My Visit to Serview Summit 2025: Great Vibes, But Best for German Speakers

Attending the Serview Summit 2025 was a unique experience — vibrant, packed with energy, and clearly tailored to the German-speaking ITSM and ESM community. As an English-speaking participant with only a faint memory of my long-ago German lessons, I found myself in a bit of a language gap. Some sessions were partially comprehensible, but the bulk of the event — from keynote presentations to breakout masterclasses — was conducted in German.

And that’s no accident. Serview Summit is unapologetically focused on the DACH region, catering directly to German customers and vendors. That local orientation permeated everything: the branding, the tone, the informal conversations, and even the humor. It wasn’t just a conference; it felt more like a festival of the German IT community — complete with side events, live entertainment, stand-up acts, and an atmosphere that leaned heavily into fun and networking.

While major ITSM vendors like TOPdesk and HaloITSM had a presence, this wasn’t a typical trade show where big names dominate the floor. Instead, the spotlight was more on creating a space where existing players in the DACH market could connect, learn, and celebrate their shared experiences.

One highlight for me was a standout masterclass led by the CEO of Matrix42. Despite the language barrier, his session was one of the few offered with more accessibility for international guests. He shared some compelling insights into the current state and future of the ITSM market. According to him, traditional IT Service Management is on a slow decline. The future? Enterprise Service Management (ESM). His perspective emphasized that customers are moving away from rigid metrics and focusing more on experience — they want services that feel successful, not just ones that check boxes.

That talk alone was worth attending. But it underscored something else: unless you’re already active in the DACH region or have strong connections within this community, your experience as a non-German-speaking attendee may be limited.

So, is Serview Summit worth the €1300+ ticket for international visitors?
In short: if you don’t speak German and don’t have existing ties in the region — probably not. It's a fantastic event if you're embedded in the local ecosystem, but for now, it remains a local event in spirit, language, and structure. Perhaps this will evolve in the future, and more inclusive options for international attendees will be introduced. Until then, consider it a niche summit — one that’s definitely fun, but only if you’re in the club.