Date: 16.10.2025 (2025-10-16)
Markus Bosch (16.10.2025)
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-bosch-a1b2c3/
• SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH Chemie für die Zukunft.
• Head of Energy at SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH
• Pitch:
• Problem: most companies work with legacy software without or only bad APIs - that prevents automation
• Solution: Tool that can automate processes with legacy software more reliable than in the past by defining workflows and monitor them with AI as a supervisor
• Self healing procedure - multiple sessions with orchestrator
• Built in functions like analysis of PDFs/OCR or simple data analysis of Excel
• Example use case:
• Invoice -> purchasing order -> supplier check - all across sites in real time
• Live order tracking: log into logistics portal for real time information
Questions: Context: • What are your main tasks? • Energieeinkäufer • Not that much IT that he uses • Software Tools: • Microsoft Office • SAP für Bestandszeugs • Webplattformen: Register • Cisco for communication services (Webex) • They only have one Standort • He has to ask in different departments -> they send emails • He does not know where they get the data from • E.g. ask Technik was Gebräuche sind • Data gathering from different systems: • • Team size and which roles? • • Which tools are they using? • Procurement Process: • Rechnungseingang -> via a central email • He does not know the exact process -> they put it into SAP -> within SAP there is a workstream -> Abrechnungsprüfer checks if the invoice is plausible, ist der Kreditor angelegt -> then goes to him er prüft die sachliche Richtigkeit, price korrekt -> he approves sachlich -> for important ones COntrolling checks Plausibität as well -> then Zahlungsfreigabe • Energie ist bisschen anders -> nicht griffig • Automation of processes: • Very few automation • A person that books your travel -> very manual • It was tried - but not really implemented -> there is always a person that does a task -> save personnel • Decision maker: there is a central Head of IT -> eigene Gesellschaft aber inhouse -> report to the CFO • Also they have a process- & projectmanager for strategic projects • Quite new - reports to Geschäftsführung • Example project: there are complex projects that go in circles -> improves • Introduce a new Dünger-Sorte -> recycling of old resources -> supplier wants more money - they don't want to pay • Maybe components -> neue Anlage, Marketing, Vertrieb - what is the WTP for such a Dünger • Problem: they have a functioning process already -> why switch although its bad
His Experience & Current Practices • Day-to-day reality: What are the most admin-heavy processes in his finance role (invoices, reconciliations, reporting, payroll, compliance, audits)? • • Is he automating today? If yes, which tools (Excel macros, Zapier, RPA, ERP features)? • If yes: who does it? Which tools? What works? What does not work? • • If no, why not (cost, complexity, lack of time, no clear ROI)? • • More processes to automate: • • Other automations from other people / departments: • • Legacy systems: does he deal with them (accounting tools, banking interfaces, HRIS, ERP)? How painful are integrations? • • Successes & frustrations: if he had a “magic wand,” what would he automate first? • Terminfindung -> menschliche Interaktion -> someone that cares • Standardprozesse: läuft immer gleich • When he buys Gas -> operational decision or hedging -> then he calls the Händler and schreibt ne Message -> händler sagt es ist gehedged -> Abwicklungsprozess: sendet EMail mit Auftragsbestätigung, er muss es prüfen (da gabs Fehler), dann signed er, sein Chef signed -> dann sendet ers An händer per mail -> dann ablegen und dann in Excel eintragen (340mal -> täglich einmal ca.) • One time per month accounting needs Auszug aus Registerkonto -> er kann den Zugang nicht geben weil man kann aus versehen verkaufen -> he has to log in (reminder in CAL) -> Auszug runterladen -> send to accounting (5min) • He is a fan of Cloud • Ask if he can introduce you to 3 peers in similar roles (finance leads in other startups). • Other: •