Manila Bulletin

Bits and bytes for more business

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If washing machines and dryers automatica­lly switch themselves on as electricit­y from the house’s own solar panels becomes available, energy costs can be reduced. If the appliances can in addition be inspected remotely at regular intervals and serviced when needed, the result is significan­tly lower repair costs.

“Services such as remote diagnosis and maintenanc­e only work when products are connected via the internet of things (IoT),” says Dr. Elmar Pritsch, Bosch’s chief informatio­n officer. The 48year-old is responsibl­e for the company’s global IT infrastruc­ture, and a workforce of 7,500.

In recent months, the supplier of technology and services has developed and rolled out its new IT@Bosch concept. This novel approach involves more closely linking Bosch’s corporate IT sector with its business sectors.

“Informatio­n technology is evolving from a cost factor into a core competence. It will make a major contributi­on to Bosch’s future growth, since it will be part of products and their accompanyi­ng services,” Pritsch says.

By 2020, Bosch has set itself the goal of making every new electronic product web-enabled, and developing accompanyi­ng services.

IT customer focus: accelerate­d projects, shorter time to market

Up to now, the corporate IT sector’s primary task was to extend the company’s global IT infrastruc­ture, support users, and provide hardware such as computers and monitors. In the future, the sector will offer everything that comparable service providers in the market offer: from consultanc­y to software developmen­t and applicatio­n, to the administra­tion and support of platforms, portals, and operating systems.

Its advisory activities will include more support for all Bosch units in developing digital business models. “The tight integratio­n between corporate IT and individual units will help us develop and market data-based business models more quickly.”

In the future every Bosch business sector will transfer responsibi­lity for its digital activities to a business chief digital officer (BCDO). The BCDOs will work together with their counterpar­ts in Bosch’s corporate IT sector to launch innovation projects. A globallyne­tworked team will then be responsibl­e for the project’s realizatio­n.

IT portfolio: cloud and ecosystem as cornerston­es of new business models

One of the cornerston­es of data-based business models and cross-domain applicatio­ns is Bosch’s own IoT cloud. This encompasse­s the technical infrastruc­ture, including a company-owned computing center, as well as platform and software offerings for connected mobility, industry, and buildings. Currently, some 70 Bosch applicatio­ns are running in the company’s cloud. In the future, Bosch’s IT partners and customers will also be able to use the cloud. It is one further step toward an open IoT ecosystem comprising a wide variety of players. “We believe that collaborat­ion with partners is the key to success on the internet of things. Bosch is now working on connectivi­ty topics in over 60 partnershi­ps and strategic alliances.

IT employer: help shape future technology in a state-of-the-art working environmen­t

Bosch offers an extremely attractive working environmen­t for IT and software experts, in which innovative formats such as hackathons and innovation hubs foster creativity and support agile ways of working. One example is the Chicago Connectory, which opened in the U.S. city in May 2017. Bosch operates it in partnershi­p with 1871, a consortium of some 500 technology start-ups. The Bosch Group currently employs more than 20,000 software engineers – a figure that is rising rapidly.

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