In order to support businesses on their digitization journey, Deutsche Telekom joined forces in 2017 to launch the DIGITAL X digitization initiative. We connect large corporations, SMEs, start-ups, policymakers and leading experts through a shared community – to support sustainable digitization and make Europe more competitive. The concept for DIGITAL X 2021, however, had to be different - no isolated exhibition hall in which we build artificial scenarios that are then disposed of. Rather, it took place where real life pulsates and happens: right in the heart of Cologne, Germany. We have located partners, stages, network areas and innovations in such a way that a varied DIGITAL X experience took place on an area of 2 million square meters. A business festival in 4 quarters for more than 20,000 visitors - with 5 stages, more than 100 partner locations and decentralized entertainment acts.

With DIGITAL X 2021 we had a strong vision to revolutionize the congress and event market. With a new concept that brings people together in their natural environment: restaurants, cafes, bars, theaters, etc. to join Europe´s largest Businessfestival live in Cologne.

In times of the Covid crisis, a vision that has raised many questions. How to bring more than 20.000 people together - live?

3 months later the vision became reality: more than 20.000 participants joined DIGITAL X 2021 live on an area of 2 million square meters, 5 stages with nearly 300 Topspeaker, 100 locations, Entertainment acts, Food markets etc.

The result: outstanding press feedback. Talk of Germany - and Europe. The world exhibition of digitization. DIGITAL X 2021 was defining topic on LinkedIn, in online- and specialist magazines and in the tabloid media. DIGITAL X 2021 dared to do something that no one previously previously thought was possible.

The DIGITAL X community thrives on active exchange throughout the year. In addition to the more than 40,000 users of the DIGITAL X platform - www.digital.x.eu - we reach our target groups in special B2B digitization groups on LinkedIn.

From this community, we focus on special channels in the direction of implementation, which we actively promote. These include: Trade magazines, such as the "Handelsblatt" or "Wirtschaftswoche".

Due to the ongoing pandemic situation and the cancellation of the DIGITAL X live events in 2020, we have set our goals for 2021 very high.

We wanted to bring together at least 15,000 visitors live in Cologne, and thus achieve at least the order volume of the event in 2019. We have more than exceeded the very high targets we set ourselves - despite various imponderables due to the ongoing Covid 19 situation.

At DIGITAL X in Cologne, the familiar stages have been found in the hotspots in each district (hotels, restaurants, co-working spaces, ‘design factories’, etc.):

From the Stadtgarten, the Colonius, Friesenviertel, to the Belgian Quarter, the world exhibition of digitization stretched through the entire inner city of Cologne, Germany. We were consciously breaking with old structures and located our partners, stages, networking areas and innovations in such a way that we were able to create varied and vibrant DIGITAL X experience spaces in each district – these were not artificial worlds imposed on their surroundings, but rather authentic locations that are integrated in each district. Visitors could easily and flexibly move from district to district by e-scooter, bus or rickshaw.

To round off the entire guest flow, the connections between the individual quarters were lined with entertainment highlights, digital innovations and outstanding installations.

On the two days of DIGITAL X 2021, Telekom alone placed orders with a total volume of €100,000,000. This does not include the order sums of the more than 100 partners.

The reach of DIGITAL X in traditional media such as press, TV, radio and online was 46,300,000. 12,000,000 more contacts were reached via social media channels.

In addition to the more than 20,000 live visitors on site, almost 160,000 enthusiastic viewers followed DIGITAL X via the livestream provided.