EBCONT: &ldquo;Being recognized as a kununu Top Employer for five years in a row is, for me, a strong sign of how we work together. Every day, I see how committed, open, and supportive our colleagues are with one another. This collaboration creates an environment where people feel comfortable, can grow, and move things forward together. I&rsquo;m truly proud of our entire team &ndash; because our people are what define EBCONT.&rdquo;

&ldquo;We congratulate EBCONT on once again receiving the Top Company seal &mdash; for the fifth year in a row, which is something truly special,&rdquo; says Nina Zimmermann, CEO of kununu. &ldquo;Only five percent of companies qualify for this distinction. It sends a positive signal &mdash; both as a showcase for potential applicants and as a reflection of the company culture internally to employees.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

EBCONT_five times kununu in a row

EBCONT was once again recognized as a kununu Top Company in 2026, marking the fifth consecutive year. This distinction holds special significance for the company, as it is directly based on the feedback of its colleagues – on the dedication and commitment of the entire team.


Five years in a row kununu Top Employer!

Generative AI, large language models, and automated assistant systems are generating headlines, pilot projects, and flashy showcases. On paper, everything sounds promising: processes are expected to become faster, more efficient, and smarter. But what&rsquo;s left of the &ldquo;wow effect&rdquo; when it comes to real-world implementation?

Studies by MIT, Gartner, and McKinsey reveal a clear trend: the vast majority of AI pilots fail before reaching production. We see the same pattern in our client work&mdash;transforming a great idea into a sustainable solution is rarely straightforward. The path is often rough, filled with unexpected challenges and detours.

Why do so many AI projects in industry fall short of their prototypes&rsquo; promise? A key issue is the misplaced expectation that AI can follow the same blueprint as traditional IT projects: clearly defined scope, predictable ROI, minimal risk.

In contrast, AI is often exploratory, iterative, and data-driven. It demands a different project setup, a different mindset&mdash;and above all, a willingness to embrace uncertainty. Many organizations underestimate this cultural shift. They launch with ambitious goals but lack the methodological foundation to support them.

Big promises. Little follow-through?

One of the biggest misconceptions: What shines in the innovation lab can&rsquo;t simply be replicated in production. Two very different realities collide:

<ul>
	<li>Showroom AI: Delivers quick, visible results, often powered by GenAI, with little to no operational integration. Great for attention&mdash;but rarely built to last.</li>
	<li>Workshop AI: Data-heavy, long-term projects focused on integration, automation, and maintainability. Less flashy, but far more impactful.</li>
</ul>

Treating both the same leads to disappointment&mdash;for stakeholders and users alike. In our experience, realism is the more reliable success factor. Only those who understand and distinguish between these two worlds can build AI projects that succeed in the long run.

Showroom vs. Workshop: Two Worlds of AI

Many AI initiatives don&rsquo;t fail because of the technology&mdash;they fail due to a lack of clarity: unclear objectives, unrealistic expectations, and poor communication between business units, IT, and data science. Interdisciplinary teams need more than just tools&mdash;they need mutual understanding, a shared vision, and a common language. It sounds simple, but in practice, this is often the breaking point.

At the same time, cross-functional teams are a key success factor: diverse perspectives lead to more resilient, realistic solutions. Openness to learning&mdash;including consciously saying &ldquo;no&rdquo; after a proof of concept&mdash;saves money and builds trust, both internally and externally.

Why Reality Can Be Uncomfortable

In our experience, success doesn&rsquo;t come from hype&mdash;it comes from structure. We follow an iterative, reality-based project path:

Exploration: Is AI truly the right fit for the problem? Are the necessary data available and usable? How complex is the domain? We answer these questions collaboratively with our clients and make deliberate decisions about whether to move forward.

Proof of Value: A prototype must do more than work technically&mdash;it must deliver real value. This phase focuses on feasibility, scalability, and tangible business benefits.

Production Rollout: The solution is integrated, secured, and operationalized. We emphasize maintainability, security, performance, and ensuring all stakeholders are aligned.

Each phase is separated by clear gates: Go/No-Go decisions, transparent communication, and honest feedback. This avoids unnecessary costs and builds long-term trust.

From Idea to Production: Our Pragmatic Approach

Diese Muster sehen wir immer wieder:

Across industries and company sizes, certain challenges come up again and again in our project work. Recognizing them early makes all the difference:

<ul>
	<li>Unclear Objectives 
	Starting without a concrete problem or business need often leads to endless proof-of-concept cycles with no real direction.</li>
	<li>Miscommunication 
	Data science needs business context. Data without interpretation won&rsquo;t generate answers.</li>
	<li>Tech Over Value 
	The excitement over new tools can distract from the actual goal&mdash;delivering value.</li>
	<li>No Data Strategy 
	Without a clear plan for data availability and quality, even the best model is useless.</li>
</ul>

We Keep Seeing the Same Patterns

For C-level decision-makers especially, one thing is clear: AI initiatives are strategic investments. They require more than budget and technology&mdash;they demand clarity of purpose, a solid data foundation, and teams with the right skill mix.

Organizational readiness is just as critical: clear ownership, defined roles and decision paths, transparent governance structures, and proactive change management that involves employees early and supports them throughout the transition.

Those who build this foundation don&rsquo;t just implement AI&mdash;they leverage it as a driver of efficiency, innovation, and resilience. The difference between companies that succeed with AI and those that don&rsquo;t isn&rsquo;t access to technology&mdash;it&rsquo;s the ability to execute.

AI Doesn&rsquo;t Run Itself

Artificial intelligence can solve real problems&mdash;but only when treated as a tool, not a silver bullet. Organizations that approach it with realistic expectations, a structured process, and honest communication are the ones that see lasting results&mdash;not just empty prototypes.

The key is to resist the hype, plan deliberately, stay open to learning, and commit fully to execution.

Conclusion: AI Needs Clarity, Competence, and Context

Join us at the LSZ Industry Summit on November 27 in Graz (Workshop B, 2:40 p.m.). Under the title &ldquo;Business Reality Check: Real-World AI Insights from Client Projects,&rdquo; we&rsquo;ll share unfiltered lessons, explore your challenges, and learn from each other.

This workshop is tailored for decision-makers, project leads, and AI-curious professionals who want to step away from the hype and focus on what actually works.

Bring your questions, your experiences, and your curiosity&mdash;we look forward to seeing you there!

<h1>Contact:</h1>

<h2>Kerstin Lenger, EBCONT 
AI Expert &amp; Senior Data Analyst 
kerstin.lenger@ebcont.com</h2>

Interested in a Candid Conversation?

A Candid Look at the Reality of AI Initiatives

Between Hype and Hands-On:
Why AI Projects Fail – and How to Do Better

Sound familiar? Each team works differently, synergies go unused, and automation is based on gut feeling rather than structure. Security gaps are discovered too late, and there&rsquo;s a growing disconnect between development and operations. Many organizations struggle to professionalize their GitHub usage &mdash; without losing flexibility or speed.

When DevOps Becomes a Construction Site

Our vision: empower developers to work productively, securely, and in full compliance &mdash; with the right processes, tools, and training. 
That&rsquo;s why we offer a scalable service package for companies ready to use GitHub strategically:

<ul>
	<li>
	Enablement: From workshops and training to tailored documentation &mdash; we prepare your teams for GitHub success.
	</li>
	<li>
	Consulting: We analyze your DevOps landscape and design a GitHub roadmap with proven best practices.
	</li>
	<li>
	Transformation: We support migration, integration, and setup of a GitHub environment optimized for your organization.
	</li>
	<li>
	Automation: We create CI/CD workflows, self-services, and leverage GitHub Actions to streamline development.
	</li>
	<li>
	Security: We integrate GitHub Advanced Security, automate dependency updates, and ensure compliance.
	</li>
	<li>
	Operations: We advise on licensing, tooling, and ongoing operational support.
	</li>
</ul>

The Modern Way to Use GitHub: Structured. Secure. Scalable.

Structure over chaos. Security from the first commit. Clarity in collaboration. And a team that knows what it&rsquo;s doing &mdash; trained, supported, and equipped with the right tools.

Your Benefits at a Glance: Work Smarter, Not Harder.

Let&rsquo;s talk. Whether you&rsquo;re just getting started or already on your way &mdash; EBCONT supports you every step of the journey.

Get in touch: github@ebcont.com

Ready to unlock the full potential of GitHub?

GitHub is far more than just a code host. It’s the central platform for modern software development — for collaboration, security, and efficiency. Yet many companies only scratch the surface. Potential remains untapped, processes are inconsistent, and security is often an afterthought. That’s exactly where EBCONT’s new GitHub Services come in.

More Than Repos and Pull Requests: How EBCONT Redefines GitHub

Every journey begins with a single step. 
For us at EBCONT, that step into the world of lived inclusion wasn&rsquo;t all that long ago &ndash; just four years back. But what a journey it has been.

Back in 2021, we took our first concrete steps toward a more inclusive workplace. We joined Pride Biz Austria, founded Women@EBCONT, and built connections with inspiring women-in-tech communities like shedigital and the newITgirls. Together with Dr. Gerald Grundschober, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, we started a dialogue about mental health through impulses, workshops, and 1:1 lighthouse talks &ndash; because inclusion starts with understanding.

In 2022, our focus turned to awareness. Through unconscious bias workshops for leaders and the introduction of gender-neutral restrooms, we made diversity something that could be both felt and seen &ndash; in our mindsets and in our spaces.

By 2023, our perspective had grown. Diversity was no longer a project; it became a mindset. We formed our EBCONT Diversity Team, put our Diversity Charter in writing, and partnered with myAbility Social Enterprise GmbH. The third annual Pride Boot once again brought people together &ndash; loud, proud, and joyful.

2024 was a year of depth. We explored neurodiversity and intergenerational perspectives, launched our Male Ally Program, and ran our first EBCONT Rainbow Run &ndash; turning inclusion into movement and meaning. We were also nominated to join WOMENinICT, another step toward more visibility for women in tech.

And now, in 2025, diversity has become part of our very structure. With the new role of Experience &amp; DEI Lead, we&rsquo;re making our progress measurable and our impact transparent.

When the jury of the Preis der Vielfalt 2025 awarded EBCONT 3rd place at the Diversity Ball in Vienna City Hall, they put it beautifully: &ldquo;EBCONT implements diversity and inclusion consistently &ndash; from structural measures to visible initiatives such as male allyship and pride activities. The company impressively demonstrates that diversity in IT is not only possible but can be lived successfully. Particularly in relation to its size, EBCONT&rsquo;s commitment is extraordinary and deserves great recognition.&rdquo;

We couldn&rsquo;t agree more &ndash; because for us, diversity isn&rsquo;t a destination. It&rsquo;s an ongoing journey. And we&rsquo;re just getting started. 🌈

Our journey toward lived diversity &ndash; year after year

This continuous, strategic development shows: at EBCONT, diversity isn&rsquo;t just seen as a goal &ndash; it&rsquo;s a lived mindset, brought to life every single day. 
Inspiration from experts across all dimensions of diversity supports this ongoing process, and the joy our team brings to it becomes especially visible at events like the Diversity Ball.

A heartfelt thank-you goes out to the entire EBCONT team and to everyone who accompanies and supports us on this journey. 
At EBCONT, diversity and inclusion are not just aspirations &ndash; they are deeply rooted values that shape our daily work and strengthen our company culture. 🚀

Inclusion as a Lived Culture

Consistent commitment creates lasting change – and our journey at EBCONT proves just that.
We’re truly delighted that our dedication to diversity and inclusion has been recognized with 3rd place in the “Preis der Vielfalt 2025” at the Diversity Ball in Vienna’s City Hall.



EBCONT on the path to embracing diversity

In September 2025, the Schrack Seconet project &ldquo;Experience Media Control&rdquo; was successfully completed. The goal was a comprehensive redesign of the existing control software from a user experience and user interface perspective. The aim: intuitive usability, technological sophistication, and a visual appearance that seamlessly integrates into Schrack Seconet&rsquo;s new corporate design &ndash; especially within the modern atmosphere of their new presentation area at the Vienna location.

One more &ldquo;experience&rdquo; added: Media control in a new design

The new media control functions as a central remote on a tablet. It allows control of lights, blinds, music, screens, connections, and videos &ndash; including automated presets for interactive scenarios. For example, a single tap can simulate a fire alarm with a siren or a medical emergency.

Experience control at the touch of a button

In this project, EBCONT provided UX/UI design, icon design, consulting, and coordination with the implementation partner. Development took place in Figma &ndash; with multiple variants, iterative reviews, and close technical validation. Particularly exciting was designing within Schrack Seconet&rsquo;s new look &amp; feel: modern, clear, and marketing-effective. At the same time, integrating into a technology-driven environment with specific hardware and device communication posed special requirements for the interface.

Design that connects

&nbsp;&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t just want to design a control system &ndash; we wanted to create an experience,&rdquo; says the two-person project team from EBCONT. Through strategic interface layout and UX writing, a system was developed that feels intuitive even for beginners. Feedback since the launch in September speaks for itself: the control system has been very well received by both employees and visitors and has now become an integral part of daily use in the showrooms.

Mag. Gerlinde Scholler, Head of PMM at Schrack Seconet: &quot;Partnering with EBCONT has proven its value once again. They know us, our solutions, and our needs &ndash; and it shows, both in the process and in the results. Best of all, working together was genuinely enjoyable!&quot;

Intuitive. Interactive. Impressive.

The collaboration with Schrack Seconet and the technical implementation partner was marked by openness, creativity, and a high standard of quality. The new media control demonstrates that when design, technology, and brand identity come together, the result is more than just software &ndash; it&rsquo;s an experience.

A project that inspires

What does modern room control look like when technology, design, and brand identity come together perfectly? EBCONT had the opportunity to answer this question in an exciting project for Schrack Seconet AG – developing a forward-looking UX/UI experience and completely redesigning media control in the process.

New Standards in Schrack Seconet Experience: EBCONT Redesigns Media Control

Every day, courts, authorities, and public institutions create documents packed with insights &ndash; yet most of this knowledge remains locked away. Why? Because sensitive data can&rsquo;t be shared freely. 
That&rsquo;s where automated anonymization comes in. Together with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) and the Federal Computing Center (BRZ), EBCONT has developed a solution that safely unlocks this data treasure &ndash; improving processes, preventing mistakes, and enabling smarter decisions, all while keeping privacy intact.

Court rulings contain a wealth of valuable information &ndash; from reasoning and interpretations of the law to references to similar cases. At the same time, they are full of sensitive data such as names, addresses, or dates of birth. Without anonymization, these documents can hardly be shared or analyzed. 
Until now, this meant painstaking manual processing for the judiciary, a variety of formats to manage, and a high risk of errors in complex cases. The Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) has therefore set the goal of making access to this information faster and more secure &ndash; while maintaining the highest standards of data protection.

The starting point: valuable data behind high walls

Legal texts are tricky: technical terms get misinterpreted, regional nuances slip through, and context is often lost. That&rsquo;s why the BMJ teamed up with EBCONT to develop custom AI models tailored to Austrian legal language.

The result? Documents are automatically anonymized &ndash; names, addresses, case numbers, and roles &ndash; while staying fully readable. Using a hybrid mix of NER, deep learning, rule-based methods, and OCR, and hosted on-premise, the solution keeps data secure, GDPR-compliant, and independent of US-based clouds. Accuracy? Over 90%.

Why standard AI falls short

With their complexity and numerous special cases, legal texts can be difficult to navigate. To keep the system flexible, it combines rule-based methods with machine learning, is continuously retrained, and optimized through feedback from practical use. This ensures the solution remains up-to-date and reliable, even as requirements change. 
With this new solution, the BMJ can process court decisions more quickly and efficiently &ndash; while making them accessible to a wider audience without compromising data protection. The benefits are clear: faster processes, GDPR-compliant use, better-structured data for analysis, and new digital services.

The concept is also transferable &ndash; from ministries to police forces to the healthcare sector. The platform is designed to grow continuously, for example by adding audio transcriptions, multilingual translations, or interactive queries using generative AI. In this way, the anonymization solution evolves into a comprehensive data platform for the judiciary &ndash; and a model from which other authorities can also benefit.

The project demonstrates that sensitive data can not only be protected but also become a driver for digitalization and innovation &ndash; provided that data protection, expertise, and technology work hand in hand.

Continuous improvement as a success factor 
&nbsp;

Frederick Bednar, Data Analytics and Data Science Consultant at EBCONT, says: &ldquo;The BMJ project shows that sensitive data does not have to conflict with digitalization &ndash; on the contrary: when data protection, technology, and expertise work together, they become a real competitive advantage.&rdquo;

For decision-makers in the public sector, this means: those who prioritize data sovereignty and tailored AI solutions can accelerate processes, drive innovation, and build trust &ndash; without compromising on security or compliance.

Sensitive data: an opportunity, not a risk

How can this valuable data be unlocked without compromising the privacy of those involved? Automated anonymization can make all the difference – which is why the Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) and the Federal Computing Center (BRZ) turned to EBCONT for their expertise.

Secure use of judicial documents thanks to AI


Leading companies face the pressing challenges of our time with innovative concepts. Additionally, corporate values such as economic, ecological, and social responsibility are at the core of their operations. 
The certificate was presented by Monica Rintersbacher, Managing Director of Leitbetriebe Austria, to Ilse Merkinger-Boira and Bettina Richter from EBCONT at the Leitbetriebe Summer Party in the Schlumberger Kellerwelten.

Ilse Merkinger-Boira, People Counselor &amp; Public Relations Lead, who received the re-certification certificate in a festive, summery setting, is confident: &quot;The membership with Leitbetriebe Austria gives us the opportunity to strategically strengthen our market position and further expand our role as an innovative, sustainable company. Through access to an exclusive network, we benefit from valuable business contacts and intensive exchanges with leading companies across various industries. This award not only confirms our commitment to social responsibility and sustainable success, but also supports us in solidifying our role as a responsible and future-oriented market leader.&quot;

&quot;Leading companies like EBCONT are the role models of the domestic economy. They face the challenges of economic life, such as digitalization or the shortage of skilled workers. With their consistent focus on social responsibility, sustainability, and fair dealings with all stakeholders, they are driving forces for the domestic economy. I am pleased that our Leitbetriebe philosophy is increasingly reflected in the overall Austrian economy,&quot; said Monica Rintersbacher, Managing Director of Leitbetriebe Austria.

Leading Companies Innovate with Purpose

For more than 30 years, Leitbetriebe Austria has represented the flagship companies of the domestic economy. These companies are evaluated through a comprehensive qualification process and, once certified, present themselves under the strong common brand. 



EBCONT recertified as a Leading Company Austria

SAP ECC is being phased out - and sooner than many people think. The maintenance freeze for classic ECC systems has been announced for 2027, extended until 2030 at the latest. This means no security updates, increasing risks and, above all, a competitive disadvantage due to outdated ERP architectures. Companies that act now can use the change as a strategic advantage - and not just migrate their systems, but modernize them.

Cloud as an opportunity, not a compulsory exercise. 
The transformation of SAP architectures to the cloud is more than just a technical project. Hyperscalers such as AWS offer scalable infrastructure, flexible cost models and innovative services for data &amp; AI, IoT and automated processes. Moving from ECC to a modern cloud landscape opens the door to faster release cycles, lower upgrade costs, less complexity and an architecture that is truly future-proof.

SAP has fundamentally changed its ERP strategy. The endpoint for customers is the S/4HANA Cloud, public edition - with extensions on the Business Technology Platform or hyperscalers such as AWS.

From the old ERP to the intelligent cloud future. 
A common misconception: cloud transformation does not mean moving everything to BTP. Side-by-side models and API-based extensions make it possible to keep existing core systems lean and implement innovations and company-specific solutions flexibly on BTP, AWS or other platforms. Not only can company-specific processes be implemented efficiently, but IoT scenarios, machine learning or data lakes can also be realized - without unnecessarily bloating the ERP.

Use funding, avoid risks. 
There are currently attractive funding programs from SAP and hyperscalers. If you start early, you can reduce investment costs and secure expert knowledge. Together with partners such as EBCONT and FULCRUM, a smooth transition can be achieved: from analyzing the current architecture to the proof of concept and scalable production systems.

Conclusion: 
Now is the right time to take the plunge into the cloud. Not out of compulsion, but to create future-proof processes and flexible IT architectures. Companies that are still using ECC productively should make concrete plans to switch by 2025 at the latest - before time, expertise and funding become scarce.

Experience our experts live at the Business Breakfast &ldquo;SAP Ready - The Cloud Strategy for Real Transformation&rdquo; on September 23, 2025 at AWS Vienna.

We will show you how to future-proof your SAP architecture in the cloud - with practical examples, insights into AWS funding and concrete strategies.

<a href="https://www.eventbrite.at/e/sap-ready-die-cloud-strategie-fur-echte-transformation-tickets-1515275242039?aff=oddtdtcreator">👉 Register now!</a>

Would you like to find out more?

The end of SAP ECC is not just an update, it’s a paradigm shift. Those who hesitate now risk stagnation – while competitors move their systems to the cloud and reap the benefits.

SAP ECC: Act now before it's too late

Gemeinsam st&auml;rker f&uuml;r sichere Kommunikation: 
Im &ouml;ffentlichen Bereich, in kritischer Infrastruktur und regulierten Branchen sind ganzheitliche L&ouml;sungen gefragt &ndash; von Beratung und Implementierung &uuml;ber Integration bis Betrieb. Die souver&auml;ne, DSGVO-konforme Messenger- und Collaboration-L&ouml;sung von Wire l&auml;sst sich ideal in bestehende Infrastrukturen integrieren.

&bdquo;Unsere Kunden ben&ouml;tigen mehr als Technologie &ndash; sie brauchen Partner, die Sicherheit, Souver&auml;nit&auml;t und Benutzerfreundlichkeit zusammen denken. Wire ist genau die Art L&ouml;sung, die wir in unserem Portfolio suchen.&ldquo; 
&ndash; Mag. Christopher Anderlik, Executive Vice President, EBCONT

L&ouml;sung mit Substanz: Darum erg&auml;nzt Wire unser Portfolio:

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Souver&auml;nit&auml;t als Prinzip: Datenhoheit und Compliance by Design</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Erprobt und zertifiziert: Wire wird bereits von &uuml;ber 1.800 Organisationen genutzt und ist BSI-zertifiziert</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Nahtlose Integration: Volle Einbettung in bestehende IT-Landschaften &ndash; von Beh&ouml;rden bis zu Energieversorgern</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Volle Betreuung durch EBCONT: Strategieberatung, Integration, Betrieb, Schulung &ndash; alles aus einer Hand</li>
</ul>

Die Partnerschaft unterstreicht EBCONTs Anspruch, Digitalisierung ganzheitlich und verantwortungsvoll zu gestalten. Gemeinsam mit Wire bieten wir eine europ&auml;ische L&ouml;sung f&uuml;r moderne, sichere Kommunikation &ndash; gebaut f&uuml;r die Anforderungen von heute und morgen.

<a href="https://wire.com/de/">Mehr &uuml;ber Wire erfahren</a>

Mit Wire begrüßt EBCONT einen weiteren starken Technologiepartner im Partner-Ökosystem. Die zertifizierte Kommunikationslösung ergänzt unser bestehendes Angebot an Digital-Enablement- und Security-Services punktgenau – insbesondere für Organisationen mit hohen Anforderungen an Datenschutz, Compliance und Souveränität.

Mehr Souveränität in der Kommunikation – mit Wire und EBCONT

In 2025, the Institute for Management and Economic Research (IMWF Austria) conducted its third survey on the public reputation of Austrian consultants, in cooperation with the media partner KURIER. A new method included a self-survey of the consultants to obtain a more comprehensive picture of the industry. A total of around 3,000 companies from various consulting sectors were analyzed, with 32 million data points from online reviews, social media followers, and more being evaluated. The best companies in each category were awarded the &quot;Top Consultant 2025&quot; title.

Thus, the IT company has been one of Austria&#39;s top consultants in the IT sector for three consecutive years since the inception of the award, an impressive achievement.

Johannes Litschauer, CEO of EBCONT: &quot;We are very pleased with the recognition, and it motivates us even more to give our best every day.&quot;

For more information, visit<a href="https://imwf.at/studien/siegelstudien/top-berater-2025/" style="text-decoration:none"> Top Berater 2025</a>.

IMWF Austria&#39;s 2025 Survey Names Top Consultants

EBCONT has once again been recognized as one of Austria's leading consultants this year, securing its place among the Top Companies of 2025.

EBCONT Reconfirmed as Top Consultant in Austria


With the rise of AI and massive data collection, many companies are now facing a surprisingly simple question: 
&ldquo;What do we actually do with all this?&rdquo;

One obvious answer: 
Let users talk to the data. 
And how do you do that? With an AI chatbot (&mdash;of course).

Simple in theory. But here&rsquo;s the trap: many teams treat the chatbot as a feature. Just another icon in the bottom right. A support add-on. Something a sprint can fix.

But that thinking limits the true potential &mdash; for your users, and for your business.

When you treat a chatbot like a feature, you build it like one:

<ul>
	<li>It lives at the edge of your product</li>
	<li>It reacts, but doesn&rsquo;t lead</li>
	<li>It supports, but doesn&rsquo;t sell</li>
</ul>

From Feature to Product: A Shift in Thinking

When you treat it like a product, everything changes:

<ul>
	<li>You define value it should create</li>
	<li>You design journeys around it</li>
	<li>You connect it to your core offering</li>
	<li>And yes &mdash; it becomes part of your revenue engine</li>
</ul>

Now flip that.

Here&rsquo;s the twist most overlook: Your chatbot can sell.

If done right, it becomes a natural point for:

<ul>
	<li>Cross-selling other services</li>
	<li>Upselling premium offers</li>
	<li>Onboarding new users</li>
	<li>Collecting insights sales teams dream of</li>
</ul>

 
And all that while users feel heard, guided &mdash; and in control. 
This isn&rsquo;t just a technical integration. It&rsquo;s product strategy. It&rsquo;s business design. And yes &mdash; it&rsquo;s UX at its core.

Why This Matters for Business

UX teams spot this pattern early. We see when things don&rsquo;t connect. When value is hidden behind complexity. When tools act like features &mdash; instead of delivering as products. 
So when UX suggests the chatbot isn&rsquo;t just a tool &mdash; listen. We&rsquo;re not asking for more buttons. We&rsquo;re asking: what kind of conversation do you want your business to have with your users?

UX Sees It First

If you&rsquo;re building or already running an AI chatbot, ask yourself: 
Is this just another feature? Or are we building a product inside the product? 
If it&rsquo;s the latter &mdash; great. If not, it&rsquo;s time to rethink. 
Let UX lead the way. Let your chatbot speak for your business &mdash; not just answer questions.

🧠 I&rsquo;d love to hear your thoughts. Are you already working with chatbots in your product? What&rsquo;s your biggest learning? 
 
Thanks for reading!

What&rsquo;s Next?

Most companies treat AI chatbots like just another feature. But what if they’re actually your next product? This article explores how UX design can turn chatbots into business drivers — and why it matters more than ever.

Stop Treating AI Chatbots Like Features — Start Building Them as Products

The questions revolved around very different aspects: What does the daily work of an IT project manager look like &ndash; and how can it be balanced with family life? What tasks and responsibilities come with the role? How does an IT project actually proceed from the first idea to completion, and what typical challenges arise along the way? The question of whether a project manager must be able to program was also discussed &ndash; the short answer: Not necessarily. In-depth programming skills are not required, but a solid technical understanding is certainly helpful.

Many participants showed particular interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and UX/UI, as some had recently completed relevant training or were about to enter the workforce.

There was also an open discussion about difficulties and strengths. Language barriers for women whose native language is not German came up as a topic. However, this is usually less problematic in the IT industry, as most colleagues speak English, and international collaboration is not uncommon. Additionally, the conversation touched on the special talents that women often bring to the table, such as communication skills, careful conflict resolution, and organizational know-how.

Career Questions from Everyday Life to AI

The breakfast ended up lasting longer than planned. What started as a Q&amp;A session developed into a dynamic conversation, where the participants actively contributed, exchanging ideas and experiences. What was especially nice: For two women, the direct insight into the work at EBCONT sparked concrete interest in joining our team. The group was as diverse as the festival itself &ndash; women of all ages, from various cultural backgrounds and life paths, came together. It was a successful format that once again demonstrated how important such encounters are for networking, inspiration, and empowerment.

&bdquo;The diversity of personalities, experiences, and perspectives of the women impressed me. This is exactly the diversity we need in IT &ndash; it brings new ideas, strengthens our teams, and makes our projects better,&ldquo;&nbsp;says Nawal El-Amine, excited about the format of the Future Fit Festival 2025.

Positive Impressions and New Contacts

Most women enjoy a good breakfast and good jobs – so it makes sense to combine both! Our colleague Nawal El-Amine, an IT project manager at EBCONT, was part of this year's Future Fit Festival. Interested women had the opportunity to have relaxed conversations directly with Nawal. At a large breakfast table, questions about entering and development opportunities in the IT industry were discussed – and it quickly became clear: The demand for conversation was high.

EBCONT AGBs