---
title: "EMPOWER"
description: "EMPOWER (BVG, 2023/24): BVG staff learn low-code tools and automate their own processes"
url: "https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/empower-2023-24/"
lang: "en"
---

# EMPOWER

**BVG staff learn low-code tools and automate their own processes**

_We Empower You!_

- **Corporate partner:** [BVG](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/partners/bvg/) (https://www.bvg.de/en)
- **Cohort:** [2023/24](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/cohort/2023-24/)
- **Theme:** [Work & organisations](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/themes/work-organisations/)
- **Type:** Process
- **Key fact:** 70+ People reached during fall research
- **Universities:** [Hasso Plattner Institute](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/universities/hpi/)
- **Team:** 4 master students
- **Disciplines:** Business Informatics, Computer Science, Medical Engineering

## Challenge

BVG, Berlin's public transport operator, asked how to redesign bus dispatching for flexible short-term distribution and long-term planning, with an intuitive tool for internal staff. The team later reframed this towards digitalisation by employees.

## What the team learned

Research with more than 70 people showed a single dispatching tool would touch only the tip of the iceberg. Deeper issues lay in internal culture, workforce shortage and passenger dissatisfaction.

## What they built

A framework and training programme for Microsoft PowerApps. Kick-off workshops and learning videos teach employees to build a first app and pass skills on to peers; example apps serve as templates, and a lighthouse PowerApp shows what automation can do.

How it evolved:

1. Ten prototypes and ten personas in the critical function phase; five prototypes tested with BVG volunteers.
2. BV-GPT, an internal AI assistant, was liked by almost all five testers; a Camunda workflow concept drew mixed reactions.
3. Bus Career Express was dropped: many drivers value the job's stability more than career advancement.

## Results

- Fall research reached 70+ people in 50+ meetings, with more than 1,700 minutes of exchange.

## Impact

For BVG, the programme aims at faster processes, fewer errors and staff who keep digitalising their own work.

## Full project text

EMPOWER enables BVG employees to build their own software!

### Challenge

"How can we redesign BVG's bus dispatching system to facilitate a smooth and flexible distribution of buses across the BVG operation area, ensuring short-term responsivity as well as long-term planning security while providing an intuitive usability for BVG-internal stakeholders?"

### Solution

EMPOWER is our dual-component solution designed to kickstart digitalization at BVG through technology and education. Firstly, it includes a workshop where participants learn to utilize and develop applications using the low-code platform PowerApps. Secondly, we introduce a specially designed PowerApp that serves as a lighthouse project within BVG. This application demonstrates the potential of PowerApps to automate processes and streamline workflows, setting a benchmark for innovation at BVG.

### Impact

The EMPOWER initiative at BVG should streamline workflows. Thus, leading to faster processes and reduced errors. Additionally, our workshops have equipped BVG employees with skills for ongoing digitalization, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. These advancements increase not only employee satisfaction but also improve service delivery, thereby showcasing the potential of low-code platforms to improve business operations.

## Who built it.

- Julius Porbeck, Computer Science (Hasso Plattner Institute)
- Yacoub Siriany, Medical Engineering (Hasso Plattner Institute)
- Ahmad Kharoub, Medical Engineering (Hasso Plattner Institute)
- Moritz Moser, Business Informatics (Hasso Plattner Institute)

## Sources

Summarised by the SUGAR editorial team from the team’s project page, fall documentation and SUGAR Expo booklet.

Open the 2023/24 booklet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12aqq30ZVAjL7tHyG3evhR9JOUSbPixOV/view?usp=sharing