Guest Article in HARTING Tec News Edition 33 by Hans-Joachim Köppen, Technical Leader Internet of Things and Industrie 4.0, IBM

1. PARTNERSHIPS
ARE THE KEY
TO SUCCESS
Hans-Joachim Köppen,
Technical Leader Internet of Things and Industrie 4.0, IBM
INDUSTRIE4.0

2. anymore. Therefore, trustworthy, strong
partnerships are becoming a matter of
survival. The motto reads: share knowl-
edge, experiences and ideas. This applies
to large corporations as well as to medi-
um-sized and smaller organizations.
We, IBM, are ready to invest in the
IoT as well as the related ecosys-
tems and partnerships. About three
billion dollars are currently flow-
ing into the topic. This also includes
our global Watson IoT Headquarters
in Munich, which was opened at the begin-
ning of the year. Its primary goal is to work
with partners to further explore the techni-
cal and economic potential of the Internet
of Things (IoT). The Watson IoT Center is
thus our key platform for partners, start-
ups, universities and customers to devel-
op innovative solutions for our customers
together with our experts. In addition, the
official launch of a global innovation eco-
system took place in Munich. In this glob-
al ecosystem, we also bring together the
research, design and development teams
from our partners and customers with our
own engineers, architects and consultants
with the intention to explore the potential
for transformation through cognitive IoT
technologies.
In addition, we offer a broad product and
Cloud portfolio designed to get Industrie 4.0
projects up and running – with significant
success. Our Cloud business is experienc-
ing high growth rates, and in June 2017 our
Internet-of-Things platform was rated the
world's leading IoT platform by industrial
analyst IDC, among others in terms of its
integration capability and the large variety
of functionality.
Partnership on equal terms also links us to
HARTING. This involves the joint develop-
ment of innovative solutions, the sharing
of knowledge and the exploration of new
business ideas. I am certain of one thing:
together we are stronger! In this spirit, I
look forward to the next milestones of our
successful collaboration.
Industrie 4.0 stands for the digitisation
of manufacturing companies. On the one
hand, this is made possible thanks to the
exponential development of appropriate
digitisation solutions. On the other, it is
required by the markets: more and more
customers are demanding customised
products with smart features or new, digi-
tally supported services. Industrie 4.0 can
do just that: it makes companies more
flexible and fosters innovation, but also ne-
cessitates cooperation in order to do so.
Consequently, this development requires
the formation of appropriate ecosystems,
which are organised via digital platforms.
It is only these systems which enable an
efficient division of labour, the participa-
tion of customers and cooperative efforts
with partners across industries. It is only
on this basis that individualised products
can be produced up to lot size 1 at mass
production cost levels.
Companies must therefore be open and
ready to enter into new partnerships,
share their value chains and know-how,
and to break apart silos and tradition-
al organisational structures. Why is
this necessary? The implementation of
Industrie 4.0 projects is complex. It re-
quires industry-wide industrial and tech-
nology expertise, as well as creativity,
courage and determination in the face of
new concepts. All this, combined with the
desire to change, to risk and to invest. To-
day, no single company can do this alone
tec.news 33 | STRATEGY
10|11
Exchange platform for universities,
start-ups, partners and customers:
the Watson IoT Center in Munich
Trustworthy,
strong partnerships
are becoming a matter
of survival.