In his role, Marcel combines technical expertise with strategic project management to develop modern and efficient software solutions. Together with his team, he actively shapes the digital future of the automotive industry.
A Department Where Technology Meets Strategy
In the Software Development domain, Marcel has established a structure that considers both technical details and the strategic aspects of project management. His team is divided into two specialized groups: The Developer Community, focusing on creating new features and further enhancing existing systems, as well as the the Project Management Community, ensuring that projects are efficient and goal-oriented.
Both groups meet on a biweekly basis to discuss specific topics, sharpen knowledge, and plan all next steps. Their core activities include:
- Knowledge Building: Promoting expertise and technical know-how.
- Templates and Best Practices: Developing standardized templates and defining efficient work methods.
- Process Optimization: Continuously improving workflows to address both technical and organizational challenges.
A Broad Range of Software Development Subjects
Marcel and his team work on a wide variety of projects, including the development of software solutions, such as web applications, mobile apps, and standard software. Application management is the second pilar of the teams’ activities, covering the coordination, control, and maintenance of software solutions during development and in ongoing operations.
Their development approach combines agile methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, Design Thinking, and SAFe with tried-and-true waterfall methods. Software quality is ensured through efficient, situation-specific test strategies that adhere to ISTQB standards; both within classic and agile setups.
Additionally, the team integrates modern technologies like cloud services (e.g., Azure, AWS) and cutting-edge IT architectures to deliver solutions that are both sustainable and cost-efficient.
Customer Satisfaction at the Core
A central focus for Marcel and his team is working very closely with their clients. Together, they identify requirements and develop solutions that stand out due to cost-efficiency, transparent documentation, maintainability, and high quality.
As Marcel sums it up:
“It’s about combining modern technologies with well-thought-out methodologies to create sustainable and future-proof solutions for our customers.”
Did you know that you can find many more insightful articles about our experts in our Newsblog?
Today, we are focusing on Roland Baldenhofer, our expert in SAFe® Training & Coaching, Lean Portfolio Management, and Agile Methods. Roland joined the ACONEXT team in 2023, bringing over 20 years of experience in transforming organizations through lean-agile-methods.
Diversity and Versatility Across Industries
Roland has successfully introduced lean and agile practices across a variety of sectors, including insurance, retail, banking, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and manufacturing. His extensive experience has enabled him to guide agile projects and transformations tailored to diverse organizational needs.
Since SAFe® (Scaled Agile Framework) was first released in 2011, Roland has been working with this framework from its very first version. Over the years, he has led successful SAFe® transformations in both medium-sized companies and major DAX-listed corporations.
What is SAFe®, and Why Is Its Implementation No Standard Procedure?
SAFe® is a proven framework that enables organizations to scale agile practices beyond individual teams to enterprise-wide implementations. Unlike Scrum or Kanban, which are primarily focused on individual teams, SAFe® aligns multiple levels of an organization – from teams to strategic leadership – ensuring seamless collaboration and alignment.
“Agility is a business discipline with clear goals. Lean-agile approaches empower organizations to adapt to ever-changing market demands and remain flexible,” Roland explains.
However, successful implementation of SAFe® requires customization for each organization. Roland emphasizes, “Every company is unique.” Factors such as compliance requirements, customer behavior, employee structures, and product offerings vary significantly, making a one-size-fits-all approach ineffective.
Balancing Innovation and Cost-Efficiency
SAFe® provides organizations with a systematic approach to Agile transformation while keeping the balance between innovation and cost-efficiency in check. Roland notes, “In the transformation process, it’s crucial to combine Agile methods with the right tools and resources to maximize success while managing development costs effectively.”
This balance is especially important for larger enterprises where multiple teams and levels must work together to achieve company-wide agility. A key aspect of this process is lean portfolio management, which helps organizations align their budgets and resources with strategic goals. This ensures priorities are effectively managed within an Agile environment.
SAFe® in Practice: Tailored Training and Coaching
Roland places a strong emphasis on actionable, practical training. “Participants should learn how to implement lean-agile approaches directly in their specific work environment,” Roland explains. His approach focuses on hands-on learning, ensuring that the benefits of SAFe® are not only theoretical but also immediately applicable to real-world challenges.
Roland offers customized training sessions where participants learn to apply agile practices effectively at team, program, and portfolio levels. This practical introduction to SAFe® ensures organizations reap the full benefits of their transformation, streamlining daily operations from day one.
People First
One of Roland’s core principles is the focus on people driving transformation. “It’s about ensuring that employees, management, customers, and stakeholders not only understand the new ways of working but can also thrive and find satisfaction in this transformed environment,” Roland says.
This human-centered approach fosters sustainable change, transforming not only how work is done but also reshaping the company’s culture for the better.
Roland’s Final Thoughts?
“The implementation of SAFe® is not a one-time solution but an ongoing process that strengthens collaboration and flexibility within an organization, empowering it to continuously evolve,” he concludes.
About the Hydrogen Powertrain & Fuel Cell Division
More than three years ago, the Powertrain & Commercial Transport department was established at ACONEX. Since then, Thorsten and his team have been working on developing and optimizing powertrain technologies for commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses, and vans. Their focus is on improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and integrating innovative technologies.
“The future lies in electrified powertrains, hybrid solutions, and hydrogen-based technologies such as H2 combustion engines and fuel cells,” Thorsten explains. These trends also took center stage at this year’s IAA for commercial vehicles, clearly signaling where the market is heading.
In recent years, Thorsten’s team has significantly expanded ACONEXT’s expertise in areas such as:
- E-axles and transmissions
- Thermal management
- Complete vehicle packaging
- Hydrogen tank development
- Fuel cell development and integration
The team works closely with vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, both on-site and from the ACONEXT offices in Fellbach.
Innovation Meets Cost Efficiency
Balancing innovative development with associated costs is one of the biggest challenges faced by the Powertrain & Commercial Transport team.
“In the commercial vehicle sector, three different powertrain concepts are being developed simultaneously. But which technology will prevail?” Thorsten leaves this question unanswered, eager to see how the future of commercial vehicles will unfold.
While battery-electric powertrains and gas engines have long been established, range and development costs remain pivotal factors shaping the future. Hydrogen shows great promise, but the infrastructure development lags behind in comparison to vehicle technology.
Ultimately, operating costs will determine what matters most to logistics companies. “At present, no manufacturer can confidently predict which powertrain concept will dominate the market and recoup development costs in the long run,” Thorsten notes.
Looking Ahead
Thorsten believes that close collaboration with partners and customers is key to developing sustainable solutions. He is confident that innovation in this field has the potential to reshape not only the commercial vehicle sector but also the broader mobility industry.
Stay tuned for more exciting insights into the work of ACONEXT’s Subject Matter Experts and discover how we are actively shaping the mobility of the future!


Today, we introduce Carsten’s approach to project management and how we leverage his extensive expertise for our clients within the automotive sector.
Why project management?
Today, companies face increasingly complex challenges due to rapid digitization and short innovation cycles in IT. Without the right digital strategies, long-term competitive advantages are at risk, since competition and progress never sleep.
Carsten is convinced:
“Project management is the key to identifying, initiating, and successfully completing the right projects at the right time.”
How project management works:
For Carsten, it’s clear that communication and teamwork are most essential. Transparency and the ability to “bring everyone on board” are the keys to success. Whether traditional, agile, or hybrid—the individual project dictates the approach. A custom toolbox and the ability to combine various methods ensure the best framework for success. When standard solutions fall short, Carsten leverages low-code development to provide the right tools for each project.
What Defines ACONEXT’s approach?
Teamwork wins over rigid hierarchies, and so does communicating as equals—those are the foundations for successful projects. “Having fun at work and celebrating each success is also important,” says Carsten. Projects should not only be successful but also fulfilling, with the potential for growth and steep learning curves. Afterall, with each completed project, a new one follows.
Stay tuned for more exciting insights into the work of our ACONEXT experts!
Marcus is an expert in Product Data Management (PDM) and helps companies efficiently manage their product data and integrate it into existing IT infrastructures. His expertise not only covers the integration and optimization of PDM systems, but also includes trainings and workshops on these topics at our ACONEXT Training Center [https://aconext.de/en/trainingcenter/].
Over the past years, Marcus has led numerous projects ranging from the introduction of new PDM tools to the optimization of existing systems. He places great emphasis on developing tailored solutions that meet his clients’ individual needs.
Innovation and Customer Satisfaction
For Marcus, client satisfaction comes first. His approach goes beyond providing functional and reliable solutions; it also focuses on enabling clients to build their own expertise. By seamlessly integrating new tools into existing workflows and ensuring the systems are easy to use, Marcus promotes sustainable usage and long-term efficiency. He also takes a clearly innovation-driven approach: solutions must not only meet current demands but also support future developments.
His Conclusion?
“Product Data Management is the key to optimizing workflows and ensuring our clients’ long-term ability to innovate.”
Stay tuned for more insights into the work of our Subject Matter Experts and find out how they are actively shaping the future of the automotive industry at ACONEXT!
Today, we would like to introduce you to Sezgin Güldü. He is the Subject Matter Expert for Diagnostics Aftersales in our Digital Future sector. Sezgin has been a part of our team since 2018 and has since become a key player in the comprehensive management of Aftersales diagnostics. But what exactly does Aftersales diagnostics mean?
Aftersales diagnostics is the art of troubleshooting and repairing vehicles after they have been sold. With a special device known as a workshop tester, the car is checked for problems. This tester reads data from the vehicle’s control units to determine what isn’t working. This way, the technician can carry out targeted repairs and restore the car to perfect condition.
When Sezgin started at ACONEXT in 2018, he was initially responsible for specific control units in individual vehicle series. Today, several years later, he and his team of seven employees oversee all control units from all current series for a leading car manufacturer. For Sezgin, this is a clear sign: “It demonstrates that the customer trusts us!”
However, this journey was not easy. It required a lot of strategic skill to optimize the diagnostic process for the customer. To ensure consistently high quality and efficiency, Sezgin standardized the entire Aftersales diagnostic process. His approach allowed the team to take on new, more complex topics such as complexity assessment and troubleshooting strategy development.
What does Sezgin value the most?
For him, customer satisfaction is paramount. His goal is not only to meet but to exceed customer expectations through tailored solutions and excellent service. By working very closely with the customers, he ensures that the service is precisely tailored to their needs and delivers sustainable results – as the continuous engagements and growth since 2018 impressively show.
Stay tuned for more insights into the work of our specialist owners and learn how they are actively shaping the future of the automotive industry!
This infographic illustrates the six key stages of our growth strategy, which we divide into two main categories: the red stages, reflecting our current day-to-day operations, and the gray stages, representing our goals for the future.
The Red Stages: The Foundation of Our Business
The first three stages of our strategy represent ACONEXT’s core activities.
- Expanding Business with Existing Clients
For over a decade, we have focused on a select group of clients, primarily German OEMs, luxury brands, and their first-tier suppliers. We offer them a broad spectrum of development services. Our close client relationships and deep understanding of their needs enable us to consistently deliver high-quality services. - Expanding Consulting and IT Business
With the increasing importance of IT and electronics in the automotive industry, we have expanded our service portfolio. We connect mechanical development with electronics, software, and IT, thereby building bridges between these disciplines. This integrative approach allows us to offer comprehensive solutions that not only cover development but also include the implementation and training of product lifecycle management (PLM) tools. In doing so, we help our clients make their development processes more transparent and efficient. - Exploring New Areas of Application
Our strength lies in combining development and consulting services. We approach development work from two perspectives: as developers and consultants. This unique viewpoint enables us to offer deep insights that pure consulting or development companies cannot provide. This gives us a significant competitive advantage.
The Gray Stages: Our Vision for the Future
In addition to our daily activities, we are continuously working to achieve our long-term growth goals, as depicted in the gray stages of the infographic.
- Expanding the Customer Base
Acquiring new clients is a long-term process that can take years. Our goal is to regularly establish new strategic partnerships, and thereby continuously expanding our business. - Acquisitions
In addition to organic growth, we also pursue inorganic growth. This means that we continuously monitor the competitive market and look for potential acquisition targets to expand our portfolio and strengthen our market position. - Near-shoring and Off-shoring
A growing trend in the industry is the shift of capacities abroad to reduce costs and increase efficiency. ACONEXT has already begun to be active in this area, particularly in collaboration with partners, as we do not yet have the necessary infrastructure abroad. However, we see great potential in near- and off-shoring for the future and are working to further develop our capabilities in this area.
Conclusion
ACONEXT follows a clear growth strategy based on both proven strengths and visionary goals for the future. With a solid foundation in business with existing customers and a targeted expansion of our services and markets, we are well on our way to achieving our ambitious goals and establishing ourselves as a leading development service provider within the automotive industry and beyond.


Insights and updates: The future of ACONEXT
The town hall began with a series of exciting presentations that provided a comprehensive overview of the current developments and strategic goals of ACONEXT and the “Digital Future” division. Particularly highlights were:
- A successful close of 2023
- Continuation of our growth trajectory: We are particularly proud of our strong focus on Porsche, which continues to shape our growth strategy.
- New department: The establishment of the “Digital Supply Chain Management” department under the direction of Jan Herker, representing an important expansion of our expertise. More information can be found here.
- Plato project: A major milestone was reached, underlining our ability to manage complex projects.
HR and employer branding initiatives: Putting people first
Our HR team presented important innovations that strengthen the focus on personnel development:
- Job profiles and strategic portfolio: We are currently working intensively on developing new job profiles that meet our strategic objectives.
- New ACONEXT website: With the launch of our new website, including a subordinate career page, we are taking a major step forward in our digital presence and attractiveness as an employer.
- LinkedIn corporate influencers: We are increasing our visibility and networking through the planned promotion of ACONEXT corporate influencers on LinkedIn as well as weekly job highlights and insights into our day-to-day work.
Service portfolio: Leading in technology and innovation
Our comprehensive service portfolio was presented, underlining the breadth of our expertise and technological solutions:
- Top technologies: Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence, Immersive Experiences (AR/XR), Hyper Automation, Cloud & Data.
- IT Consulting: IT/Mgmt strategy, architecture consulting, requirement management, method development.
- IT/cybersecurity: PDM / PLM / ERP / CAx, SAP consulting, testing, training.
Project presentations: Innovation in action
Our department heads and their teams presented impressive projects that illustrate our innovative strength and technological leadership:
- Digital Diagnostics: Progress on the XENTRY project at Daimler Truck.
- Digital after sales: Development of our HOT/Topas services at MBAG.
- Digital Innovation: Transition project at Daimler Truck.
- Digital Engineering: Start of our team in the Daimler Truck project Platon.
- Digital Supply: Development of our SCM Services
Expert ownership: Achievements and future goals
Our expert speakers played a central role at the event. We were able to celebrate the successes of the past year and clearly define our future goals:
- Community building: Building a strong specialist community and hosting workshops and training sessions.
- Professionalization: Further development of specialist topics and requirements for our job profiles.
- Successful projects: Requests from Daimler Truck AG for training and support, as well as the development of chatbots with GPT technology.
Interactive quiz and social get-together
At the end of the Townhall, an entertaining quiz was carried out to test and strengthen the knowledge and cooperation of the participants. While enjoying food and drink, our colleagues were able to exchange and develop new ideas in a relaxed atmosphere.
Conclusion: Together into the future
The “Digital Future” division town hall was a great success and once again underlined our culture of innovation and collaboration. We are on the right track and look forward to shaping the digital future together.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the realization of this successful event.
We are already looking forward to the next town hall and the exciting projects that we will carry out together.


Our engineers enthusiastically and creatively embrace the revolutionary challenges faced by the world of commercial vehicles. The focus is particularly on electrification, driven by a growing awareness of environmental sustainability. ACONEXT is pioneering the development of quieter and more environmentally friendly alternatives to diesel engines.
A key element for the future of commercial vehicle design is the integration of autonomous driving systems. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to increase safety and efficiency in freight transport by minimizing human errors and optimizing traffic. The connectivity of vehicles with infrastructure and each other can lead to intelligent traffic management by utilizing real-time data to optimize routes and avoid congestion.
The construction of mechanical components also faces demanding tasks. Lightweight construction increases energy efficiency, with materials such as carbon fiber, aluminum alloys, and composites playing a crucial role. Flexible design allows commercial vehicles to be adapted for various purposes and types of cargo. Modular designs enable the type of vehicle to be changed according to needs, whether for freight transport, waste disposal, or other purposes.
An essential factor for efficiency improvement is aerodynamics. Curved and optimized shapes reduce air resistance, thereby reducing energy consumption and increasing range. The enthusiasm of ACONEXT’s developers is reflected in their strong identification with renowned clients in the Swabian capital. This includes the Daimler Truck AG, with whom they are working on various aspects of the new generation of electric trucks. An outstanding example is Florian, a creative mind at ACONEXT, who not only works on important components but also has a passion for design. A glimpse into his vision provides insight into how the next generation of Daimler Trucks could be shaped.


In a time when automotive engineering faces diverse challenges, low-code, as a groundbreaking technology, provides an answer to linear development processes, time-consuming iterations, and fragmented team collaboration. The tasks engineers face are complex and demanding. Traditional development processes, characterized by linear workflows and time-consuming iterations, impede progress. At ACONEXT, we have recognized that the solution to these challenges lies in low-code automation.
The manual effort, which takes up a significant portion of working hours, complicates coping with skilled labor shortages, shortened development cycles, and product diversification. This is precisely where low-code comes in, providing engineers with a unified visual language through intuitive drag-and-drop editors, helping to overcome common challenges more quickly.
The low-code technology we are already using today is nothing short of a revolutionary approach. Our engineers benefit from an open platform that seamlessly connects all tools in the product development process. Automating manual steps, integrating expert knowledge, and optimizing routines enable our teams and customers to focus on the essentials and develop creative solutions.
By implementing low code at ACONEXT, we have reduced development time for processes or components by up to 75%. Low-code workflows replicate recurring processes and can be effortlessly adapted to various use cases. This provides more time and space for creative solutions and strategic innovations, representing a clearly measurable increase in efficiency.
Our goal at ACONEXT is to consistently pursue the path of efficiency improvement and expand the benefits of low-code to increasingly complex components. With low-code, we see the opportunity to actively shape the future of engineering for our customers and thereby open up new horizons.
Would you like to learn more about how we use low-code at ACONEXT to increase your efficiency? Contact us to discuss innovative solutions in the context of digital development and master your automotive projects together.

