With an outside perspective, external service providers in piste management make a significant contribution to identifying inefficient work processes and to the long-term successful development of ski areas. The technology sector in particular holds enormous potential for winter sports, which is very difficult to exploit without external help.
Without wanting to use the term "operational blindness", it should be clear to every entrepreneur - regardless of the industry - that over the years a work routine develops that is difficult to break out of. From an internal perspective, it then becomes difficult to recognize development potential or to perceive weaknesses as such. However, this can have serious effects on the long-term economic success of a company.
Ski resorts are not exempt from this dynamic. The technology sector in particular offers ever faster progressing developments with enormous potential for the winter sports industry. Recognizing these and - even more importantly - implementing them successfully is often not possible on one's own. External service providers help to break open the own "bubble" a little, show areas of application of new developments and join forces to Performance of ski resorts to improve.
1. The view from the outside
Every company – regardless of the industry – develops its own modus operandi over the years. Corporate culture, the influence of leading employees and established habits shape everyday business operations. This is a good thing and is part of the identity of every company.
However, it is very difficult to take a critical look at your own company from the inside. Potential for improvement and weaknesses are often overlooked or considered irrelevant. External service providers see their partner company from the outside and can identify potential and risks more easily and in a more differentiated way.
In addition to the actual service, the outside perspective is one of the greatest advantages of external partners.
2. To each his own area of expertise
No one is expected to be the best in all areas. In a highly complex world, specialization is unavoidable and enables the successful interaction of many different specialist areas. By bringing in an external service provider, you bring additional expertise on board to broaden your own horizons and thus your skills.
In winter sports, the technology sector in particular offers an incredible potential for new opportunities. At the same time, it is clear that the piste team, for example, must focus on snowmaking and preparation. Technical innovations in Geoinformation systems or in big data analysis can be followed from the sidelines. However, it is difficult for the piste team to always be up to date with the latest technology. In order to combine these two areas, it makes sense for the ski resort to seek support in the tech sector.
3. Exchange at eye level
External service providers are neither superior nor subordinate. An exchange must take place on an equal footing in order to achieve mutual success and maintain it in the long term. In principle, both sides are dependent on each other: the service recipient expects an improvement in his performance, the service provider sells his know-how to improve the situation of his customer and also expects financial compensation.
These shared interests make the client and external service provider partners between whom the flow of communication should be unhindered and respectful. Only through an intensive relationship of trust between the client and the external service provider can cooperation lead to the desired success.
4. Joining forces
Once the foundation of trust has been laid, nothing stands in the way of joining forces. Snowmaking and preparation in particular are based on a craft that must be learned. However, correctly assessing current and future snow and weather situations is always associated with a certain degree of uncertainty. The many years of experience of individual employees is one way of dealing with this situation. However, assessments based on gut feeling remain subjective.
External service providers such as ARENA Pistenmanagement start their work where gut feeling and experience reach their limits. A comprehensive analysis of all the measurement data collected creates an objective and fact-based basis for decision-making that allows the piste team to do their work even more specifically and efficiently. Last but not least, this makes the work of those responsible for the piste a lot easier.
5. Expand your expertise
Close cooperation with external partners also expands our own range of knowledge. Through regular exchange and the implementation of new technologies, winter sports continue to develop and can adapt to the challenges of the future. Because we should not forget: the "snow cannon" was also invented at some point and has had a significant impact on winter sports ever since.
in case of a ARENA slope management The expansion of specialist knowledge is extremely concrete in the project. In the first two seasons, ARENA helps to prepare and analyze the measurement data and to define snowmaking targets in various weather scenarios. In the third season, the fine-tuning takes place in constant exchange with the ski area. By the fourth season at the latest, the ski area is able to operate and maintain the analysis and planning system independently. The external service is therefore provided on a temporary basis, while at the same time the in-house staff is trained.
6. Save time and resources in the long term
The input of external service providers in piste management provides ski areas with a completely new set of tools that they can use to make their work more targeted, efficient and sustainable. Ultimately, this means that the time required for various work processes is significantly reduced in the long term.
The biggest advantage of external service providers, however, is the reduction of natural and time resources. Clear data and objective decisions can save up to 20% of water and electricity per season. This gives ski areas significantly more financial leeway, which makes them more competitive in the long term and, with improved slope quality, makes them more attractive to winter sports enthusiasts.
Joining forces for the future of winter sports
Further development and progress always happen where opposites merge. External service providers in slope management also have exactly this effect on ski resorts: they expand the professional spectrum and pave the way for long-term success in climatic and economically challenging times.
That's why it makes sense in every respect to combine your own technical expertise with that of external service providers, thereby not only gaining a competitive advantage but also laying the foundation for outstanding winter sports experiences of the future.
