October 2016 – As part of its "Mobility for tomorrow" strategy, Schaeffler is digitizing its entire organisation. With IBM as its strategic partner, Schaeffler is creating a digital platform for processing large amounts of data, generating valuable insight to transform its operations. From October 2016 the resulting Schaeffler Cloud will be available for the first user cases and applications.

The global automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler has chosen IBM as its strategic partner for its digital transformation. IBM will act as the technology provider, consultant and development partner for a digital ecosystem to support Schaeffler in the integration of its mechatronic components, systems and machines into the rapidly expanding world of the "Internet of Things" (IoT), as well as implementing market ready new business models based on digital services. As a first milestone the two companies have built a digital platform for all of Schaeffler's added-value digital services from October this year.

Schaeffler is working closely with IBM to develop innovative solutions for Schaeffler’s own transformation and for customers using design thinking and agile development methodologies. An open, digital ecosystem is being built to form an environment in which Schaeffler can work smoothly with its customers and partners, with the digital platform as the technical foundation.

“We are constantly working to offer significant added value for our customers. Our aim is to connect data from across products and processes. Using analytics we turn this primary data into valuable insight which is used to increase the efficiency of our operations and develop innovative services for our customers. We are very pleased to have found the ideal partner with IBM," said Prof Peter Gutzmer, Deputy CEO and Chief Technology Officer of Schaeffler AG.

Gerhard Baum, Chief Digital Officer of Schaeffler, commented on the company's approach for digital transformation: "We are concentrating on expanding the integration of sensors into our existing products as well as developing new products with integrated cognitive software. Not only will the machines and transport infrastructure within the production environment at Schaeffler be connected, but individual plants will also be digitally linked to the whole supply chain. At Schaeffler, we want to digitally optimize processes and procedures as well as create new service-oriented processes, and thus drive the digital interaction between people and IT systems."

The joint implementation of Schaeffler’s digital agenda is the perfect fit to leverage and promote our new cognitive IoT capabilities for the manufacturing sector," said Ivo Koerner, Board Member Sales, IBM Germany. The base will be a global, hybrid cloud infrastructure using IBM’s application platform “Bluemix" with Watson IoT to create differentiating applications and mobile apps for the Internet of Things.