06/04/20Covid-19: The challenge facing us all!

The Corona pandemic continues to worry billions of people around the globe. For many people all they can do is to try to make the best of a bad situation - and CAS is no different. The CAS Team has implemented a number of important measures, which allow us to continue supporting you in these trying times. The following is a statement from CAS Founder and CEO Martin Hubschneider on the current challenges we are all facing.

 

“…what seems big and important to us,

is suddenly trivial and small.”

My fellow humans, dear customers and partners,

The Corona pandemic is worrying billions of people around the world. The daily corona news with frightening pictures is overwhelming; the forecasted horror scenarios are scaring many people. Apart from their concern for others, people are afraid for their own health and that of their loved ones. Many jobs are at risk, including the livelihoods of people you may know personally who work in the region and are self-employed. Can the state aid programs compensate for this?

Almost business as usual at CAS – we are still with you thanks to mobile office, the CAS Campus and video chat.
We are very lucky at CAS Software to have the necessary agility and flexibility to deal with something as far-reaching as the Corona virus. Consequently, on March 13, many of our 450 co-creators were able to make the seamless shift into working from home. Some co-creators, for various reasons, preferred to continue working in individual offices on the CAS Campus. Today, their number equates to approximately 50 people, who can switch to working from home whenever they want.

At the end of February, the CAS Team received the prestigious “Great Place to Work” award, for the very first time. We have not had the opportunity to celebrate yet, but rest assured, once it is safe to do so, we will. Our next company goal is to become the “Best place to grow”. In addition, many of our co-creators are currently growing and developing both inside and outside of the CAS family in ways that they never thought possible due to the current circumstances. Yet, despite the distance, mobile working has enabled much of the daily social interaction to continue unperturbed.

We’re here for you!
In terms of customer support and the further development of our software solutions it is pretty much business as usual. Should you require support services you can contact the usual people through the usual channels - we’re ready to help you.

And with the help of our software solutions: CAS genesisWorld and SmartWe as well as a number of useful collaboration tools such as Nextcloud, cooperating with each other from the mobile office works very well – we’re learning to organize ourselves better digitally day-by-day.

My wish: Mindfulness and a positive outlook
I am very pleased that the CAS family is such an appreciative and mutually supportive family that is now revealing the true extent of its capabilities in this time of crisis. And thanks to the initiative of our co-creators, we came up with an extravaganza of innovative new ideas on how to deal with the new threat of social isolation. For example, every morning at 9:00 am many of our teams hold a virtual coffee break or even an after-work digital beer at 6:00 pm as well as a daily #WeChallenge, where co-creators post social tasks.

Our priority number one: Health and job security
We support the “stay safe” campaign in preventing our health system from being overwhelmed and in protecting those people who have been categorized as at risk from the virus. Moreover, we view safeguarding jobs at CAS Software as our contribution towards helping to maintain a caring society and in encouraging a possible new economic upswing. Currently, we are not planning to introduce short-time work or take advantage of government aid. On the contrary, we are planning to increase our investments in standard products from reserved funds.

Cooperation and good relationships
In these difficult times, human values sometimes take on a vital meaning for our fellow human beings: mindfulness, consideration, solidarity, and joy of life, humor, compassion, shopping for neighbors and just simply finding time for someone and providing mutual support. By just letting someone know that you are thinking of them, whether through a quick call, a personal message or a friendly smile, we can significantly improve the quality of life for our fellow human beings.

“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go
a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.”
                                                                                                           Nelson Mandela

In countless places, new networks and initiatives for a new sense of togetherness have emerged in recent days. Knowing that you can fall back on trusting relationships with friends, neighbors, colleagues, but also with partners and customers is particularly valuable in these testing times.

A post-Corona world
The Corona pandemic will pass. Many have spoken of a war against the virus, yet once it is over, the world will not have been destroyed. Our systems of solidarity that we have in place in society to guard against sickness, unemployment and poverty in old age will remain intact and will even be improved and expanded worldwide. Additionally, infrastructure such as roads, electricity, gas, water, wastewater, public transport and much, much more will also remain intact.

However, many people’s livelihoods and jobs are in danger. It is our common task to face this great challenge together.

In Rutger Berman’s great book: “Humankind: A hopeful history“, he demonstrates that the dynamic arising from catastrophes is always the same. A collective stroke of fate hits society; people start to help each other and come together to unite against the common challenge. It is up to us as citizens to ensure that fundamental human rights are upheld and that we take the appropriate steps for the future. How the world develops after Corona really is up to each and every one of us. That includes both you and I.

From my personal perspective, a better society oriented towards the common good can now emerge. For example, the one-sided maximization of profits has meant that health systems worldwide have no financial buffers.

I wish you and yours all the very best.
We are already looking forward to seeing you again in person!  

Stay healthy – and positive.

Yours in optimism Martin Hubschneider
Founder and CEO of CAS Software AG and SmartWe World SE