Digital sovereignty and the need for businesses to rethink their approach to digitalization lie at the heart of Rolf Schumann’s passionate DLD24 presentation.
Schumann, the CEO of Schwarz Digits, emphasizes that having control over one’s data is particularly important at a time of international crises.
“Digital sovereignty is exactly the opposite of becoming nationalistic and isolated”, he argues. “Because what does it give you? Independence. And when you’re independent, you know what? It ensures freedom.”
Too often, however, the current approach to digitalization leads to increased dependence and a loss of control over data, Schumann says. “Digitalization, how we do it today, does not work… You become more dependent than ever before.”
In contrast, the Schwarz Group, which includes brands like Lidl and Kaufland, has developed its own cloud and cybersecurity solutions to maintain control over its data and fulfill its promises to customers.
Through Schwarz Digits, the company is now offering these services to other companies as well.