Viebrockhaus builds on novomind app to facilitate planning of dream homes

The app has been specifically developed and customized for Viebrockhaus by the “ID – Innovative Apps & Digitalization” unit of Hamburg-based software company novomind AG using the design thinking approach. “We see ourselves as enablers and supporters of digitalization processes and develop precisely the solution that each company needs,” explains Stan Carstensen, COO – Professional Services at novomind.

The new intelligent tool that novomind has developed for Viebrockhaus allows the company to plan houses according to its wishes and needs of its clients. The digital assistant automatically checks compliance with building regulations and structural requirements. It takes the complexity out of the home planning process by additionally supporting project managers and sales staff in talks with clients, the creation of construction time forecasts and budget plans or recommendations for finding the right plot of land. Future home owners benefit from the digital home construction assistant by being involved in the planning process right from the start. Expected ancillary costs such as grid connection costs are factored in by the app. The tool thus gives clients full cost transparency already during the planning phase.

With over 32,000 completed building projects, Viebrockhaus is one of the leading providers of single-family and multi-family homes built in solid construction in Germany. In 2020 alone, the family business, which was established in 1954 and is headquartered in Harsefeld (Lower Saxony), sold around 1,300 houses. “We were looking for a digital planning tool that would allow us to manage and support our home construction projects even before the first meeting with the client right through to the final building permit,” explains Sebastian Klare, CTO at Viebrockhaus AG. “novomind involved us in the design right from the start and developed a customized solution that supports our employees during the planning process and standardizes sales talks.” This also allows the company to create synergies between the different departments.

The first joint workshop to analyze and define the requirements to be met by the planning tool started in 2018. On this basis, novomind then developed the tailor-made concept for Viebrockhaus’ digital home construction assistant from scratch. The minimum viable product (MVP) approach was used to create the first prototype. By the end of 2020, the latter had already matured to a fully functional and ready-to-use app that supports the company’s employees in the home construction planning process and thereby helps optimize the customer experience of future home owners.

“Good planning is the key to success not only when it comes to building homes but also when developing digital solutions,” says Stan Carstensen of novomind. “The valuable exchange with the Viebrockhaus team created a strong foundation for the project which enabled the customized realization of this innovative app.”