Rethinking Crisis Management Together – Interview with Daniel Prietz
"Rethinking crisis management together" – a conversation with Daniel Prietz, COO of Stiller Alarm Deutschland, about workplace safety, automation and the partnership with FLOWSTER Solutions.
Personal motivation and understanding of crisis management
Mr Prietz, what drives you personally when it comes to crisis management and safety?
It is about using today's technological possibilities to protect employees. We want to play our part in making work safer and in promoting collaboration between people.
How has your understanding of crisis management changed in recent years?
Crisis management today means having to react much more flexibly and much more quickly. Whether it is threats against employees or digital attacks: today, a few minutes can decide how much damage an organisation suffers, or whether fast and targeted action allows the best possible decisions to be made. This requires a platform that provides the basis for fast communication and clear instructions.
The name "Stiller Alarm" (silent alarm) sounds calm, but stands for decisive action. What does this contrast mean to you?
"Stiller Alarm" carries in its name exactly what is needed in a conflict situation: triggering an alarm via modern, digital channels that does not escalate the situation further, but is placed silently and in a targeted way. And at the same time providing the necessary fast support, so colleagues are helped as quickly as possible before the conflict escalates.
The partnership with FLOWSTER
How did the cooperation between Stiller Alarm and FLOWSTER come about?
There really was a moment when it just clicked. Recognising where your own strengths lie – and seeing them in your partner as well. Realising that you cannot do everything yourself, but that by combining each other's strengths in a true partnership, you can create something special together.
What convinced you in particular about FLOWSTER?
FLOWSTER operates in a similar customer segment and has built up many years of experience in this environment. Together, we were quickly able to talk about solutions, and at some point it just felt like a flow. It was as if we had known each other for years. Trust and reliability are the foundation – and that is exactly what I experience with FLOWSTER.
If you had to describe the partnership in one sentence, which sentence would it be?
Shaping solutions together.
Many talk about cooperation, but rarely about real integration. What makes this partnership different?
My impression is that we are going beyond a classic partnership. We don't just let the other into our garden – we let them into our house. Giving trust, truly opening up, taking the other's character and possibilities into account, and from that creating something exciting together.
"The moment after" – the joint solution
"The moment after" was the guiding theme for the development of the solution. How do you define this moment?
The main focus and core competence of Stiller Alarm lies in triggering alarms and delivering targeted notifications to make the fastest possible help available. At the same time, in addition to immediate support, an incident sometimes also requires longer-term accompaniment: from providing the right instructions and bringing together a working group, all the way to the follow-up and documentation of the incident.
What problems does the new solution solve in day-to-day work?
Accompanying an incident from A to Z. After the immediate response, supporting an incident through to its full resolution and follow-up.
How does automation change your understanding of responsibility and speed of response?
Through automation, processes that would otherwise require manual activities – which take time and energy – can be carried out within seconds. In a conflict situation, the people involved should be able to focus on what really matters. The crisis management system provides the platform with all the information they need.
People, technology and digital sovereignty
How do you balance human action and technical automation in your strategy?
Behind every situation are human needs and wishes. Behind every crisis is a consequence for the people involved. Automation should either prevent these crises or accompany them in such a supportive way that the impact remains as low as possible. This requires systems that act in an automated manner.
What does "digital sovereignty" mean to you in the context of crisis management?
Technology works for people and carries out steps that are transparent and traceable.
What role will artificial intelligence play in the security context, and where will people remain indispensable?
AI will change the way we work, simplify processes and reduce the time required. The important thing will be that humans set the rules – and that we use AI in line with our values.
About Stiller Alarm Deutschland
Stiller Alarm Deutschland GmbH is one of the market leaders for innovative solutions in the field of IT-supported workplace safety.
At two locations (Berlin & Potsdam), the team has been developing stationary and mobile alarm software since 2008 – for public administrations, educational institutions, the healthcare sector, housing associations, insurance companies, courts and other industries. The IT solutions are complemented by various hardware components, consulting services and a dedicated training programme.
More than 490,000 customers across Europe rely on this IT-supported security solution. Stiller Alarm Deutschland GmbH sees itself as a full-service provider for IT-supported alarm systems.
More information: https://stilleralarm.de/
About Daniel Prietz
Daniel Prietz is Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Stiller Alarm Deutschland GmbH.
Daniel has been responsible for the operational management of Stiller Alarm since the beginning of 2022. True to his motto "think, know and communicate", he defines the strategic direction of Stiller Alarm's operations together with the CEO.
Daniel already has many years of experience in IT. Starting as an employee in operations, then moving into consulting, he eventually found his focus in project management.