Bosch inks strategic innovation partnership with Software AG

Robert Bosch GmbH has entered into a strategic innovation partnership with Software AG to develop new joint services and solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0.

Furthermore, both companies today agreed to collaborate on sales activities in order to extend Bosch’s IoT cloud user base. Partners and customers in manufacturing, logistics and retail will reap the benefits of Industry 4.0 and the rapidly growing IoT market through the partnership.

According to Dr Volkmar Denner, chairman of the Board of Management at Robert Bosch GmbH, said: “As technology partners, we will be able to offer our customers innovative solutions with the Bosch IoT Cloud even faster and more efficiently than before.”

Karl-Heinz Streibich, Software AG’s CEO, added, “Our objective is to optimally combine the comprehensive expertise of Bosch as an innovation leader with our software know-how in the cloud market. With this step, we are also strengthening Germany as a technology hub with the goal of expanding its global leadership in IoT and Industry 4.0.”

The partnership is based on a joint agile innovation cycle with design-thinking methods to address the new requirements of IoT solutions and deliver relevant target-oriented functionality quickly.

Core Objective: Development of Predictive Analytics Tools

Software AG’s leading digital business platform will be a highly scalable component of the Bosch IoT cloud with modules for real-time data analytics and decision making. The ability to process, analyse and visualise decision-critical data in real time is essential in data-intensive IoT solutions. The availability of predictive analytics tools, which can be realised with Software AG’s Digital Business Platform, is also a core objective of this partnership.

In addition, Bosch will employ Software AG’s in-memory data storage and processing solutions to enable real-time assessment. The scalability of the Bosch IoT cloud is a key element in offering an open ecosystem for many different partners and users. Software AG’s universal messaging integration module — already in use at Bosch — ensures the seamless integration and smooth operation of all components. It guarantees that the entire IoT ecosystem can communicate in real time via the Bosch IoT cloud.

Bosch says it is the only company in the world actively addressing all three levels of the Internets of Things. The company offers key integration technologies such as sensors and software while also developing new services based on those technologies. The technology and services supplier runs different applications in the Bosch IoT Cloud for connected mobility, connected industry and connected home and buildings.

Smart solutions for manufacturing and logistics

For customers and partners of both companies, the strategic partnership means easier and faster development, use and marketing of new IoT services based on the Bosch IoT cloud. The primary benefits for customers and partners are the ongoing functional enhancement of the platform and the development of new IoT solutions, which ultimately leads to a stronger competitive advantage. Manufacturing, logistics and retail are three key sectors which will particularly benefit from future IoT solutions.

Real-time data analytics using environmental sensors and risk assessment systems coupled with predictive analytics tools provide the foundation and make supply, production and logistics processes faster, more efficient and more secure. Smart IoT solutions give the necessary information edge and proactively help prevent inefficiencies in value chains. With a combination of real-time analytics sensors and components, the two companies have developed a joint application, for example, that reduces the need for testing in the manufacturing sector. Based on sensor data, the decision can be made whether or not a part should undergo an additional quality assurance testing process.