Chief Digital Officer remains the exception

According to a survey by the digital association Bitkom, not even one in five companies (19 percent) say they have appointed a head of digitization or CDO.

This represents a slight increase on the previous year (15 percent), but small companies in particular continue to be very reluctant.

"Digitization is not just a question of software and hardware, but above all of ideas and strategies. Clear responsibility and concentration of know-how are particularly important for medium-sized companies.

says Bitkom President Achim Berg.

"Everyone would be well advised to focus consistently on digitization in the current corona crisis."

In four out of ten cases (43 percent), companies with a head of digitization or CDO have placed the function at board or executive management level.

Even more frequently (50 percent), the role was established at the level directly below the board of directors or management. In only five percent of cases is the CDO part of middle management.

"It is important that the CDO is equipped with the necessary resources and has the backing of the company's management. The CDO must not only be allowed to think disruptively, but must also be able to act."

says Berg.

"It's not enough to design digital concepts, you have to put them into practice."

German companies are definitely lagging behind and need to catch up, according to Achim Berg of Bitkom.