From pilot project to standard solution:
What began with training two employees on site has developed into a key component of WT's working methods. Today, a team of 11 planners implements around 40 substations per year for approximately 10 network operators - at a remarkably high rate.
This level of efficiency would be virtually impossible without standardization and automation. “The modular principle of primtech is very clever,” explains Daniel Schuster, who has been with the company since 2017 and works as Head of Primary Planning. “Over time, we have created all the necessary templates to cover the various requirements of the respective network operators. This is super easy with primtech because we only need to exchange the modules.”
The result: a significantly larger project scope in the same amount of time. “The requirements and orders have increased massively, but our implementation time has not increased - on the contrary,” says Tietz. “The degree of standardization in construction, planning, and preparation is so high today that we are able to achieve this pace in the first place.”
More speed, more quality – with the same effort
The workflow has also changed significantly within the company. Bills of materials are automatically generated from primtech and transferred directly to the ERP system - a process that used to be done entirely manually. Engineers and drafters work in parallel and can perform many tasks independently because the processes are clearly structured and standardized.
“In the past, a lot of it was manual work, but today it's data-driven,” says Tietz. “This not only saves time, but also reduces errors and increases the quality of our results.”
Functions such as “in-place edit,” automatic lightning protection calculation, and phase checks are particularly appreciated - tools that enable iterative work and quick adjustments. And if something does go wrong, primtech support always provides quick help.
A tool to address the shortage of skilled workers
As in the entire industry, the shortage of skilled workers is also a major challenge for WT Energiesysteme. This is where modern software offers an additional benefit: “A tool like primtech not only helps us in our project business, but also in recruiting,” says Tietz.
The company is active at career fairs and universities and works closely with technical colleges. “We can show young people what their work will look like right from the onboarding stage - visually, tangibly, digitally. That makes an impression. And it shows that we are a modern employer.”
Currently, WTE is building another location in Riesa, and will move to the new buildings in 2026. At the same time, the company is moving into an expanded office complex with its own development center in Pirna. All newly planned branches will feature so-called “blue rooms,” where digital twins and visualizations will be part of everyday life.
“We want to consistently think ahead in terms of digital transformation,” says Tietz. “AI-supported processes, virtual planning, real-time collaboration - and of course, we are also thinking about future cooperation projects with the primtech team.”