# 360VIER is now part of the Friends Digital Group ## What this means for digital platforms and AI enablement It is now official: 360VIER has been part of the Friends Digital Group since 2026, a new owner-managed group of six specialized digital agencies. For you, this means: digital platforms and AI enablement as usual from us, backed by the appropriate depth for every adjacent discipline. For us, this is a new chapter. For you, it primarily means more possibilities without switching the brand you trust. In addition to us, the group includes Friendventure, Webmatch, Halbstark, adfriends, and inboundfriends—together over 150 people at six locations and more than 15 million euros in group revenue, owner-managed and independent, initiated by Friendventure founder Julian Hansmann. ### Why are six agencies joining forces? The structure follows clear logic. Not one agency that can do everything reasonably well, but six that are each deep in their discipline. For major projects, the group pools these competencies and a lead agency coordinates. For you, this means: enterprise projects that connect platform, data, AI, and sales run through one network instead of a dozen individual contracts. The timing is no coincidence. Precisely because AI is fundamentally changing the digital world, genuine specialization becomes more important. Anyone building digital platforms must consider this shift from the outset. The group responds with deep specialization instead of a one-stop shop that can do everything a little. It does not stop at six agencies: the Friends Digital Group is deliberately structured to continue growing. It is already in discussions with additional specialized agencies. ### What does the launch mean for digital platforms and AI enablement? 360VIER is responsible for platforms and AI within the group. The angle: a digital platform today is no longer just an interface for people. It must serve two audiences simultaneously. People who click, read, and buy. And machines that retrieve data, access interfaces, and process content. A platform for people and machines considers both from the start: clean data models, open APIs, and an architecture that is reliably read by AI systems as well. AI enablement is the second component. Many companies want to use AI but fail not because of the model, but because of the prerequisites. Data is scattered, systems are not connected, and no one knows which process is even worthwhile. Enablement means solving exactly that: making data accessible, connecting systems via interfaces, and deploying AI where it delivers real value. Not as a showcase project, but in daily operations. This platform and data logic has been proven across demanding environments. For organizations in education and public sectors such as RWTH, Hochschule Fresenius, and BIDT, for industry such as DEUTZ, and for energy and utilities with EWR and Mark-E, the group creates platforms that handle load, complexity, and data requirements. ### Why do most AI projects in companies fail? Almost every company has now launched an AI pilot project. Many remain stuck in pilot status. The reason rarely lies with the model and almost always with the prerequisites. Three patterns appear repeatedly. First: data is scattered, inconsistent, or simply not accessible, so the AI has no reliable foundation. Second: systems are not connected, so every solution remains an island without connection to the actual process. Third: there is no clear use case that delivers value, so the project ends as a demo and never enters operations. 360VIER addresses exactly these points. Before discussing models, the focus is on data quality, access, and interfaces. Only when the foundation is in place is AI deployed where it improves a measurable process. The advantage in the group context: an AI solution usually requires a platform, website, or commerce system as a connection point. These components sit within the same network, so enablement does not stop at the next system boundary. Just as important as the technology is operations. An AI solution only develops impact when people use it in daily work and when it is clear who maintains and develops it further. That is why 360VIER thinks of enablement not as a one-time project, but as a capability that remains in the company. This includes understandable processes, clean handovers, and systems that your team can operate even without specialized knowledge. ![](https://www.360vier.de/wp-content/uploads/friends-digital-group-1.webp) ### How do the six brands work together? Six brands, one partner. A platform is the foundation on which other disciplines build. That is why the appropriate specialists sit within the same group. [Friendventure](https://friendventure.de) builds AI-ready websites, SEO, and GEO. [Webmatch](https://webmatch.de) stands for data-driven e-commerce. [Halbstark](https://halbstark.de) delivers high-end brand commerce with Shopify and Webflow. [adfriends](https://www.adfriends.com) provides social and performance. [inboundfriends](https://www.inboundfriends.com) handles B2B growth with HubSpot. You can find the entire group at [friendsdigitalgroup.com](https://friendsdigitalgroup.com). ### What changes for your platform project? - **Platforms for people and machines.** Interface and data layer are designed together so that AI systems can also read your content cleanly. - **AI enablement instead of AI theater.** Focus on data, connectivity, and processes so that AI delivers real value in operations. - **Scalable architecture.** Systems that handle enterprise load, many editors, and growing data volumes. - **A network for major mandates.** Platform, commerce, website, and sales under one coordination instead of in separate projects. - **Open interfaces.** API-first approach so that your systems communicate with each other and with new tools. ### How do you make your company AI-ready? - **Clean up your data.** AI is only as good as the data beneath it. Clarify structure, access, and quality first. - **Think API-first.** Systems that communicate via interfaces are easier to extend with AI later. - **Find the concrete use case.** Start with a process that delivers measurable value instead of a lighthouse without impact. - **Build for two audiences.** Design the platform so that both people and machines can use it equally. - **Plan for operations.** A pilot is quickly built. What matters is that the solution runs stably in daily operations. ## Ready for a platform that grows with you? If your next platform or AI project needs to be sustainable, let us talk. Book an initial consultation with 360VIER. We will review your systems, your data, and your AI potential and get back to you within two business days. We look forward to shaping this new chapter together with you. What is the Friends Digital Group? An owner-managed digital agency group from Cologne launched in 2026 with over 150 employees, six locations, and more than 15 million euros in revenue. This includes 360VIER, Friendventure, Webmatch, Halbstark, adfriends, and inboundfriends. What is 360VIER's role in the group? 360VIER is responsible for digital platforms and AI enablement: platform architecture, data enablement, business systems, and the integration of AI into existing processes. What does platform for humans and machines mean? A platform that is not only an interface for users, but can also be reliably read and accessed by machines and AI systems through clean data and open APIs. Where does AI enablement begin? With the prerequisites, not the model. First, make data accessible and connect systems, then deploy AI where it delivers measurable benefits to the business. ![Hans Mengler](https://www.360vier.de/wp-content/uploads/hans-mengler-team-360vier.webp)## Which process in your company benefits from AI? Tell us about your daily operations. We will help you assess what your data can deliver and which process pays off first. Hans Mengler Managing Director [ Email to Hans ](mailto:beratung@360vier.de) [ Schedule an appointment ](https://www.360vier.de/en/inquiry/)