Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin (Hochschule) für Handel

To learn more about this profession, you can refer to information provided by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency), the film 'Handelsbetriebswirtschaft (grundständig)', and other informational resources such as 'Betriebswirt info: Wegweiser zum Betriebswirt'. Additionally, publications and platforms like 'BFuP - Betriebswirtschaftliche Forschung und Praxis', 'Der Betriebswirt', 'Dialogplattform Einzelhandel', 'Einzelhandel: Perspektiven für Arbeit und Beruf', 'etailment - Das Digital Commerce Magazine von Der Handel', 'Future Digital Job Skills. Die Zukunft kaufmännischer Berufe', 'Gipfel der Logistikweisen', 'handelsjournal', 'Management Review Quarterly', 'myFLexnet - Online-Plattform für die Aus- und Weiterbildung im Handel', and 'wiwi-online - Der Begleitfaden für Studium & Karriere' are available.

Hybrid selling is the new sales reality today. Digital channels play a central role in sales and marketing. Companies in the Business-to-Business (B2B) sector are increasingly contacting their customers via video conferences and online meetings. The use of voicebots, digital voice assistants, is also gaining importance. Sales and distribution professionals will increasingly focus on digital channels and their application possibilities in customer contact in the future. Curated Shopping e-commerce business models are increasingly focusing on individual and personal advice. In this system, online shops identify the preferences and ideas of their customers. Based on this, advisors, with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI), compile suitable products and send them to customers for viewing or trying on. The goal is to strengthen customer loyalty and increase sales.

The following interests are important and helpful for success in this Studium (university degree) profession. The interests are listed in order of their importance. Activities are mentioned for each area of interest for illustration. Interest in commercial-organizational activities, for example, evaluating the sales figures of individual branches or obtaining and comparing supplier offers. Interest in administrative-organizational activities, for example, documenting the success of trade partners in key performance indicator systems.

Business economists (Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin) in trade primarily work in offices and meeting rooms. Furthermore, they may also work in sales areas, at customer businesses, in a home office, or mobile.

Core competencies acquired or deepened during the Studium (university studies) include: Foreign trade, foreign trade law, business administration, controlling, purchasing, procurement, retail, export, financial management, wholesale, trade business administration, commercial law, import, calculation, cost and performance accounting, marketing, human resources, pricing, product configurators, assortment design, tax law, customs regulations, and customs clearance. Further competencies that may be significant for practicing this profession are: Bookkeeping, accounting, e-commerce, e-business, international marketing, customer consulting and support, warehouse management, logistics, market research, Omnichannel Retailing, online shop systems, statistics, sales promotion, contract law, sales, and sales management. The competency group 'Business Administration, Finance, and Controlling Software' is also relevant.

The advancing digitalization of the world of work and professions can change task areas and requirement profiles. For business economists (Betriebswirt/Betriebswirtin) in trade, the opportunity may arise to deal with the following technologies, procedures, or systems: Algorithmic Decision Making - ADM (e.g., setting sales prices with the help of ADM), Business Intelligence - BI (e.g., making operational and strategic decisions with the help of automatically analyzed data and the insights gained therefrom), Business Process Management Systems - BPM Systems (e.g., using software for analyzing and controlling business processes to increase efficiency), Chatbots (e.g., planning the use of chatbots in online retail), Curated Shopping (e.g., planning the use of virtual consulting services), Customer Data Platforms - CDP (e.g., developing marketing and sales concepts based on data from the CDP), Data-Driven Marketing (e.g., developing advertising strategies based on evaluated customer data).

Business economists in trade independently plan, organize, and control business processes. If they lead a team, they motivate their employees and coordinate their collaboration. For this, they need communication skills and assertiveness, and negotiation skills in customer discussions. They use their analytical and organizational skills, for example, when conducting sales analyses, creating plans to improve the automatic merchandise management system, or optimizing sales organization. When developing financing concepts, they think in business economic terms. Foreign language skills and intercultural competencies are required, for example, when collaborating with customers or suppliers from other countries. They mainly work in an office at a desk, but also travel for field service, for example, visiting trade branches, customers, and business partners domestically and abroad.

Business economists in trade can work freelance, for example, as a management consultant or with their own trading company.

Example collective bargaining gross basic remuneration (monthly): €5,301 to €6,091. Source: Collective Bargaining Register North Rhine-Westphalia. Note: This information is for orientation purposes. No claims can be derived from it. For current salary information, please check BERUFENET.

Wholesale trade, commercial agency; wholesale of food, beverages, and tobacco products; wholesale of consumer goods; wholesale of motor vehicle parts and accessories; wholesale of information and communication technology equipment; wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals, e.g., seeds or plants; wholesale of other machinery, equipment, and accessories; other wholesale trade, e.g., wholesale of mineral oil products, wood and wood products, or building materials; activities of wholesale agency of food, beverages, and tobacco products; activities of wholesale agency of agricultural raw materials, live animals, textile raw materials, and semi-finished goods; activities of wholesale agency of furniture, furnishings, and household goods, iron and metal goods; activities of wholesale agency of machinery, technical supplies, water and air vehicles; activities of wholesale agency of wood, building materials, and A.

Those who wish to work in this profession typically need a completed undergraduate Studium (bachelor's degree) in business administration for trade. Leadership positions or specialized tasks usually require a Masterstudium (master's degree). Activities in science and research often require a Promotion (doctorate) or Habilitation (post-doctoral qualification).

Business Administration for Trade (undergraduate); Business Administration for Trade (postgraduate)

Business economists in trade find employment, for example, in wholesale and retail companies, as well as in companies involved in trade mediation.

German job title: Business Economist (University of Applied Sciences) - Trade. English job titles: Retail manager (m/f), Wholesale manager (m/f). French job title: Commercial manager (m/f).

Some characteristics of work and social behavior, such as reliability, punctuality, honesty, ability to criticize, and appropriate manners, are relevant for all professions and are therefore not mentioned separately. Additionally, the following profession-specific characteristics are required to practice this academic profession: Willingness to perform and commitment (e.g., readiness to actively and enthusiastically take on commercial analysis, planning, and leadership tasks in trade companies), Perseverance / Goal-orientation (e.g., planning long-term investment projects such as automated merchandise management systems or electronic trade activities, and sticking to their implementation despite temporary setbacks or short-term changed priorities), Diligence (e.g., carefully controlling payment inflows and outflows), Sense of responsibility and willingness to take responsibility (e.g., taking responsibility for efficient and economic operations).

Business economists in trade plan, organize, and monitor the business activities of a trading company.

Job and applicant exchanges can be found on platforms such as handelsvertreter.de, Marketing-Stellenmarkt.de, PR-Journal, RetailChoice, salesjob, vertriebsjobs.de, W&V - Werben & Verkaufen Stellenmarkt.

Associations and organizations related to this profession include: Berufsgenossenschaft Handel und Warenlogistik (BGHW), Bundesverband Deutscher Volks- und Betriebswirte e.V. (bdvb), Bundesverband Großhandel, Außenhandel, Dienstleistungen e.V. (BGA), Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag (DIHK) e.V., Handelsverband Deutschland - HDE e.V., ver.di - Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft.

This profession involves responsibility for people (e.g., guiding, motivating, and leading employees) and for assets (e.g., continuously reviewing commercial activities and adjusting budgets to changing circumstances). Customer contact (e.g., serving key accounts), screen work (e.g., performing analysis, conception, and planning tasks), and office work (e.g., conducting employee interviews) are common.

Professional deployment opportunities are categorized by fields of activity: Controlling (Controller, Head of Controlling), Purchasing, Procurement (Purchaser, Global Sourcing Manager, Head of Purchasing), Finance and Accounting (Cost Analyst, Cost Accountant, Head of Finance and Accounting, Head of Cost Accounting), Warehouse, Materials Management, Logistics (Head of Warehouse Management, Head of Logistics, Demand Planner, Supply Chain Manager). They can also work in teaching at universities (Lecturer at Universities and Academies, Study Program Coordinator) and in Management, Corporate Leadership (Department Head, Commercial Operations Manager, Business Development Manager, Group/Team Leader, Head of Internal Services, Branch Manager), as well as Marketing, Advertising (Affiliate Manager).

Working materials include economic analyses, business plans, trade and marketing concepts, key performance indicators, annual financial reports, process and organizational plans, contracts, and statistics. Work tools typically consist of a PC, internet access, and a telephone.

Business economists in trade support economic decision-making processes in various functional areas. They conduct analyses, manage projects, and evaluate their success. In purchasing and procurement, they optimize order and delivery processes, or compare purchasing prices, quality, and punctuality of supplier companies. They contact suppliers, negotiate, and award contracts. In sales, they cultivate trade relationships, optimize trade concepts, develop marketing measures, and open up sales channels.

Continuing education for adaptation helps to keep professional knowledge current and adapt it to new developments (e.g., in wholesale and retail trade, controlling, marketing, commercial and corporate law). Furthermore, the trend of linking the online and offline worlds in trade via omnichannel sales can become an important further training topic for business economists in trade. The use of blockchain technology also offers further training potential.

Bachelor graduates can enhance their career opportunities through further studies, for example, in business administration for trade, international economics, or marketing and sales. A doctorate (Promotion) is generally required for an academic career at a university; for appointment as a university professor, a habilitation (postdoctoral qualification) is usually needed. A doctorate may also facilitate access to higher professional positions in the private sector, research, and public administration.

Business economists in trade analyze and evaluate commercial activities. They identify innovative and practical trade concepts and activities, for example, through competitor observation, and plan the strategic positioning of the company. They plan the integration of new concepts into internal and inter-company processes, such as fully automated merchandise management systems. They conduct business plans and profitability analyses for projects, estimating timelines, necessary budgets, and goals. They discuss concepts and adapt them if necessary. They accompany implementation processes in the individual functional areas, coordinate or co-supervise subtasks, and monitor interim goals, for example, in controlling, purchasing and procurement, or finance and accounting. They review trade activities and adjust them to circumstances, for instance, optimizing order and delivery processes, improving the dealer network or export program, and enhancing cooperation with trade partners. They monitor and record payment flows.

The following additional employment alternatives are available for the profession of Business Economist (Hochschule) in Trade: Activities in management, corporate leadership; Business Economist (Hochschule) for Corporate Management, Master of Business Administration, Business Economist (Hochschule) for Marketing, Business Economist (Hochschule) for Advertising, Marketing Communication, Business Economist (Hochschule) for International Economics, Business Economist (Hochschule) for Transport, Business Economist (Hochschule) for Service Management, Economist. Commonalities include: planning, monitoring, and organizing business processes; supporting economic decision-making processes; negotiating with business partners and customers. Note: The mentioned job alternatives may require a longer induction period or additional training.

Business economists in trade plan, organize, and monitor the business activities of a trading company. They assess whether a discount channel is interesting for their own trading company, if attractive expansion opportunities exist in e-business, or if the locally operating retail company should take additional measures to increase customer loyalty. Business economists in trade know their company and the competitive situation, and stay informed about innovative marketing concepts, new procurement channels, and advantageous distribution systems. This allows them to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of all available procurement and sales channels: Who is the most reliable supplier, who delivers the fastest and cheapest with consistent quality? Through customer surveys or the evaluation of customer complaints, they find out how to retain their customers to the company.

The following abilities, knowledge, and skills are required for performing possible activities in this Studium (university degree) profession. Abilities: Numerical (computational) thinking (e.g., creating financing plans; performing cost analyses; evaluating operational key figures), memory (e.g., memory for numbers and people), adaptability (e.g., quick and frequent switching between administrative tasks and customer conversations under time pressure), commercial aptitude (e.g., analyzing and evaluating trade activities), planning and organizing ability (e.g., creating sales plans; planning and organizing field service activities). Knowledge and Skills: Calculation skills (e.g., calculating order and delivery costs).

The exercise of this profession may entail the following physical requirements. These statements do not necessarily apply to every activity profile or every professional deployment possibility. Unimpaired speech ability (e.g., presenting sales concepts), near vision - even corrected (e.g., performing analysis, conception, and planning work on the computer), hearing ability and speech comprehension (e.g., conducting purchasing negotiations). Note: This information does not form a basis for legal action and should not be understood in the sense of a medical fitness assessment. Actual physical fitness or unfitness must always be determined on a case-by-case basis and considering possible reasonable accommodations.

The following lists professions or activities that show similarities to the initial profession. These professions represent a possible alternative for applicants who cannot find a vacant position in their learned profession. Furthermore, employers can consider specialists from these professions as alternatives for filling a job position in the initial profession. Some alternative professions only comprise partial activities of the initial profession, while others require an induction period, which can vary in length in individual cases. The following immediate employment and staffing alternatives are available for the profession of Business Economist (Hochschule) in Trade: For professional specializations (usually short induction): Business Economist (Hochschule) for Automotive Industry. For partial activities and professional deployment opportunities (with/without induction): Account Manager, District Manager, E-Commerce Manager, Branch Manager.

Working as a business administrator (Betriebswirt/in) in trade is not regulated. No professional recognition is necessary to work in this profession with a qualification acquired abroad. However, there is the possibility to apply for an individual certificate evaluation for foreign university degrees through the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB). This can be helpful for applications in the German labor market. Further information on living and working in Germany: Hotline Arbeiten und Leben in Deutschland - central information hotline of the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) and the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA); 'Für Menschen aus dem Ausland' - an information service of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit; Zentrale Auslands- und Fachvermittlung of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit; 'Make it in Germany' - the welcome portal of the skilled labor initiative for international skilled workers.

The following health limitations could lead to problems when performing this profession. This information does not necessarily apply to every activity profile or every professional application. Increasingly, there are also possibilities to compensate for limitations, for example, through technical aids. Examples include speech disorders (e.g., presenting sales concepts), uncorrectable near vision impairment (e.g., performing analysis, conception, and planning work on the computer), and hearing impairment (e.g., conducting purchasing negotiations). Please note: This information does not form a basis for legal action and should not be understood as a medical fitness assessment. The actual physical suitability or unsuitability must always be determined on a case-by-case basis and taking into account possible reasonable accommodations.

From an employer's perspective, the following alternative occupations are available for the profession of business administrator (Betriebswirt/in) in trade: Management and corporate leadership roles, Master of Business Administration (MBA), and business administrator (Betriebswirt/in (Hochschule)) for corporate management. Commonalities include: planning, monitoring, and organizing business processes; supporting economic decision-making processes; and negotiating with business partners and customers. Please note: The mentioned alternative occupations may require an induction period, which can vary in length on a case-by-case basis.