6 Immediately Actionable Tips to Optimize Your Service in Mechanical Engineering – Even Amid a Skilled Labor Shortage

The mechanical and plant engineering sector is facing a more severe skilled labor shortage than ever. According to the ifo Institute, 23% of companies report that their performance is limited due to a lack of personnel. At the same time, the industry is facing a massive wave of retirements: by 2034, 178,000 workers will be missing.
But companies can act immediately—with quick, effective measures.

Here are 6 immediately actionable tips to sustainably relieve your technical service team, reduce costs, and improve quality at the same time.

1. Introduce Remote Support – fewer on-site visits, more efficiency

Digital service processes reduce dependence on on-site personnel. With visual remote support solutions, a single technician can assist multiple customers simultaneously.
Result: Ready to implement, easy to integrate into existing processes, shorter response times, lower travel costs and higher customer satisfaction.

2. Digitize Documentation – make knowledge available anytime

Providing checklists, service manuals, and machine information digitally accelerates processes and makes teams more independent. Digital documentation is a key feature of the bitnamic CONNECT Service Platform.

3. Get new employees productive faster (Onboarding + E-Learning)

Companies lose a lot of time with traditional in-person onboarding.
Example: Hako GmbH conducted around 55 live online trainings and 440 autonomous trainings through digital programs—saving approximately €750,000.

4. Upskill employees instead of just recruiting

Studies show that one-third of companies experience significant disruptions due to personnel shortages. Upskilling allows companies to build internal expertise instead of searching for specialists for months.

Modern tools include:

• AR/VR training

• E-learning

• Digital assistants

5. Use process automation

AI-powered chatbots, automated ticketing systems, and digital workflows relieve teams of routine tasks. For example, the bitnamic CONNECT Service Platform provides automated service processes, maintenance management, case management, and AI chatbot features.

6. Rethink service pricing – from Time & Material to Value Pricing

Many companies struggle with outdated pricing structures. Offer value-based pricing instead of hourly models, including premium services like 24/7 remote support.

With digital service processes, fast onboarding, and smart pricing strategies, companies can reduce costs in the short term and successfully address the skilled labor shortage in the long term. Stay competitive in mechanical engineering!

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Learn more about optimization opportunities and use cases in our whitepaper (PDF)!

Sources (german):

1) https://www.ifo.de/fakten/2025-02-17/konjunkturflaute-entschaerft-fachkraeftemangel

2) https://www.iwkoeln.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/andrea-hammermann-jochen-pimpertz-oliver-stettes-bis-2034-fehlen-178000-arbeitskraefte-im-maschinenbau.html

3)https://www.iwkoeln.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Studien/KOFA_kompakt_und_Studien/2025/KOFA_Kompakt_04-2025-Fachkr%C3%A4ftereport-Q1.pdf

4) https://www.eaton.com/de/de-de/company/news-insights/news-releases/2025/new-report-highlights-what-machine-builders-can-do-to-mitigate-the-skilled-labor-shortage.html

5)https://www.manpowergroup.de/-/media/project/manpowergroup/manpowergroup/manpowergroup-germany/studien_pdf/meos/mpg_arbeitsmarktbarometer_meos_q1-2025_de.pdf

6)https://www.dihk.de/resource/blob/107882/f8e2f248f04aaf10e622d5a0fcb38df9/dihk-fachkraeftereport-2023-data.pdf https://www.iwkoeln.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/alexander-burstedde-galina-kolev-schaefer-wirtschaft-verliert-49-milliarden-euro.html

7) https://www.dihk.de/de/themen-und-positionen/fachkraefte/aus-und-weiterbildung/ausbildung/ausbildungsumfrage-25/wirtschaftskrise-und-bewerberschwaeche-praegen-den-ausbildungsmarkt-134900

8) https://www.vdi.de/themen/nachwuchs-ausbildung-arbeitsmarkt/vdi/iw-ingenieurmonitor https://www.dihk.de/de/themen-und-positionen/fachkraefte/aus-und-weiterbildung/ausbildung/ausbildungsumfrage-25/wirtschaftskrise-und-bewerberschwaeche-praegen-den-ausbildungsmarkt-134900