In today's digitally connected world, sovereign IT architectures are more important than ever: smart IT accelerates processes and synchronizes supply chains. The value of data is becoming increasingly clear and the call for digital sovereignty is growing louder. Partly due to the geopolitical situation, more and more companies in Germany and Europe are demanding sovereign cloud solutions. So-called data spaces offer another option for digital sovereignty. Catena-X shows how this works in the automotive industry. BMW Group is now expanding the data ecosystem for its suppliers worldwide.
Catena-X is a joint initiative of the German automotive industry that aims to create a data-driven, sovereign value creation network. The idea arose from the urgent need to share data securely and reliably along complex value chains without losing control of sensitive information. The data ecosystem is based on the European Gaia-X initiative. In 2019, representatives from politics, science, and business in France and Germany presented the project. The goal: a secure and networked data infrastructure for Europe's digital sovereignty. Long considered a flagship project, Catena-X is now becoming a reality.
The initiative brings together the expertise of numerous leading companies – from car manufacturers such as BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz to technology groups such as Siemens, Bosch, and SAP, and research institutes such as the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft. The goal is to integrate not only the German automotive industry into the digital ecosystem, but also other industries such as mechanical engineering as part of the Manufacturing X initiatives.
Data spaces such as Catena-X are revolutionizing the way companies handle information. They form a neutral, secure, and trustworthy platform on which data can be shared in a controlled manner—without central storage, but in peer-to-peer mode with finely graded access rights. This ensures the digital sovereignty of all parties involved and protects intellectual property.
Data spaces offer another advantage: standardization. The standardized, interoperable exchange of master data, certificates, quality information, and sustainability metrics makes processes more transparent, faster, and more cost-efficient. It is much easier to comply with current legal requirements: for example, with the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, or, recording the carbon footprint of a battery in an electric car from 2027.
And one more point: data spaces enable applications to process data automatically. In the future, more applications will exchange data than people. This opens up new business models for start-ups and established companies: they can offer innovative value-added services based directly on the data in the ecosystem – whether in production, logistics, or for end consumers.
BMW Group recognized the strategic importance of Catena-X early on and, as a founding member, is actively involved in building this value-added network. Oliver Ganser, Vice President of Digitalization in Purchasing and Supplier Network at the BMW Group, describes Catena-X as a “radically new approach to collaboration” that not only optimizes processes in terms of sustainability and quality, but also enables cost savings. The platform provides the technical infrastructure to exchange data securely, efficiently, and transparently, which is a decisive advantage in times of global supply chain issues challenges.
A critical success factor for the introduction of data spaces is the involvement of all stakeholders – this is where the partnership with T-Systems comes in. As a certified implementation partner, T-Systems support BMW Group suppliers worldwide on their journey to Catena-X. This ranges from initial consultations and the selection of suitable applications to complete implementation and ongoing support. Supported by T-Systems, it is ensured that all stakeholders, even those with limited resources are able to reap the benefits of the data ecosystem.
Data spaces have arrived – and Catena-X is a prime example of this breakthrough in the industry. The BMW Group and its partners are demonstrating how a sovereign, open, and secure data ecosystem is making the automotive industry fit for the digital future. Data spaces not only enable more efficient and transparent production, but also create a basis for innovative business models and sustainable value creation – benefiting the automotive industry, as well as many other industries.
