A successful innovation story was presented at the first we.digitize Summit in Essen: the partnership between we.digitize by Weiss+Appetito and the AI specialist aiconver. Their joint pilot project for AI-supported automation of commissioning protocols for charging infrastructure impressively proves that the path to the best solution is not always a straight line. After the original idea of pure voice input failed due to the complexity of numerical data, the partners adapted their approach and developed a smarter, more pragmatic solution.
Duisburg/Essen, July 20, 2026 – The first-ever “we.digitize Summit” on July 7 in Essen was not only a forum for discussing the digital future of infrastructure but also a showcase for an impressive example of real-world innovation. The partnership between we.digitize by Weiss+Appetito and aiconver GmbH, initiated by startport, shows that the path to the perfect solution is not always a straight line, but leads to even better results.
The focus was on the best-practice presentation by Philipp Hennig, Managing Director of aiconver GmbH, on the topic of “Smart Commissioning Protocols with AI.” The goal of the joint pilot project is to radically simplify the maintenance and commissioning processes for we.digitize’s “LiveCharger” charging stations through an AI-supported automation platform.
The Challenge: Manual Documentation as a Bottleneck for Efficiency
When installing charging infrastructure, technicians on-site must record numerous measured values and technical details. “For our customers, diligence regarding documentation is very important, and this is precisely where errors can easily occur,” explained Jannik Zimmermann, Head of Electromobility at we.digitize. Previously, documentation often took place in the office after the assignment—a manual, time-consuming, and error-prone process. “To avoid these errors while supporting a high number of parallel, protocol-intensive tasks in the field, we chose the solution from aiconver,” Zimmermann continued.
The Learning Process: When AI Fails at Numbers
Philipp Hennig took the summit participants on a remarkably honest journey. The original idea sounded simple and brilliant: technicians were to dictate the charging station’s measured values directly into a digital protocol using voice input (speech-to-text).
However, reality provided an important lesson: while the AI could process large amounts of text without issue, it was overwhelmed by the pure sequence of numbers and their correct assignment to specific fields in the protocol. The smart technology struggled to correctly capture the numerical context.
The Restart: From Dictation to Intelligent Data Extraction
This is where the strength of true innovation drivers became apparent. Instead of clinging to the original idea, the team re-analyzed the process. The realization: the measured values were already available digitally in an Excel file anyway.
The new approach is now as elegant as it is efficient: the AI solution extracts the relevant data directly from the digital source and automatically integrates it into the commissioning protocol. The system guides the employee specifically through the process and gives them the freedom to manually fill in the few fields where the human eye and judgment are required.
“AI offers great potential, especially in technical documentation processes. Through automated protocol creation, information can be captured and processed in a structured manner directly during the assignment,” summarizes Philipp Hennig. The project is the best example that it is not about using technology for technology’s sake, but about solving real problems and putting people at the center.
A Successful Summit for the Infrastructure of the Future
The we.digitize Summit provided the perfect setting for this success story. Under the motto “Convenience instead of Complexity for Your Digital Infrastructure,” experts from business and industry discussed how digital solutions can create sustainable added value. Guest speakers from Currenta, STEAG, and WaschMal enriched the program with keynote speeches and a lively panel discussion.
“We are convinced that the power for a simplified life lies in digitalization,” explained Dr. Walter Daumann, owner and Managing Director of Weiss+Appetito, underlining the company’s vision.
Johannes Franke, Managing Director of startport, adds: “The success of we.digitize and aiconver is a prime example of our mission. Our goal is to bridge the gap between the agile innovative power of startups and the specific needs of established companies. Of course, it is wonderful that we could lay the foundation for this collaboration. But true success is shown when an initial contact grows into such a solution-oriented and successful partnership that creates real added value for the industry. This confirms our daily work of bringing the right partners together for a future-oriented and competitive future.”
we.digitize and startport would like to thank all participants and partners for the inspiring exchange and the great response to the event. The successful collaboration between aiconver and we.digitize serves as an example for shaping an efficient and user-centric digital future.
aiconver at a Glance
aiconver is a powerful automation platform where Artificial Intelligence is the driving force. The company specializes in making business processes more efficient through intelligent software solutions.
aiconver.com
we.digitize at a Glance
we.digitize is the digital and innovation unit of the Weiss+Appetito Group. It develops and implements smart solutions for infrastructure in the housing industry, in companies, and in public spaces, including the “LiveCharger” charging infrastructure solutions and the “LiveLocker” smart locker system. https://we-digitize.i