Lichtwart: Smart building control for retail and industry

The landmark of Cologne is undoubtedly the cathedral. But the cityscape of the Rhine metropolis also includes a building that towers over the world-famous cathedral by more than 100 meters: the Colonius.  If you drive through Cologne in the evening, you can see the 266-meter-high radio tower with its three glowing Telekom logos from afar. Since September 2024, the letters have been illuminating using new energy-saving LED technology. And since October 2025, the approximately 5,000 LED modules have been monitored by an intelligent service platform. The Herford-based company Lichtwart has equipped the system with its latest control device developed by Deutsche Telekom.

The solution does more than just report when an LED element fails. It has a globally patented Brand Failure Detection System: If part of the logo is defective and, for example, the "T" suddenly becomes an "I", the system automatically switches off the entire signage. In this way, Lichtwart prevents reputational damage before passers-by or the media notice the defect. At the same time, the responsible technician receives a message with precise fault information. The dynamic lighting control also automatically adjusts the brightness to the ambient light, dims it when darkness sets in and brightens it again in the morning. This saves up to 50 percent of energy at night.  

Lichtwart began in 2020 as a subsidiary of the medium-sized company Bertelmann, which has designed and installed around 2,000 illuminated advertising systems throughout Germany. For example,  Berliner Bogen in Hamburg, the Priwall marina near Travemünde and the Wildparkstadion in Karlsruhe have been equipped with the smart lighting control. But the founders Johannes Mailänder and Gregor Giataganas had more in mind from the beginning: an automated service platform that connects buildings to technicians. The new hardware has been ready since June 2024 - and Lichtwart has significantly expanded its range. The platform now covers four functional areas: Lighting Management, Condition Monitoring, Energy Monitoring and Easy Building Automation.

Successful examples from different industries show how versatile the platform is: At petrol stations, for example, Lichtwart not only controls the lighting of the tank field, price mast and advertising systems but also monitors leak detection systems, air conditioning systems, compressors and fuel pumps. Motion detectors ensure that lamps in the dispensing area only light up at 30 percent power at night and only switch to full brightness when a vehicle approaches – saving 40 to 50 percent of energy costs. 

"Another problem that is quite common is that employees turn down the air conditioning to 18 degrees in summer and at the same time open the automatic door for fresh air," says Lichtwart CEO Giataganas. "The air conditioner is running at full speed, electricity consumption is skyrocketing, and after a few hours the employees put on a jacket because it has become too cold." Lichtwart prevents such scenarios with temperature sensors inside and outside the building, as well as a door contact. The system can automatically turn off the air conditioner when the door is open or intelligently regulate the temperature.

The added value is also evident when it comes to electricity meters: If a compressor runs unnecessarily all night, the system detects the anomaly and sends an alarm. "A tenant once reported an additional charge of 12,000 euros because the heating of the car wash accidentally ran for several months," says Giataganas. The possibility of remotely acknowledging emergency stop switches is also helpful. At automatic petrol stations, a triggered emergency stop often leads to a half-day sales stop – with a corresponding loss of revenue. With Lichtwart, on-site personnel or technicians can check whether there is a real danger and reset the switch remotely if necessary. This significantly reduces downtime and secures sales. "Lichtwart's system enables us to support our petrol station team remotely," says Nico Arndt, Head of Technology at petrol station operator Oktan. "Checking the tank technology, restarts and troubleshooting error messages are one of the most common topics at stations. We save on journeys and thus avoid unwanted downtime." 

The heart of the solution is the new Lichtwart module. The smart device is connected to the Cloud of Things, Telekom's IoT platform, via an Industry LTE SIM. Networking via mobile connectivity offers decisive advantages: Installation is simple and does not require complex cabling. Sensors and existing building systems can be integrated via standard interfaces such as DALI and Modbus. Updates are carried out over-the-air (FOTA) without the need for a technician to be on site. Thanks to LTE connectivity, technicians can also access the system remotely to troubleshoot faults, perform adjust settings or implement new features.  

Operators control and monitor all locations via a central web interface. On an interactive online map, they can see at a glance which properties are operating normally and where there are anomalies. "We connect buildings with technicians," says co-founder Mailänder. "From light to energy monitoring: We are the eyes, ears and extended arm of the specialists. Thanks to the transparency, technicians always have the right tool and spare part with them. This significantly reduces the device downtime."

The Lichtwart solution is aimed at small and medium-sized commercial properties with several locations. In addition to petrol stations, the target groups include car dealerships, supermarkets, DIY stores and the illuminated signage industry. The focus is on retrofit solutions for existing buildings, as most properties already have building technology that can be intelligently retrofitted with Lichtwart. The electricians connect the module, after which the configuration takes place online in a few minutes – without days of on site programming or time-consuming training. If required, Lichtwart supports the initial installation or takes over the complete rollout for customers with many locations.

A plus point for Lichtwart in the internationalization of its solution: Deutsche Telekom's global mobile network, which is based on its own networks and roaming agreements with more than 600 partners, guarantees secure connectivity worldwide – without having to negotiate new contracts with local providers in every market. In addition to Germany, Lichtwart is already active in Austria, Denmark and Sweden. Switzerland will follow soon, and the first demo installations are underway in the United States. 

"Fighting waste is what drives us." – Gregor Giataganas, Founder and CEO Lichtwart GmbH 

In Sweden, Lichtwart works with Modulex, a leading Scandinavian signage company driven by sustainability and innovation. Modulex collaborates with global brands, leading property owners, architects and designers, with a strong focus on responsible and conscious visual communication. "In Sweden, the topics of reducing light pollution and CO2 footprint are very present," says Mailänder. At the end of 2026, the EU regulations on lighting will also come into force in Germany, which is intended to protect flora, fauna and people from light emissions. The regulation limits illuminance, light colour and upward radiation. "Fighting waste is what drives us," says Giataganas. "Because sustainability also brings economic advantages: saving energy costs, avoiding unnecessary journeys, and detecting increased electricity or water consumption at an early stage." This is confirmed by Jill-Kaja Steinbrügge, Head of Sustainability at petrol station operator Lother: "We save energy and reduce light emissions at the same time. In short, sustainability that pays off and that we can report on as part of CSRD and ESG reporting."