TI CEO Podcast · episode 72
Demanding means developing – why demanding customers make us better
1-minute summary
In this episode, Christoph Standl talks about an intensive conversation with a hotel client, from which he draws the idea that demanding means developing. He explains that alongside valuable feedback, challenging new requirements had emerged, something he says every entrepreneur recognizes. Standl stresses that Tourismus Interaktiv holds high standards for its products, aiming for world-class quality, which means being willing to tackle difficult and sometimes tedious demands. He found it especially positive that the conversation included not only criticism but also strong praise, confirming they are on the right track. He notes the importance of prioritizing, since not every client wish can be implemented immediately or benefits the whole platform, but careful listening and understanding remain essential. Looking back over twelve years, he says the most demanding projects were often the ones that taught the most. With the newly released platform version 2.0, the company is again entering such a valuable learning phase.
Description
Demanding also means developing. This thought became especially clear to me after an intense, one-hour conversation with one of our hotel customers.
We received very positive feedback on our developments at Tourismus Interaktiv – but we also took away numerous new requirements and challenges. And that is exactly where I see a great opportunity.
Because if we aspire to one day offer software solutions on a world-class level, we must also be willing to engage with difficult customer requests. Not every requirement can be fulfilled immediately, and not every wish automatically makes sense for the entire platform. But every serious piece of feedback can help us become better.
Especially after the launch of our new platform version 2.0, it becomes clear how important the dialogue with our customers is. They experience our solutions in daily use and recognize potential for improvement that we might overlook from our own perspective.
In this episode, I talk about why demanding customers can sometimes be exhausting, but at the same time incredibly valuable – and why true top performance never arises without challenges.
My thought of the day: Those who want to achieve world-class results must be willing to be measured against high standards.
🎙️ CEO Diary #72 📅 November 10, 2026 💡 Topics: customer feedback, entrepreneurship, product development, quality standards and continuous improvement