New HNU Institute bundles expertise in the field of sales and sustainable business

A sustainable and digital future in which companies operate responsibly and use innovative technologies to create added value for society: This is the vision of the newly founded HNU Institute, which aims to actively promote this transformation through interdisciplinary, practice-oriented research. The SSBI relies on close cooperation with partners from science and practice to promote the transfer of knowledge and the implementation of new findings.

Impetus for transformation: digital, sustainable, effective

In addition to the two institute directors, ten professors and four research assistants - all from the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics - are currently part of the SSBI team. Their research focuses on the interfaces between sales and digital transformation, the smart circular economy and sustainable business models. Other fields of research include digital innovations to promote sustainability, skills development for the twin transformation, sustainable consumer behavior and ethical, legal and cultural framework conditions for the use of digital technologies. Digitalization is seen as a key factor for sustainability in the course of the twin transformation and is a central topic in SSBI research.

Collaboration offerings for future-proof companies

With its six research fields, the SSBI provides potential practice partners with a comprehensive range of research-based support offerings - a benefit for any company that wants to strengthen its future viability in a targeted manner, emphasizes Prof. Dr. Alexander Kracklauer, Research Professor for Sales Management and Sales Intelligence. Prof. Dr. Tassilo Schuster, Research Professor for Sustainable Business Models and Global Value Networks, underlines the relevance of digital technologies in this context: “Digital technologies such as AI, blockchain and IoT create the basis for the realization of a circular economy and enable companies to develop sustainable business models and to position and market their sustainable products and services in a targeted manner.”

Kick-off workshop: Ideas, impetus, next steps 

At the kick-off workshop, the participating scientists presented their research interests and areas of activity and discussed the strategic direction and further development of the institute. At the same time, the launch of the institute's website - https://www.hnu.de/sales-and-sustainable-business-institute (opens in a new window) - marked the official start of the SSBI. From now on, the institute team will be available to interested companies as a competent sparring partner with reliable advice, methodological approaches and best practice experience.

Contact 
Prof. Dr. Alexander Kracklauer
Prof. Dr. Tassilo Schuster