Making digitization tangible: from bauma into practice

Bauma 2025 in Munich made it once again clear: digitization has long ceased to be a scenario of the future, but lived reality in the construction industry. Autonomous construction machinery, intelligent formwork systems and networked construction site processes dominated the innovation forums at the world‘s leading trade fair. What is becoming increasingly important in building construction and civil engineering is also unfolding its potential in another area with a high leverage effect: the building materials production industry.

This is where the essential materials for construction projects are manufactured every day: cement, gravel, concrete and other building materials. In an environment characterized by high cycle times, scarce resources and a shortage of skilled workers, digitization offers concrete opportunities – when implemented practice-oriented.

OGS GmbH is a company that is taking precisely this approach. The medium-sized software specialist with focus on the building materials industry develops solutions that increase efficiency, reduce error sources and relieves personnel. Three current examples demonstrate how digital tools pay off directly in day-to-day operations.

Mobile apps get processes moving

OGS uses mobile applications to slim down processes in inventory, production and logistics. The approach focusses on new apps that run on robust industry smartphones, which are available to personnel during on-going operations– without taking detours over paper forms or workplaces in the office.

Whether movement of material, production reports or commissioning: the apps enable digital feedback in real time, support scan functions and integrate seamlessly into the existing system landscape. The result is: leaner processes, fewer errors and higher transparency across the entire process.

Self-service terminal relieves plant and scheduling

An especially tangible example for smart process digitization is the new self-service terminal from OGS. It is used where numerous truck drivers arrive every day for picking up goods – where coordination efforts used to be high.

The terminal features an integrated scanner. Drivers can scan in their order confirmation with a QR code and by this means automatically transmit all relevant data. Some customers prefer to have the drivers enter their customer or order number manually.

Another benefit: the application is multilingual. The drivers can use the surface in their respective national language. This considerably facilitates communication, especially where the clientele is international and drivers change frequently as well as reducing misunderstandings.

Self-service greatly facilitate scheduling as well as reducing waiting times on the plant premises. The process is better structured, reproducible and clearly reduced – a benefit for all.

Intelligent tour planning creates a clear overview

OSG also provides clarity in scheduling transport orders. With a newly developed tour planning solution, orders can be allocated per drag-and-drop – visually, intuitively and in real time.

The system automatically recognizes conflicts, considers vehicle capacities and availability and suggests optimized tour combinations. In this way the situation is kept under control, especially when the order volume is high or when changes have to be made at short notice – the dispatcher is in control. Complexity is reduced and transparency is created.

Summary: digitization begins in detail

The OGS GmbH demonstrates on these three examples that digitization need not begin with grand visions but begins where daily operations take place. The high demand from practice confirms: the need for pragmatic and immediately effective solutions is great.

What at bauma 2025 was discussed as a vision of the future has arrived in the construction materials producing industry long ago – by companies who have an ear on the market and work with the right tools.