Potsdam starts July 14th: Digital building authority revolutionizes applications!

Potsdam starts July 14th: Digital building authority revolutionizes applications!

In a groundbreaking development for Potsdam, the city's first fully digital building department will go into operation on July 14, 2025. In the future, building fantasists will be able to conveniently submit their applications online without having to set foot in the office. This is reported by the daily news. The innovative system is intended not only to significantly shorten processing times, but also to drastically reduce paper consumption and travel and shipping costs.

A central component of this digital transformation is the one-time registration in the virtual Brandenburg building authority. After registering, applicants receive access to a digital workflow where they can track the status of their applications online at any time. The sending of permits is also processed digitally, making the process more transparent and understandable. How Potsdam.de supplemented, the test phase of the Virtual Building Authority was successfully completed, and the city is thus continuing the digitalization strategy it has already initiated. In addition to this project, electronic residence registration was also newly introduced.

Advantages of digitalization

The benefits of this digital approach go beyond mere bureaucracy. According to a study by Fraunhofer IESE on the status of digitalization in the construction industry, which was carried out as part of the “Digital Construction Management” consortium project, it shows that digital transformation in the construction industry not only enables more efficient work, but also improves collaboration and makes the industry more attractive. Direct communication between builders, planners, authorities and communities is particularly important here.

• Effizienteres Bauen durch optimierte Prozesse
• Bessere Zusammenarbeit durch direkte Kommunikation
• Steigerung der Attraktivität des Berufsbilds

However, there are challenges in the industry. Many construction companies struggle with implementing new software solutions, which often place high demands on training and data quality. Personnel and financial shortages as well as structural barriers represent additional hurdles, as the study shows. Nevertheless, the voices from the industry are predominantly positive and support the ongoing digitalization.

A look into the future

Potsdam is not alone on this path: more and more cities and districts within Brandenburg are replacing their traditional processes with digital solutions. Six building inspectorates have already set up their virtual building authorities, and the plan is for all 20 lower building inspectorates to be connected to the digital platform by 2026. Infrastructure Minister Detlef Tabbert emphasizes that this process not only speeds up the procedures, but also significantly reduces the burden on the administration. The digital change in the construction industry, of which the Fraunhofer IESE reported, is therefore being pushed further and could soon become the nationwide norm.

The starting signal for the digital building permit process in Potsdam is an important step in modern administrative design that offers both ecological and practical added value. The wave of digitalization could soon roll out in other cities too - it could be good business for the entire industry.