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鈥淲e really need to have stable and standardized processes鈥攖hat鈥檚 where the value is,鈥� PowerCo CIO Andreas Eckle said.

鈥淎ll of our factories rely on the same processes…to make sure we have the same quality and the same output,鈥� he added. Implementation milestones will continue to guide PowerCo, according to Eckle. They will also help PowerCo bring new factories online relatively quickly.

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鈥淧owerCo will develop and produce battery cells for the VW Group in best quality, in large numbers,鈥� Andreas Eckle, CIO of PowerCo SE, told the audience during a live session at Hannover Messe trade fair. 鈥淭he gigafactories are set up to a standard factory design.鈥� This ensures the same processes, the same equipment, and the same workflows at all its locations, he explained.

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Three Gigafactories from Scratch

鈥淐onstruction is in full swing at the first standard factory in Salzgitter, Germany, only about 70 kilometers from Hannover. It serves as a blueprint for all PowerCo鈥檚 gigafactories,鈥� Eckle said. Cell production in Germany will start in 2025; Valencia, Spain, and St. Thomas, Canada, will follow soon. In future, the Salzgitter plant is to reach an annual capacity of up to 40 GWh鈥攅nough for about 500,000 electric vehicles. The three gigafactories in Europe and North America will have a total volume of up to 200 GWh.

Eckle pointed out that producing battery cells is a completely new business for Volkswagen. 鈥淚t is not manufacturing cars anymore; it is chemistry. We go all the way from mining to the complete cell and recycling,鈥� he said. At the same time, cell production is a very relevant topic for sustainability, so PowerCo has to make sure that the complete supply chain is committed to Volkswagen鈥檚 sustainability standards. The company鈥檚 scope will include new business models based around reusing discarded car batteries and recycling the valuable raw materials they contain.

The battery cell manufacturer started from scratch: 24 months ago, not only the factory had to be built but the staff for the startup company had to be recruited, too. Now there are about 1,500 employees in different areas, from research and development to operations, and they are the basis for building the company. The same applied to the IT landscape: it first had to be set up.

Standards Accelerate Implementation

Eckle said: 鈥淲e have a very high demand that we need to satisfy for electric vehicles, and from our understanding this will only work if we have the right standards in place.鈥� Stephan Fester, Global Battery Best Practice lead at 麻豆原创, who was on stage with Eckle, agreed: 鈥淲ithout standards you will never have the performance you need to set up a factory at this scale in no time.鈥� Fester described how 麻豆原创 and PowerCo connected in 2022 and defined a project scope for the first phase in only two days.

In 2023, the project team set up an system and realized three go-lives. They began with the processes that a startup typically needs at once: 鈥淭he first initiative was to manage and spend money and recruit, employ, and manage people,鈥� Fester said. He told the audience that it was around March or April when the project partners heard of the big opening ceremony that was planned for the go-live of PowerCo.

With that hard deadline in mind, they started with the accelerated deployment service for recruiting, onboarding, and workforce management with 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors solutions. 鈥淣ormally this takes 12 weeks,鈥� Fester recalled. 鈥淭he 麻豆原创 team said it normally takes at least eight weeks, but PowerCo challenged us with a time frame of only five weeks!鈥欌�� This was a good example, he explained, of how a standard can accelerate implementation. They also set up material accounting, financial closing, and vendor invoice management.

鈥淎nother very important factor for success was that we as 麻豆原创 wrote the concept according to our understanding of the requirements. PowerCo carried out a review and confirmed it,鈥� Fester explained. 鈥淲e didn’t ask PowerCo what it wanted, because it couldn’t specify that at the time. We understood the business and designed and implemented it based on our experience.鈥�

Synchronize Business and IT Planning

In June 2023, the project team delivered the first version of logistics management. Fester explained the concept: 鈥淲e synchronized the setup plan of the factory with the IT plan. If we know the first truck will arrive at the factory at a certain day, that means the capabilities to manage the truck and the material handling need to be available prior to that.鈥�

Enhanced logistics were implemented in November, like in-warehouse processes, batch management, and returnable packaging management. At the beginning of 2024, integrated business planning went live, and more logistics processes were implemented. The next phase is already planned and set-up with product lifecycle management and other systems.

Fully Operational in Six Months

鈥淲e set up a cloud ERP system in less than six months, fully operational,鈥� Fester said. PowerCo CIO Eckle added that this timeline only worked out because critical defects were resolved quickly and effectively in task force mode. The success of the 麻豆原创 S/4HANA implementation project is also shown by the 麻豆原创 Quality Award PowerCo received in 2024. 鈥淲e are proud of what we have achieved,鈥� Eckle concluded, 鈥渂ut we still have a long way to go. The Salzgitter factory opening is the first major milestone, with two other openings following.鈥�

PowerCo is now well positioned for future business development. The current cloud ERP system serves as the central foundation for cell production. It will also support future business models like recycling of battery cells and the energy storage system business.

As longtime partners, 麻豆原创 and Mercedes-Benz have a history of shared knowledge for mutual competitive advantage. The fleet management program is grounded in the companies鈥� similar business philosophies and product road maps. 

Mercedes-Benz has committed to move the company鈥檚 B2B business to 100% digital and plans to sell 25% of all new cars online by 2025. The company selected to help support this mission. It will create a future-proof composable commerce portfolio designed to reliably power the company鈥檚 digital strategy, including a standardized offering across different markets. It will also simplify processes and reduce time-to-market.

Benefits of Digitalized Fleet Management

From the 麻豆原创 employee鈥檚 perspective, ordering a company EV couldn鈥檛 be simpler. Instead of time-consuming manual research and back and forth communication with the car dealer, employees can use to order the EV they want directly from the Mercedes-Benz online catalog. They can choose the features they want, such as car make and model, color, and equipment packages, within 麻豆原创鈥檚 pre-set guidelines.

鈥淭he car configurator automates the EV selection process end-to-end, eliminating manual steps and saving time while providing the employee with a highly personalized experience,鈥� said Steffen Krautwasser, head of 麻豆原创鈥檚 global car fleet. 鈥淎utomating the approval process assures data consistency and eliminates the need for manual quality checks.鈥� 

There鈥檚 a tremendous convenience factor in captured EV data as well. In one pilot program for select EVs in 麻豆原创鈥檚 fleet, the digital twin will automatically track mileage. Drivers will no longer need to manually enter mileage every time they recharge, and 麻豆原创 can use this data to better manage the fleet.

Connected Data Drives Sustainable Business

Once ordered, EVs are tracked as assets in 麻豆原创鈥檚 financial system. After delivery, creates a digital twin that can capture relevant, secure data across the EV鈥檚 lifetime. 麻豆原创鈥檚 fleet management team can track CO2 emissions based on green energy usage, mileage, and the number of vehicles on the road. Krautwasser envisioned reporting this data to support the company鈥檚 global sustainability commitments.

鈥淧erformance data from the EV digital twin can help corporate fleet managers guide employees in choosing the best vehicle for their driving needs,鈥� said Krautwasser. 鈥淥ver time, drivers can better understand travel ranges between charges.鈥� 

Data is expected to help address so-called range anxiety, alerting EV drivers when their vehicle needs a charge and, most important, where to recharge. Mercedes-Benz is investing in charging infrastructure to create an ecosystem that would be integrated with public and private charge point providers in the U.S., China, and Europe.

The partnership also reflects a shared commitment to sustainability. Mercedes-Benz has committed to become carbon neutral by 2038, and transition to 100% electric vehicles by 2030 wherever possible. 麻豆原创 is transitioning the company鈥檚 vehicle fleet for employees in Germany to all EVs by 2025 as part of its corporate commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Omnichannel Is Fastest Path to Customer Love

The digital experience is extremely important for customers who expect convenience and quality. Organizations in many industries have shifted to an omnichannel strategy that offers people their preferred experience, whether online or in-person, building brand loyalty and repeat business.

鈥淲e want to provide a seamless journey for employees as they research, select, purchase, and enjoy their vehicle,鈥� said Krautwasser. 鈥淭he most exciting part of our EV fleet management strategy is how we can use our knowledge to enhance the employee experience. Through data and digital services, we can get closer to our employees and act quickly based on their feedback, making improvements and introducing new offerings that keep us on top of trends and support 麻豆原创鈥檚 sustainability commitment.鈥�

EVs represent a profound business model shift for the entire automotive supply chain as automakers sell direct to customers, provide digital services from vehicle data, and explore new revenue opportunities. It鈥檚 clear that Mercedes-Benz and 麻豆原创 are going the distance for a sustainable and satisfying driving experience.

Susan Galer is a communications director at 麻豆原创. Follow her @smgaler.
Top photo courtesy of 麻豆原创 employee Jude Calvin Parong.

Throughout Croatia, some businesses are venturing to a first in the European Union: offering customers . But this 鈥渃harge while you wait鈥� initiative isn’t just about attracting new customers 鈥� it’s about integrating eco-friendly practices into daily routines for a more sustainable future.

According to Ivica Bla啪evi膰, CEO and founder of CEV Technologies d.o.o., 鈥淲hile automakers promise a more-electric future, people are interested in EVs only if they reduce fuel costs, offer convenience in refueling, enhance driving experiences, and demonstrate significant environmental contributions. This latest addition to the customer experience proves how businesses across various industries can play a pivotal role in delivering that vision.鈥�

Greening the Customer Experience with E-Mobility

The transition to a low-carbon economy presents an opportunity for Croatia to enhance citizens’ lives by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and investing significantly in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. The country also emphasizes energy efficiency in buildings and industries, implementing regulations to curtail energy consumption.

One initiative gaining traction thanks to Croatia鈥檚 growing desire to offer charging stations is sustainable transportation. By encouraging electric vehicle usage while advancing public transport initiatives to reduce fossil fuel dependency, the country can better align with European Union directives and foster a greener economy that champions people, businesses, and communities.

麻豆原创 partner , a rapidly growing international charge point operator and e-mobility service provider, aims to support these initiatives. The company offers bespoke e-mobility and smart energy solutions, intending to assist customers in leveraging EV charging solutions and green energy more effectively.

For sustainability-focused countries like Croatia, CEV Technologies sees enormous promise in developing solutions for many industries, including retail, hospitality, and fleet management. And it wants to apply its deep expertise in EV charging technology to create innovative e-mobility features. To realize this aim, CEV Technologies cemented strategic business relationships to help co-create smooth, intelligent, and automated charging experiences.

鈥淚n our partnership with 麻豆原创, we develop innovative and intelligent charging experiences for our customers. The focus is on integrating the charging process with individual business models to establish value-creating, end-to-end scenarios,鈥� Bla啪evi膰 explains.

To realize the potential of convenient charging within the customer experience, CEV Technologies implemented the AI-enabled capabilities of the  solution. It can support various scenarios for vehicle charging network construction, management, billing, and reimbursement. In addition, the solution helps optimize renewable energy production through greater transparency into costs, the charging process, and network usage.

But even more stunning is the opportunity to overcome one of the most significant challenges in the e-mobility market: simplifying the payment process at charging stations. Often, this involved a convoluted process requiring membership in exclusive charging networks, managing prepaid accounts, or navigating multiple apps. Now, CEV Technologies is at charging stations. This innovative move streamlines the charging and paying process, eliminating the obstacles to pushing e-mobility closer to a user-friendly, universally adaptable experience.

In return, achieving public, private, and commercial sustainability goals is within reach. Companies can develop, integrate, and adapt business models that address all types of customer needs and sustainability expectations with outcomes including:

• Speeding up onboarding of charging stations by three times through the use of templates
• 30% less effort when setting up relevant infrastructure, including back-end systems
• 20% faster ramp-up of charging stations

For Croatians, these benefits of e-mobility could bring more value to their everyday lives. Take, for example, a typical commute home from work. The navigation system of an EV can route you toward a charging station in a familiar location and effortlessly reserve it through a loyalty platform.

Plugging your EV into the charging point, you initiate the charging process on your phone and decide to capitalize on offers for a complimentary coffee and other exclusive in-store promotions. After checkout, you receive a comprehensive e-mail overview of your charging session and shopping experience and a free charging voucher for a future purchase.

While this customer experience epitomizes the harmonious fusion of technology and convenience, it also shows how a collective dedication to creating a greener, more connected future can positively impact individuals, communities, a nation, and even the world. And more important, the appeal of a straight-forward payment method that is reminiscent of traditional fueling stations might have an even more far-reaching impact on potential drivers’ willingness to adopt electric vehicles.

Aligning Businesses with Societal Stewardship

Croatia is striding more confidently toward a low-carbon economy as EV charging services become more integrated with the customer experience. Thanks to a country鈥檚 vision and CEV Technologies鈥� innovative solutions, companies across all industries can join this eco-shift by offering products along with an integrated sustainable lifestyle.

Korbinian Koblitz is business development lead for Automotive at 麻豆原创.

A decade ago, when electric vehicles were still a buzzword in the market, 麻豆原创 Labs India launched a Green Car policy. Launched in 2011, the policy offered a subsidy for employees purchasing electric vehicles. Employees were provided charging stations across the Bengaluru campus along with convenient parking spaces.

In 2014, 麻豆原创 Labs India took the first major step in implementing the use of EVs by transitioning to electric-powered cabs for employees working in shifts. In 2022, 95% of the fleet used for employees working on shifts were electric vehicles. Approximately 4,000 employees use the shift shuttle services every month. 鈥淭he goal is to transition to a 95% green commute by the end of 2023. This includes using both electric vehicles and vehicles running on compressed natural gas (CNG) for all modes of transport provided across all lines of businesses in all 麻豆原创 Labs India entities,鈥� said Sudhakar Reddy, head of Intelligent Operations at 麻豆原创 Labs India.

Today, the 麻豆原创 Labs India Bengaluru campus houses 65 EV charging stations. In addition to powering the in-house cabs, these slow, medium, and fast chargers also encourage employees to make responsible choices and thereby help create a cleaner environment. 麻豆原创 Labs India also purchased a new self-driving electric vehicle with official sustainability branding for all internal cab services, including cabs for guests and expats.

In addition to the above initiatives, 麻豆原创 Labs India has partnered with , a micro-mobility solution that provides sustainable first- and last-mile connectivity for 麻豆原创 employees who rely on public transportation. , a leading Indian electric vehicle manufacturer and 麻豆原创 customer, provides additional discounts to employees of 麻豆原创 Labs India. 麻豆原创 Labs India worked with Ather Energy on a three-day drive at the Bengaluru campus where employees got first-hand experience test driving electric scooters. The initiative aimed to spread awareness among 麻豆原创 employees about the use of electric vehicles. Ather will be conducting this drive across other 麻豆原创 Labs India campuses as well.

In February, the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz visited the 麻豆原创 Labs India Bengaluru campus. During the visit, the chancellor experienced demonstrations across various fields such as digitalization, sustainability, digital supply chain, and e-mobility. An engaging, live, end-to-end demo of the solution was also presented to the delegates.

麻豆原创 E-Mobility can enable companies and governments to manage charging infrastructure networks to drive the transition to sustainable electric mobility. Srinivasa Raghavachar, senior director and head of Automotive Industry Cloud Product Management at 麻豆原创 Labs India, said, 鈥淲e firmly believe that our solution plays a vital role in decarbonizing the transport sector and creating a cleaner and more sustainable future for everyone.鈥�

The electric vehicle revolution will have an overall positive influence on our society. Embracing this revolution will not only help us mitigate the current environmental crisis but will also stimulate future-focused technological innovations.

Whether it鈥檚 streaming services, cell phones, or robotic lawn mowers, today鈥檚 consumers are more than happy to enjoy the convenience of buying high-tech products and services online. In a matter of mouse-clicks, they can configure a product and select whether to buy, lease, or subscribe 鈥� depending on their personal preferences.

But things are very different when it comes to buying a new car. A found that three out of four consumers still prefer to purchase from an authorized vehicle dealership. Yet it also revealed that there was a growing appreciation of the benefits of virtual purchase processes. Consumers would like to see buying a new car become like buying a new cell phone.

鈥淥ur assumption is that there will always be people who visit physical dealerships to 鈥渇eel鈥� a car and test-drive it,鈥� explains Bj枚rn Schick, CXO and member of the executive board of smart聽Europe. 鈥淏ut it won鈥檛 be long before they become the minority and more people start configuring and ordering their cars online 鈥� in just a few quick steps.鈥�

Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Vehicle Sales Are Booming

How soon that happens, Schick says, will depend hugely on whether suitably attractive offers are available. Increasingly, customers are willing to sign contracts online if they can obtain a favorable short-term lease or subscription deal on transparent terms. They then have a tendency to be more adventurous in their choice of car model and color.

鈥淭hey鈥檒l quite deliberately opt for a sportier model, maybe, or bright yellow paintwork,鈥� says Schick. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 because the focus is not on the vehicle鈥檚 resale value when the contract ends, but on the customer鈥檚 preferences.鈥�

Many of today鈥檚 market players 鈥� both established and new 鈥� are well aware of the business opportunities behind this change in consumer habits. They are muscling their way into online channels to claim their share of the rapidly growing D2C vehicle market. Alongside electric car pioneer Tesla, brands including NIO and Polestar are showing the way 鈥� and automakers across the world are following their lead.

Direct Sales on a Single E-Commerce Platform

smart Europe also sees strong prospects for its own new-vehicle business here and is aligning its entire company infrastructure accordingly. smart Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of smart Automobile Co., Ltd., a joint venture established in 2019 between iconic German vehicle manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, which transferred its smart brand to the partnership, and Chinese automaker Geely. The aim of the joint venture is to offer all-electric smart models on a new e-commerce platform for climate-conscious, city-dwelling consumers for whom the online world is second nature.

鈥淥ur business model is based on direct business with consumers, whom we address through an omnichannel approach so that we can sell our cars virtually and physically on a single platform,鈥� explains Schick.

Car dealerships play their part in this business model too. 鈥淲e see them as a key element in our sales strategy,鈥� says Schick. 鈥淭heir role is changing, but it鈥檚 just as important as before. As a newly formed company, we鈥檝e got the chance to reinvent and recalibrate our dealership model.鈥� Dealers will no longer own vehicles themselves and sell them, but will serve as brand ambassadors for (joint) customers at the physical retail touchpoint and as sales and service partners. They will arrange test drives, hand vehicles over to their new owners, and invite customers to events targeted at particular client segments. In short: car dealerships as we know them today will no longer function chiefly as sales outlets, but as agencies that showcase the brand.

麻豆原创 Commerce Cloud as the Process Backbone for smart Europe

The foundation for this innovative style of cooperation is smart鈥檚 new e-commerce platform, which can be accessed not only by smart Europe employees and dealers but, for example, by repair shops as well. They can each see the data the customer has given its consent for them to access. The new platform will become operational at the end of 2022, coinciding with the launch of the first new smart #1.

Central to the platform is , on which all of smart Europe鈥檚 e-commerce transactions will run, from product configuration to payment. 鈥溌槎乖� Commerce Cloud lets us map all the country-specific tax and legal requirements so that we can manage all the processes for our business across Europe on a single platform,鈥� explains Schick.

Coupled with 麻豆原创 Customer Data Cloud, 麻豆原创 Commerce Cloud also plays a key role in delivering hyper-personalized content on the front end because, when the two solutions are integrated, they push relevant data for a given set of parameters by country and customer segment. This means that, on the new e-commerce platform, someone who is sporty, adventurous, and has an eye for design will see different content and journeys than, say, someone with a different psychographic profile, such as an 鈥渋nformation seeker.鈥�

Accurate and Secure Consent Management Built In

麻豆原创 Customer Data Cloud and 麻豆原创 Commerce Cloud form the backbone for authenticating and verifying customers and for managing customer consent. The 麻豆原创 Customer Identity and Access Management solutions help ensure that all customer consent statements relating to being contacted or to personal data being processed are handled accurately and securely and 鈥� most importantly 鈥� in compliance with GDPR (the EU General Data Protection Regulation).

The major advantage of 麻豆原创 Customer Data Cloud is that it records all customer data centrally, including conventional data like the personal 鈥渟mart ID鈥� that identifies any smart customer at any touchpoint and relevant product data as well. The digital key is an example of how this data can be used: owners of an all-electric smart can opt for a digital key to operate their car and can even share the key with friends via an app. The vehicle-locking mechanism, consent to the transfer of data, and so on are managed on the central platform.

鈥淭his shows that the new platform is much more than a marketing and sales tool,鈥� says Schick. 鈥淚t is practically part of the product.鈥�

Enhanced 360-Degree View Supports New Business Models

More product data comes from the 麻豆原创 Digital Vehicle Hub application, which serves as the digital twin of any smart car. The application contains not only technical data about a vehicle, but also provides insight into wearing parts that need replacing and about driver behavior. Connecting these two layers, customer data and product data 鈥� each of which allows a panoramic view of their object 鈥� creates 360-degree visibility into both the customer and their vehicle. This in turn opens the door to scores of new digital services, product enhancements, and personalized customer offerings.

鈥淗aving opportunities like this on the horizon makes working with 麻豆原创 particularly compelling,鈥� says Schick. 鈥淲e鈥檙e on an innovation journey, interacting closely with 麻豆原创 on what else the solutions might be able to do in the future.鈥� smart Europe鈥檚 aim is to deliver on its vision of becoming an urban companion for its target market 鈥� for all of their vehicle-related service needs.

鈥淥ur motto is 鈥榯ry, learn, adjust, repeat!鈥欌�� says Schick. 鈥淲ith that in mind, we鈥檒l keep moving steadily along the road to our destination 鈥� but always be ready to change lanes if we need to.鈥�

Top image courtesy of smart Europe.

Imagine streets populated with electric vehicles (EV) and gas stations replaced by EV charging stations at shopping centers and grocery stores. Mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) dominates the transportation landscape, offering鈥痷sers the most affordable, sustainable, and efficient way to get around. Some cars are self-driving and interconnected, talking to each other and sharing their location and next moves.鈥疻hat鈥檚 more, many cars are connected with the ability to send and receive all types of users鈥� data.

To realize this new reality, change will happen quickly, and regulations will only accelerate this transition. In Europe, a package of legislative proposals, 鈥�,鈥� aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. It includes a policy that requires a 55% reduction of average emissions in new cars by 2030 and a 100% reduction by 2035. In the United States, President Biden set a bold goal that EVs make up at least 50% of all vehicles sold by 2030. Since he took office, automakers announced investments of more than in EV manufacturing and $48 billion in battery production in the U.S. alone.

Add consumer sentiment to the equation 鈥� of global car buyers are looking for an EV 鈥� and it鈥檚 no surprise that carmakers, suppliers, and dealerships recognize the need for dynamic and continuous innovation to be profitable and sustainable.

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In a world of disrupted supply chains, new market participants, digitized factories, and a growing demand from regulators and consumers for sustainable vehicles, automotive businesses are embracing the following five trends to stay competitive.

1. Shifting Gears to Electric

A massive shift to vehicle electrification will require efficient and scalable EV charging infrastructure, ideally on one platform with seamless integration into existing business systems used by automakers, suppliers, and dealerships. It will also change supply chains and the role of parts suppliers as they shift from providing components needed for internal combustion engines to those needed for EVs. To prepare for vehicle electrification, automakers and suppliers can leverage the power of technology to manage charge point infrastructure and interact along the mobility value chain in the cloud to support collaborative, end-to-end business models and processes.

麻豆原创 customer provided the first intelligent, multi-socket charging solution for EVs. It allows multiple electric cars to charge simultaneously. The solution helped ChargeX lower time spent on daily charge-point operations and improve customer satisfaction with intuitive user interface and straightforward, automated processes.

2. Making Cars Smarter

Cars are the next smartphones. As consumers increasingly expect more from their vehicles, automobile manufacturers must find ways to continually enhance vehicle intelligence and connectivity.

Even in the 2020s, software reshapes how drivers interact with their cars. Automation has taken over braking, climate control, cruise control, entertainment, and more. Routine software updates bring drivers continuous improvements,鈥痑dding safety features, better performance, and greater efficiency.

Fully autonomous driving, currently in its infancy, continues to learn and will soon鈥痓ecome a common feature. Like vehicle electrification, regulatory requirements and consumer behavior inspire companies to develop innovative solutions that push the boundaries of automotive capabilities.

One company, , uses flexible and scalable manufacturing solutions from 麻豆原创 to build its fully autonomous, purpose-built vehicle fleet.

3. Considering Mobility-as-a-Service

An uptick in technology-powered smart cities 鈥� spurred by our response to the effects of climate change 鈥� will force auto manufacturers and suppliers to rethink their business models. Communities will reimagine fundamental public services, including transportation, encouraging citizens to swap their vehicles for public and shared transportation services.鈥疘n fact, by 2030, the shared mobility market is expected to exceed .

Mobility-as-a-service platforms offer users an integrated package of transportation options accessible through a single payment channel. These implementations will play a fundamental role in solving urban challenges, reducing congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and accessibility constraints. Car manufacturers and suppliers can rethink and innovate their product offerings through this modality.

Take the robotaxi by . Passengers request a ride from this driverless taxicab via their smartphones. Zoox robotaxis go up to 75 miles per hour, revolutionizing ridesharing. The application provides the backbone for the robotaxi production.

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4. Prioritizing Operational Resilience聽

Amid the evolving automotive landscape, automakers and suppliers must ensure resilient supply chains are in place to meet changing demand, including increasing requests for EV components, while combating battery and chip shortages. The disruption caused by COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine highlighted the threat external events can have on automotive industry operations. Technology will play an even more critical role in enabling businesses to respond to potential supply chain disruptions.

Real-time tracking and analysis can better forecast supply and demand, fostering a more agile and resilient supply chain. As a result, carmakers, suppliers, and dealerships can respond to the unexpected as soon as it happens, make better inventory management decisions, and reduce waste.

Electric motorcycle company and German multinational manufacturer of EVs and motorcycles BMW teamed up with 麻豆原创 to succeed in the new world of mobility. With real-time information, detailed insights on performance, and analytics to improve decision-making across the manufacturing value chain, Zero Motorcycles and BMW can achieve operational resilience while pushing the boundaries of innovation.

5. Embracing Digital Retail

Due to consumer behavior change accelerated by the pandemic, the automobile industry recognizes the urgent need to adopt a digital-first, omnichannel sales strategy. Car buyers and sellers have started turning to contactless car buying and online dealerships. And even as the world recovers from COVID-19, vehicle retailers see automotive e-commerce searches reaching an as many customers now prefer digital retail experiences for sales, trade-ins, and services.

麻豆原创 partner makes it easier for importers, dealerships, and service locations to adopt digital retail options, optimizing end-to-end sales and service processes. With innovative products for 麻豆原创 S/4HANA, dealerships and service locations can continue to drive sales, deliver services, and meet shifting customer expectations.

Above All: Collaboration Is Key for Future Success

The automotive industry faces enormous challenges. Despite competition in the automotive industry, automakers and suppliers gain critical value through collaboration, particularly in such a dynamic environment for innovation. Catena-X 鈥� as front-runner for the automotive industry 鈥� aims to bring all business partners, including multi-tier suppliers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), or recycling service providers, into one network to help ensure an open, secure, and interoperable data exchange along the value chain. The transparency of data helps participants gain visibility into the complete material flow of a product life cycle, from 鈥渃radle to grave.鈥� Utilizing information available in shared digital twins improves decision making for end-of-life vehicles, thus useful parts can be circulated back for refurbishment or reuse and valuable raw materials can be recycled in a more effective way. With , 麻豆原创 can provide software and network services to Catena-X and the automotive industry at large.

Learn how you can 听飞丑颈濒别 that are ready to meet the road ahead with industry cloud solutions from 麻豆原创.

Hagen Heubach is global vice president of Automotive Industry Business Unit at 麻豆原创.
Kelly Cannon is head of Industry Thought Leadership at 麻豆原创.

California faced one of its worst ever September heat waves, burdening its electric system as demand for air conditioning skyrocketed. Government officials asked residents to reduce their use of anything electric 鈥� from mixers to televisions 鈥� to avoid another of the state鈥檚 infamous rolling blackouts.

Attention turned to electric vehicles (EVs) and their use of power as a major energy-sucking culprit. Some argued that was incorrect, as EVs account for less than one percent of the state鈥檚 electricity demand. Additionally, electric cars can give back power to the grid.

麻豆原创’s Take

鈥淔rom a power perspective, you can consider an EV as a large battery, which can input, store and output energy,鈥� said Matthew Sell, 麻豆原创 chief analyst, competitive and market intelligence. 鈥淭he output could also include power back to the grid. So, in that sense, they can give back power.鈥�

The overriding benefit of EVs for the power is using them as a tool to smooth out power consumption throughout the day.

For example, during non-peak periods, an EV battery can be charged, and in peak periods the battery can send energy to the grid. This benefit to the power utility can be passed onto the consumer and the EV owner.

鈥淭he biggest constraint for adoption of EVs is infrastructure, namely the charging points,鈥� Sell said. 鈥淢aking these more accessible for all parking locations will help with adoption and ease range anxiety鈥� issues,鈥� he said, referring to the fear that an electric car won鈥檛 make it to the next charging station.

But that could soon be drastically mitigated. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced the approval of $900 million to build electric vehicle charging stations in 35 states.

Congress has set aside about $5 billion to be given out to states over the next five years for an EV charging network across the country. Biden鈥檚 goal is to make up to 50% of all vehicles sold in the U.S. electric by 2030.

鈥淏ut electric vehicles are only a part of a larger technological revolution going on in the electric power industry,鈥� said Amar Sindhwad, 麻豆原创 market research analyst.

鈥淥ver time, with infusion of IT technologies 鈥� Big Data, AI, etcetera 鈥� electric grids can become intelligent,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hrough the cloud, we can preempt such a scenario. We can bring in multiple domains of data — weather patterns data, consumption of power, etcetera — from business and personal life to build scenarios of what might be and then what needs to be done for each scenario.鈥�

There currently is technology even closer at hand that will allow EV owners to trade the power they generate. For example, there are some use cases that allow people to swap power right through Apple Pay, making power as digitized as cash. Aan individual needing 20 units of power can use an iPhone to locate another EV user with 20 to spare.

鈥淭he grid is becoming intelligent,鈥� Sindhwad said. 鈥淔rom my car I can give you 20 units of power that you can consume right through a localized grid.鈥�

Contact:
Ilaina Jonas, Senior Director of Global Public Relations, 麻豆原创
+1 (646) 923-2834, ilaina.jonas@sap.com

鈥淲hen people are thinking about buying an electric vehicle, they usually start by asking two questions,鈥� says 麻豆原创 E-Mobility Specialist . 鈥淭he first is, 鈥楢re there enough charging stations near my home and on my route to work?鈥� And the second is, 鈥楬ow many other EV drivers will I be competing with for charging capacity?鈥欌��

We know that the number of EVs on the roads is set to rise. So, being able to optimize charging processes so that energy can be consumed at off-peak times, when it is cheapest, will become increasingly important.

鈥淭he infrastructure we have right now is not nearly equal to meeting future demand,鈥� says Wagner. 鈥淎t the same time, here in Germany, we are wasting 6,500 gigawatt hours of renewable energy every year because we fail to balance energy supply with demand.鈥�

鈥淐ustomers tend not to think about the impact that charging a large number of electric vehicles all at the same time has on the power grid,鈥� says , managing director of coneva GmbH. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e looking for a simple, affordable solution they can implement quickly to manage their charging capacity across multiple locations.鈥�

The integration of 麻豆原创 E-Mobility with coneva鈥檚 dynamic load management capabilities has created a smart, hardware-agnostic solution that can help customers charge their e-fleets more efficiently and cut their costs at the same time.

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Optimized EV Charging with coneva and 麻豆原创 E-Mobility

鈥淥ur parent company, SMA, has a long history of success in energy management and has always focused very closely on sustainability, winning multiple awards in this field,鈥� says Schneider. For example, at its headquarters in Kassel, Germany, SMA uses some of the electricity it generates through photovoltaic systems mounted on the rooftops of its parking garages to charge its e-fleet.

coneva spun off from SMA in 2018 to focus on e-mobility as distinct from its parent company鈥檚 core photovoltaic system business. coneva鈥檚 dynamic load management software for EV charging is modular, allowing it to be adapted to the configuration of the building and location in which a charging station will operate. Determining the optimum charging process involves a range of factors, including the number of vehicles to be charged, their order of priority, the time of day charging takes place, and the current price of renewable energy in the power grid.

鈥淐lients who use our dynamic load management system not only save money and energy,鈥� explains Schneider. 鈥淭hey can also control and manage the power they consume from the grid.鈥�

麻豆原创 E-Mobility: The Starting Point for Local Load Management

麻豆原创鈥檚 own work on e-mobility has been moving in this direction for quite some time. Particularly now that the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic have eased a little and more people are traveling to the office again, companies are often seeing demand for energy peak shortly after the morning commute.

鈥淲e noticed this ourselves at 麻豆原创 Portugal, for example, where employees have embraced electric vehicles in a big way,鈥� says , vice president and chief product manager, 麻豆原创 E-Mobility. 鈥淲hen people began returning to the office and more EVs were being charged, the distribution board in the parking garage was unable to cope with the increased demand. The fuses blew and the vehicles could no longer be charged.鈥�

As a result, 麻豆原创 Portugal has now joined Italy and Austria as one of the first subsidiaries to deploy 麻豆原创 E-Mobility, including 麻豆原创鈥檚 own charging optimization processes. Integrating 麻豆原创 Concur solutions and with 麻豆原创 S/4HANA Cloud as its backbone, 麻豆原创 E-Mobility also supports the reimbursement of employees for the cost of charging their company cars at home 鈥� using 麻豆原创鈥檚 own finance processes.

In 麻豆原创鈥檚 integration project with coneva, 麻豆原创 E-Mobility onboarded the charging stations, managed them as a backend process, and handled the charging data, while coneva鈥檚 software provided the connection with the local power grid.

鈥淟ooking further ahead, 麻豆原创 plans to offer an end-to-end process platform built around 麻豆原创 E-Mobility and other 麻豆原创 solutions to enable public charging as well,鈥� says Scholl. 鈥淲e are currently integrating the main roaming providers,鈥� he adds. Here, the focus is on automated B2B billing between charge point operators (CPOs) and EV charging network providers. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where most of the manual effort on the provider side still is right now, and it鈥檚 also traditionally one of 麻豆原创鈥檚 strengths.鈥�

Competitors offer similar capabilities. These start with the charging points and aim to link them to the underlying business processes. 麻豆原创 took the opposite approach. Scholl explains: 鈥淲e already have both the process landscape and the required tax and legal expertise in different regions. 麻豆原创 E-Mobility will be a global solution that offers customers much more than the purely CPO solutions that dominate the market today.鈥�

The approach of dovetailing different industry cloud solutions from 麻豆原创 has proven especially beneficial for customers that wish to move to the cloud. 鈥淚n this particular case, it enables us to deliver added value that goes way beyond meeting a customer鈥檚 charging requirements, and it expands our addressable market,鈥� says Scholl.

麻豆原创鈥檚 partner ecosystem is a major plus point too, he says. Built up over decades, it helps 麻豆原创 refine its products and offerings for customers and continually adapt them to the latest requirements. 鈥淭raditionally, 麻豆原创 has always worked with a wide range of different partners 鈥� for software, hardware, and services. E-mobility is a field in which this rich diversity has a real impact and is proving highly beneficial for the entire ecosystem.鈥�

鈥淪MA is a long-standing 麻豆原创 customer,鈥� says Jochen Schneider. 鈥淎nd we at coneva see our collaboration with 麻豆原创 as a logical and future-oriented alliance. Going live with our joint solution within just a few months last year was a very impressive achievement.鈥�

The Future

This joint solution also covers scenarios in which private individuals can make their charging stations available to their neighbors and even feed surplus self-generated energy 鈥� from photovoltaic systems, for example 鈥� into the grid.

鈥淥ur vision is to offer SaaS services that will strengthen local energy markets in particular,鈥� says Schneider. 鈥淲e see that as a basic requirement for accelerating the transition to renewable energy. E-mobility and the vehicle-to-grid concept are both key to making that happen.鈥�

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G), or bidirectional, charging is a crucial field of innovation, and it may not be long before vehicle batteries are used to store energy and release it again later when it is needed for other purposes.

鈥淐ombining e-mobility and renewable energy in this way could be a game changer 鈥� particularly in remote parts of the world that still rely on supplies of fossil fuels but could use wind and solar energy,鈥� explains Wagner.

Scholl and his team at 麻豆原创 are currently also involved in a research project in which they are working with partners including , Europe鈥檚 largest center for innovation and business creation, on a solution scenario that provides insights into the mix of energy used to charge vehicles. 鈥淭his will enable consumers to charge their vehicles at times of the day when the maximum proportion of renewable energy is available 鈥� that is, when they can be sure that the electricity they use comes from a photovoltaic system and not from a coal-fired power station,鈥� says Scholl. 鈥淐onsumers will demand this level of transparency in the future.鈥�

In this country, the is expected to fund significant spend on electric vehicle charging stations. Manufacturers worldwide, especially startups, are full speed ahead, bolstered by recent investments totaling US$72 billion in the United States and $50 billion in Asia according to .

EVs Shake Up Supply Chain Status Quo

EVs are much more than a sustainable fuel alternative. They鈥檙e steering the entire automotive ecosystem towards an innovative, technology-driven business model. EV startups are jumping on advanced technologies that circumvent traditional models to reinvent internal and external supply chains. One example is , a North American EV manufacturer that鈥檚 digitalizing operations from finance through services to drive the company鈥檚 aggressive growth plans. You may have heard about the company鈥檚 flagship vehicle, the single-seat EV called the . Designed for a single occupant, it offers a unique driving experience for the environmentally conscious consumer. I caught up with Jim Gwynn, director of Information Systems at ElectraMeccanica, when he spoke at the event about how this three-wheeled vehicle will revolutionize the urban driving experience including commuting, delivery, and shared mobility.

鈥淭he unique two-door, single-passenger design offers drivers agility and safety, as they can enter and exit from either door, making it ideal for activities like pizza deliveries, security, and parking enforcement,鈥� said Gwynn. 鈥淭o meet current strong demand for our SOLO vehicles, and manage our rapid growth for years to come, we needed an enterprise-class ERP system that connects information company-wide for a digital-first experience that鈥檚 highly scalable, functional, and regulatory compliant.鈥�

Digital Unites Global Operations to Meet Market Demand

No one is more thrilled with ElectraMeccanica鈥檚 transformation from startup to fully operational OEM than the company鈥檚 retail and fleet customers now taking EV deliveries. Digitalization has been central to this important transition. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with international production, assembly, and testing facilities, ElectraMeccanica selected RISE with 麻豆原创 to build its . The vision is to connect everything from product design, supply chain planning, and production, to sales and after-market care.

鈥淲e needed an ERP system that would grow with our business,鈥� said Gwynn. 鈥淲e selected 麻豆原创 because it鈥檚 a complete solution that will allow customers to reserve and procure vehicles online and help us directly connect market demand with strategic planning, bringing that into the ERP system with and . The vehicle management system means we will have full traceability of our EVs and the components inside throughout the product life cycle. Equally important, 麻豆原创 solutions have broad acceptance in the automotive OEM market.鈥�

Business Results from Intelligent Data Sharing

ElectraMeccanica is building an assembly and engineering center in the U.S., and Gwynn expected further cloud-based digitalization like warehouse management that will include vehicle inspection facilities at the new plant and beyond. As far as he鈥檚 concerned, there鈥檚 no time to lose.

鈥淪peed is critical in bringing these innovations across our business so that we can anticipate and respond to what our customers want,鈥� said Gwynn. 鈥淗aving digital representation for all our core business processes allows us to share valuable data between sales and operations, making us more informed for stronger decision-making and business resilience.鈥�

Digital-first operations have already generated business results. Automating mundane processes has eliminated repetitive work, allowing employees to spend more time on value-add activities such as order intake and vehicle allocation. With a simplified employee experience, people can collaborate more easily across the company鈥檚 expanding geographical locations for increased productivity.

As EVs disrupt the entire automotive industry, new market entrants like ElectraMeccanica are front and center, creating a historic opportunity to reinvent mobility. Digitalization helps connect information between ecosystem participants 鈥� government regulators, manufacturers, consumers, and others 鈥� to deliver on the promise of a more sustainable world. SOLO is an apt name for ElectraMeccanica鈥檚 innovative EV, but the truth is, we鈥檙e all in this together.

Follow me @smgaler.