SOFTWARE AGENCY - COLOGNE
Discovery Workshop for SMEs: Understanding the Market, Problem, and Solution Space Together, for a Well-Founded Economic Decision
Typically over one to two days, on-site, with all relevant decision-makers at the table: sales, marketing, IT, and operations work together to identify where digitalization really unlocks revenue potential.
First the problem space, then the solution space, then the roadmap. The result is a basis for decision-making, not a gut feeling.
Technical Feasibility Assessed on the Spot · 1 or more Days On-Site
VALUE PROPOSITION
Discovery Workshop: Understand Together, Then Decide
At dynabase, a Discovery Workshop isn't an outside consulting conversation, it's a joint format: we work with your team directly at the table to map out what your market looks like and what's really needed. The workshop follows the principles of Design Thinking, not in the sense of design, but as a method for truly understanding a problem before solving it. The end result is a technical solution. But we also think ahead to what comes after: how do we find out what users really think, for example through a user lab? How can success be measured afterward, say through tracking? And does that require an accompanying strategy on top? From these ideas comes a time-planned concept with a roadmap that fits your company's vision and serves as a basis for decision-making, not a gut feeling.
If the workshop format isn't right for you, we also offer classic consulting, though based on experience we recommend the collaborative approach.
WHO THIS IS FOR
• You want to bring together knowledge from sales, marketing, IT, and operations in a single day, instead of leaving it scattered across departments.
• Before a major digitalization decision, you want to know where revenue potential really lies, not just what's technically feasible.
• You want to reduce investment risk: a well-founded decision-making basis emerges in one to two days, before a large project is commissioned.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
What We at dynabase Mean by a Discovery Workshop
Initial Consultation & Goal Setting
We clarify with you whether a Discovery Workshop is the right next step and what length of format is needed to capture the complexity of your project with the necessary depth.
Problem Space
Sales, marketing, IT, and operations work out together where the real problems lie, from multiple perspectives rather than from a single department.
Solution Space
04 Service
Roadmap & Handover
The problem space and solution space come together in an actionable roadmap, which is then written up and handed over afterward.
PROCESS & METHODOLOGY
From the Initial Consultation to a Finished Decision-Making Basis
Initial Consultation
Free, we clarify the starting point and whether a Discovery Workshop is the right fit.
Step 2
Preparation
Date, format length, and participants are agreed on together.
Step 3
Workshop Implementation
The problem space, solution space, and roadmap are developed on-site, with a facilitator and a solution architect.
Step 4
Presentation of Results
All content is written up and handed over as a results document.
WHICH VARIANT FITS?
Two or more days, when multiple business units or a complex system landscape are involved.
One day, when the problem space is already well outlined or the organization is compact.
WHO'S IN THE ROOM
From dynabase: a facilitator (guides the sprint, keeps structure and pace) and a solution architect (assesses feasibility and architecture on the spot). From your company: subject-matter decision-makers from sales, marketing, IT, and operations who know the business and can make decisions.
1-Day Format (Compact)
Day 1
09:00 Welcome
09:15 Introductions
10:00 Open the problem space & close it
12:00 Lunch break
13:00 Open the solution space & close it
15:00 Break
15:30 Roadmapping (result)
17:00 End
2-Day Format (or Longer)
Day 1
09:00 Welcome
09:30 Introductions (company, culture, vision, customer and sales structure)
10:00 Open the problem space
12:00 Lunch break
13:00 Close the problem space
16:00 End of day 1
Day 2
09:00 Open the solution space
12:00 Lunch break
13:00 Close the solution space
15:00 Roadmapping (result)
16:00 End
DISTINCTION
Discovery Workshop or AI Consulting: Which Page You Need
The Use-Case Workshop on our AI consulting page is specifically designed to identify and assess concrete AI use cases in your business. The Discovery Workshop here is broader: it works for any digitalization topic, not just AI, and is especially suited when it's not yet clear whether AI is even the right answer. If you already know it's specifically about AI, head straight to our AI consulting page. If the direction is still open, the Discovery Workshop is the better starting point.
WHY DYNABASE
A Proven Principle, Consistently Combined With Technical Depth
Our Discovery Workshop follows the Double Diamond principle: each phase first opens up the space (gathering perspectives, exploring), then narrows it down (clustering, prioritizing, deciding). This creates depth without arbitrariness, with a facilitator and a solution architect right there in the room.
For us, every technology decision follows a purpose, not a trend: we don't deploy the newest solution, we deploy the one that actually solves your problem.
✓ Double Diamond principle: problem space first, then solution space, then roadmap
✓ Facilitator and solution architect in the room, not just afterward
✓ 1 or more days, depending on the complexity of your organization
✓ Results are written up and handed over to you
Still have another question? Ask us directly in a free initial consultation.
What is a Discovery Workshop?
A Discovery Workshop is a one- or multi-day format in which the problem space, solution space, and roadmap of a digitalization initiative are worked out together, before an implementation is commissioned.
How does a Discovery Workshop differ from a traditional requirements analysis?
A traditional requirements analysis usually assumes the direction is already set. A Discovery Workshop deliberately reopens the space beforehand, to capture problems and options that would otherwise be overlooked, and only then condenses them into a roadmap.
Who should take part in a Discovery Workshop?
What matters is that the people in the room know the business and can make decisions, typically from sales, marketing, IT, and operations.
How long does a Discovery Workshop take?
One or more days, on-site. One day is enough if the problem space is already well outlined or the organization is compact; multiple days are recommended for multiple business units.
What does a Discovery Workshop cost?
The cost is 1,500 euros per day, plus accommodation and travel expenses
Is a digitalization consulting format like the Discovery Workshop also suitable for SMEs?
The format is often especially effective for SMEs, precisely because knowledge there is frequently concentrated in just a few people.
What's the difference between a Discovery Workshop and AI consulting?
A Discovery Workshop covers any digitalization topic when it's still open where digitalization should start. AI consulting, which dynabase also offers, assumes AI is already the established topic and goes deep from there.
What happens after a Discovery Workshop?
All the content developed is written up afterward and handed over as a results document.
Should digitalization consulting always take place in workshop format?
No. Some providers, dynabase included, also offer classic consulting alongside the workshop format.