Losch Digital Lab is an inspiring example of how investments in innovation and talent can bring a brick-and-mortar company into the digital age and beyond.
While Losch Luxembourg has been a leading force in the automotive industry for over 70 years and hardly requires an introduction, its software subsidiary, Losch Digital Lab, is another story.
First launched in 2018 to diversify the company’s product portfolio and digitalize its processes, Losch Digital Lab has quickly established itself as a forward-thinking mobility solutions provider. A key role in this success has been opening an office in Portugal and partnering with UPTEC, the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto.
“Most people just know Losch as a place to buy cars, but there is much more behind us than just being a car dealership.”
Roman Entinger, managing director at Losch Digital Lab
“In 2018, we went straight into a partnership with the University and that was the missing puzzle piece to source more talent and to expand Losch Luxembourg. In 2021, Losch Digital Lab opened a second office, in Luxembourg. Since our founding, we managed to grow the team from 4 people to around 50 today,” explains Roman.
While the transition to an office in another country wasn’t always easy, and included some cultural and management adaptions, it has been crucial to Losch Luxembourg’s diversification strategy.
A strategy for the transition
Keeping in mind the changing automotive industry, Losch Digital Lab has been exploring new mobility solutions since day one.
“Losch started putting cars on the road and now with Losch Digital Lab we have a set of solutions to bridge the gap between private cars and public transport,” says Roman.
Organized under the umbrella Simdle, Losch Digital Lab offers a suite of products for the automotive and mobility industries. Ranging from after-sales and dealer management solutions to a car trading platform, Simdle Automotive aims to digitize and simplify work processes in dealerships and workshops.
Simdle Mobility is their solution for on-demand mobility. Combining 3 platforms, Simdle Mobility is their most advanced solution, allowing governments and transport operators to offer on-demand rides to citizens with a Rider app, a Driver app, and a backend management interface.
“Our on-demand mobility solution promotes mobility options that are complementary to public transport. That’s why our platform is integrated with public transport data because at the end of the day, we want to make transport more flexible and sustainable.”
Julie Authelet, marketing specialist at Losch Digital Lab.
Mobility and beyond
Already offering their Simdle solutions across Europe, Losch Digital Lab is continuously looking for new ways to stay ahead in the automotive market, the mobility market, and beyond.
“Next to Losch Digital Lab, there is also Losch Reiff Real Estate, SWIO (Electric charging solutions), and Cube 4T8, our innovation unit. Automotive is still the biggest part of Losch Luxembourg, but we are keeping our mind to the future,” says Roman.
With its eyes on Luxembourg’s Mobility Plan 2035, Losch Luxembourg is ready to embrace whatever the evolution of the automotive industry may hold.
“I think we are meshing very well with the current developments in Luxembourg and have also put plans in place to meet Luxembourg’s future mobility needs,” says Roman.
Mobility hubs, 360-degree solutions, and autonomous driving are all on the table, although the latter may “not be for the shorter-term” reminds Roman.
