How dependent is Europe on US services?

Follow-up report: Europe’s digital sovereignty – between wishful thinking and reality

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2 Min.

On September 30, 2025, interested parties – both on site in Nuremberg and online – gathered for an intensive afternoon to discuss the current state and prospects of Europe’s digital independence. The event was organized by
Robert Zierhofer
 and
Matthias Brinkmann
 both active members of the Rabbit Hole Group.

The thematic focus & agenda

The discussion round was clearly structured and focused on four central building blocks:

  • Europe’s digital dependence today
  • European alternatives to US-based tools
  • Opportunities & limits of digital independence
  • Conclusion: wishful thinking or realistic objective?

The introduction already made it clear how deeply dependent Europe is on US technology – from cloud services and communication tools to operating systems. Robert and Matthias took a critical look at everyday tools in agencies and companies and presented concrete European alternatives. At the same time, there was an open discussion about the hurdles that need to be overcome – politically, economically and technologically.

Highlights & insights

  • Several examples showed that many companies and institutions today have little choice but to trust US-based services – often for reasons of market power, distribution or compatibility.
  • It was shown that there are already functioning European solutions – albeit often in niches or with a limited degree of maturity.
  • The desire for technological independence is legitimate – but without clearly defined support programs, regulation and joint European action, much remains wishful thinking.

The tone was constructive and forward-looking: The debate was dominated by realism rather than pessimism. The hybrid format (on-site + online) was well received and ensured that even remote participants were able to take part. The presentation was inspired, with plenty of impetus – it was not uncommon for people to put their heads together in the direction of implementation.

Conclusion & outlook

The event ruthlessly revealed where Europe stands today – and at the same time showed that digital sovereignty does not have to be pure wishful thinking. But the road to this goal is an arduous one. The decisive factor will be whether politics, business and society set the necessary course: Strategic investments, promotion of European infrastructure, binding standards and a rethink of the choice of tools for society as a whole.

We would like to thank Robert Zierhofer and all participants for this enriching event!

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

Automated solutions for legally compliant websites

WhiteColibri: Intelligent all-round data protection tool for websites

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2 Min.

Data protection doesn’t have to be complicated

Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are making our everyday lives easier – even when it comes to data protection. Instead of endlessly poring over paragraphs or manually maintaining cookie banners, WhiteColibri does the work for you.

Automatic privacy policy – always up to date

The AI-supported tool WhiteColibri from MKM LEGAL regularly scans your website for services such as Google Analytics, Hotjar or YouTube. Your privacy policy will then be updated automatically – including the legal notice and cookie banner.

The result: 100% legal certainty without any effort.

Live in action: WhiteColibri presented

Together with MKM LEGAL, we presented the tool at our event “Smart data protection for websites – one tool for everything“. Participants were able to test WhiteColibri directly and experience how easily and reliably it works. Whether for small business websites or international corporate presences – WhiteColibri is scalable and even available in multiple languages.

Free GDPR check of your website

With the free quick test, you can find out whether your website is GDPR-compliant in just a few clicks:
👉 Start a free website check now

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

Working together – even at the barbecue

Old Tablers 4 Nuremberg: Being there is everything!

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2 Min.

Around 60,000 people worldwide belong to the large Round Table-family – and what unites them all is more than just a network: it is working together for good causes, making valuable contacts and, above all, working together. Whether Ladies Circle, Round Table or Old Table – Friendship, helpfulness and commitment are the values that characterize the spirit of this community.

After refreshments, Matthias organized a short tour of the coworking space.

Exactly this spirit was also present at the workshop of the Old Tablers 4 Nuremberg on August 4, 2025. The venue: the newly opened coworking space in Dr. Carlo Schmid Straße. Topic of the day: How do we attract new members – and thus fresh energy for our projects?

Old Tabler Matthias got to the heart of the matter:

“Until now, we have lacked the visibility to highlight the benefits that we can offer our members as an internationally networked association.”

Working together - even at the barbecue

Recruiting with heart and strategy

The workshop resulted in a clear recruiting strategy based on one principle: The best way to win people over is to approach them personally. In addition, the Nuremberg Old Tablers have now developed various e-mail templates and digital materials to inform interested parties in a targeted manner and to bring them on board even after the initial contact.

Because one thing is certain: once you’re in, you’ll want to stay in. Or, as Brinkmann puts it:

“We know from experience: Once you’ve joined us, you’ll be happy to stay with us in the future!”

At around 20:00 Thorsten opens the official part of the evening, which has the character of a workshop.

Conclusion

Whether a local project or international cooperation – the Old Tablers 4 Nuremberg show that commitment, community and friendship are the best arguments to get people excited about this special movement. Because at the end of the day, being involved is everything.

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

"Wie prompte ich richtig?" – Veranstaltung zur effektiven KI-Nutzung

Smart prompts, strong answers – using AI effectively

/in , /by
2 Min.

Do you know this? You just want to ask ChatGPT something – and what comes back is somehow… well… not what you meant. Welcome to the club! 😅 But the good news is that it’s usually not because of the AI – it’s because of how we talk to it.

This is exactly what our event “How do I prompt correctly?“ on May 20, 2025 from 16:00 – 18:00 is all about. In a relaxed atmosphere, we will show you how to formulate your prompts in such a way that AI not only understands you – but also delivers really good results.

Save the Date:

How do I prompt correctly? – Effective tricks for using AI

📅 May 20, 2025
🕓 16:00-18:00
📍 Online or on site
Register now

Why all this at all?

AI is everywhere these days. Whether for text ideas, customer service, coding or marketing – tools like ChatGPT are real everyday heroes. But they are not mind readers. The quality of the answer depends very much on how you ask your question. According to experts, the right input is actually the crucial piece of the puzzle. The more clearly and specifically you formulate your question, the better it will go.

A little foretaste: The best prompting hacks (which we also use ourselves)

Here are five tips to help you:

  1. Be as specific as possible
    Better a little too much context than too little. The more precise your prompt, the more appropriate the answer.

  2. Examples help the AI get started
    If you can show what you want – do it. A “Something like this…” often works wonders.

  3. Big tasks?
    Rather divide them into small questions. The AI copes much better with this.

  4. Get help with prompting – from the AI itself
    Yes, that sounds weird. But just ask ChatGPT: “How can I ask you so that you understand this better?” It works!

  5. Use what the AI gives you – but feel free to revise it. You have the last word.

Conclusion

Effective prompting is an art that can and should be learned to get the best out of AI systems. AI is only as smart as we are. And the key lies in the right prompt. So: let’s learn how to ask cleverly – then the rest will almost run itself. 🙂

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help you:

Matthias Brinkmann

+49 (0)911 / 47 49 49 49
brinkmann@twobe.de

The TikTok Shop combines entertainment with shopping - join us and find out more!

TikTok Shop: Directly from the feed to the shopping cart

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2 Min.

Ever spontaneously bought something while scrolling on TikTok? Welcome to the world of social commerce – where entertainment, inspiration and shopping become one. With the TikTok Shop takes the whole thing to a new level: discover products, buy directly in the video and don’t even leave the app. Sounds crazy? But it’s already a reality – and that’s exactly what we’ll be talking about in our next event.

Save the Date:

TikTok Shop Germany – sell directly on the platform
📅 Tuesday, April 1, 2025
🕓 16:00 – 18:00
📍 Online or on site
Register now

We show you how brands, retailers and creators use the TikTok Shop to sell products in a creative and approachable way. Whether for start-ups, local stores or large brands – the potential is huge. And the best thing? Everything happens where your target group is already on the move.

What you can expect:

  • What’s behind the TikTok Shop? Insight into the latest trends
  • Exciting practical examples & real success stories
  • Your questions – our answers! Interactive Q&A session
  • Networking with cool people from the industry

Why is the whole thing exciting?

Because TikTok is no longer just for viral dances. The store brings content, community and commerce together in a smart way – and is quietly and secretly changing the way we shop. It is part of a cultural shift – away from traditional e-commerce and towards an experience that inspires and is fun. If you get on board early, you can really make a difference.

So, whether you’re curious, already have some experience or just want to get a taste – sign up and join us. Relaxed, informative, guaranteed without buzzword bingo. 😄

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help you:

Matthias Brinkmann

+49 (0)911 / 47 49 49 49
brinkmann@twobe.de

Live analysis and optimisation of a website

Website checks and more: Into the new year with momentum!

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2 Min.

The new year brings fresh energy – and why not start right away with measures that offer real added value? Our online meeting on the topic of website checks, which took place on Thursday, December 12, provided successful inspiration for this. The response was so positive that we are sure of it: 2025 is literally calling out for a new edition!

Why website checks are a must

Regular website checks are actually a basic requirement for anyone working in sales or marketing. But hand on heart – how often do you actually think about it? Our event with “Full Stack Web Developer” Alexander Bader showed impressively why it is worth not putting this point on the back burner. Because it’s not just about technical details, but also about real success stories that can be created right before your eyes. Together with our expert, we took a live look at a selected WordPress website. We went through the check process step by step, presented our tools, defined requirements and demonstrated the system of a professional website check. No question was left unanswered – and we were even able to fix minor problems directly.

Impressive results in just two hours

The results? Simply amazing! Within two hours, not only was the website noticeably optimized, but it also became clear that such checks are far more than just an annoying compulsory exercise. With the right approach, they can be really fun – and deliver a real sense of achievement.

Fresh motivation for 2025

We are starting the new year with this momentum and look forward to more inspiring events. True to the motto: See you in 2025!

 

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be pleased to help you:

Matthias Brinkmann

+49 (0)911 / 47 49 49 49
brinkmann@twobe.de

Cooperation between development and sales - From national to international positioning

Innovation & sales: international success together

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2 Min.

Success in innovation is primarily based on two pillars: the progress that the newly developed product brings with it and the sales channel that is used to consistently market the new product. The fact that many valuable innovation approaches in companies fall by the wayside is primarily due to the fact that sales and innovation do not communicate enough with each other.

Promoting synergies between development and sales

In order to pave the way here and to be able to transfer these into best-practice examples, we have set up our working group “Sales campaign in the innovation process“, we have brought together an exclusive group of participants from both the development and sales departments of various companies. Our basic topic:

How do we succeed – from the initial idea to the finished product – in making an innovation process as lean and targeted as possible through mutual communication and cooperation?

As part of a perspective event on October 23, 2024, the focus was primarily on the possibilities of such sales-innovation collaborations, especially from the perspective of globally operating companies. The questions we asked ourselves in this context covered a considerable range:

  • How can we – possibly from here – contribute to maximizing the promotion of innovation processes at other locations, including those abroad?
  • What processes need to be established there?
  • For example, how can the communication and social media channels there be opened up for this?
  • How can further progress be made within the company?

Successful results through joint solutions

The all-round positive: once again, all participants were able to benefit from the answers we came up with to these and other questions!

Curious now?

Our contact persons will be pleased to help you:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 (0)911 / 47 49 49 51
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

AI-supported sales training: Autodidactic learning of the future

AI-supported sales training: passing on knowledge and optimizing skills

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2 Min.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now being used in numerous areas to support sales. These include the design and production of sales materials and the use of versatile software tools that support sales staff in their customer relationship management (CRM) or in the area of project and schedule management.

AI in sales training: a new approach

A relatively new area of application for AI is its use in sales training. Here, AI is specifically designed to support sales staff in their core communicative tasks. How such AI-supported training can look in practice was the topic of an online event hosted by 2be_die markenmacher together with BWV Nordbayern-Thüringen on October 23. Chris Sander, Creative Leader at the Akkodis Group, and Max von Retorio were invited as experts. The presentations initially focused on how the content flow between sales and customers can be improved with the help of AI tools such as ChatGPT or Midjourney. These tools expand the possibilities of sales in the creation and management of content by efficiently generating texts and supporting creative processes. For many participants, this was an opportunity to build on existing knowledge and expand it with new approaches.

Retorio and Synthesia: innovative AI training solutions

It became particularly exciting when Max used practical examples to show how programs such as retorio can be used in combination with Synthesia. These tools make it possible to create avatars that analyze your own sales activities. Gestures, facial expressions and voice are scrutinized in order to make targeted improvements. These innovative training methods create real added value for sales staff, allowing them to receive practical and individual training. One highlight of the event was the demonstration of how companies can use AI software to preserve the knowledge and years of experience of proven sales staff and pass it on to the next generation. The programs can be used not only to train communication skills, but also to pass on tips and strategies from experienced colleagues to successors in the form of avatar coaching. This makes it possible to practise directly on potential customers in an interactive speech-and-response scenario.

Conclusion: AI as the key to sales optimization

The combination of proven sales methods and modern AI solutions offers companies a real competitive advantage. From content flow management to individual training with avatars – AI helps to pass on knowledge, expand skills and sustainably optimize sales. Events like this illustrate the potential of AI-supported training and how companies can benefit from it.

Curious now?

Our contact persons will be pleased to help you:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 (0)911 / 47 49 49 51
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

Digital sales tools and performance marketing with AI

Accelerating the sales of the future with AI and performance marketing

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2 Min.

The fact that the linking of sales work and AI tools is currently a hot topic was already evident from the lively participation in our first event and the feedback we received. This was more than just a good omen for a second event on the topic of “Accelerating digital sales with performance marketing and AI“, which was again held on October 9, 2024 in the co-working space “Oskar9” – and this time, too, with a high level of physical and mental participation. Achieving real progress in sales is always a highly relevant business topic, especially when the focus is on practice, as was the case here.

Successful kick-off event shows great interest

The combination of sales work and AI tools is currently a hotly debated topic, as the high level of participation and positive feedback at the first event showed. This response laid the foundation for a second event, which again focused on the topic of “Accelerating digital sales with performance marketing and AI”.

A real-life example was used to illustrate the sales activities of a manufacturer in the automotive industry with the use of performance marketing measures. The scope ranged from the acquisition of new customers via post and email to the design of search engine-optimized landing pages through to making appointments and sending out quotations.

Identify and use optimal sales channels

The decisive “competence” that performance marketing offers here is the identification of processes on the one hand and sales channels on the other, on which sales can develop optimally. Are we more likely to achieve our goal by using classic analog sales channels, or are social media channels, for example, particularly promising as a supplement or even as the main channel?

The subsequent discussion on the topic was equally focused on benefits and objectives. In particular, the additional AI tools that can be used today to enhance sales and increase turnover were discussed.

 

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be pleased to help you:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 (0)911 / 47 49 49 51
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

Matthias Brinkmann and Anton Dollmayer on their way to the annual meeting in Belgrade

Annual meeting 2024: ‘Rabbit Hole’ flying high!

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3 Min.

As reported, 2be_die markenmacher has been a proud member of the internationally operating ‘Rabbit Hole’ group of companies since mid-2024. Rabbit Hole is characterised by an extensive, IT-based service portfolio that relies on the expertise of highly specialised professionals.

Session at the Rabbit Hole Annual Meeting 2024

Within this network, we focus on our core competences in the areas of sales campaigns and brand development. Close networking within the group of companies enables us to optimise the development of our sales strategies and thus drive the success of our brand forward.

Dinner with a great selection at the annual meeting in Belgrade

Increase sales success and visibility

At our 2024 annual meeting in the Serbian metropolis of Belgrade, it became clear that the ‘Together we are stronger’ concept works extremely well! There is increasing demand for Rabbit Hole’s services, which underlines the consistently high quality. The integration of our sales and brand development services also contributed significantly to our success.

Matthias Brinkmann and Anton Dollmayer stand in front of an illuminated stone gate in Belgrade.

Participants of the Rabbit Hole Annual Meeting 2024 in Belgrade having dinner together.

Matthias Brinkmann from 2be was on site in Belgrade together with Anton Dollmaier from AD IT Systems GmbH to promote intensive dialogue with our co-specialists and provide new impetus for further development. Since our relatively recent membership, we have been able to participate in several major projects and obtain the best feedback from our clients, which has significantly strengthened our visibility and position in the market.

Close-up of a collector's pin showing a tower with hearts and flowers, as well as brochures from 2be_die markenmacher.

 

Development and optimism for the future

Rabbit Hole’s annual meeting, which took place from 19 to 22 September at the Mama Shelter Belgrade hotel, was a complete success. In addition to the ongoing development of the group of companies, which now has 255 employees, it provided ample opportunity for intensive dialogue with our co-specialists. As a small souvenir, each participant received a pin with famous Nuremberg sights, our home town. This exchange not only contributed to the further development of our own expertise, but also gave us plenty of optimism for future sales opportunities and joint brand development. We are ready to further expand our network and increase the visibility of Rabbit Hole and 2be_die markenmacher!

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be pleased to help you:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 (0)911 / 47 49 49 51
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn