Strong partner network as a success factor for Schaeffler OPTIME

Development in the partner network combines leading technologies and decisive expertise in the condition monitoring solution OPTIME
Effort and costs for users minimized, quality of information maximized
Short development time to market readiness
German-Finnish cooperation created an excellent ecosystem for IoT application

The basic idea of spinning a network of partners who bring different core competencies to product development is by no means new. In recent years, against the background of digitalization in industry and the great goal of Industry 4.0, this approach has been repeatedly proclaimed as decisive for future business success. With a very short development time until it is ready for the market and a product that combines the best technologies currently available and crucial Schaeffler know-how, Schaeffler - a global automotive and industrial supplier - and its partner network have proven that they are Approach provides measurable added value for the customer: With the condition monitoring solution OPTIME, condition monitoring costs only a few cents per measuring point and day.

“We have broken new ground with almost all of the activities related to OPTIME. Our German and Finnish teams have used new skills, new methods and new technologies to create a completely new solution together with an entire partner network, ”explains Rauli Hantikainen, Head of the Strategic Business Area Industry 4.0.

Well positioned
The expansion of the service portfolio was supposed to overcome very specific hurdles that still stood in the way of a large-scale application of condition monitoring: effort and costs were to be minimized, the quality of the information maximized. In order to meet this requirement for the overall solution, Schaeffler set up an Industrial IoT Solution Center in Jyv?skyl?, Finland, at the beginning of 2019, recruited a large number of new employees on site and started discussions with potential development partners. The result was a network of German and Finnish Schaeffler teams with in-depth condition monitoring, application and analytics know-how, which together with Finnish IoT technology partners formed an excellent ecosystem for the common task. Within a few weeks they were able to present a first functional prototype and with this rapid success aroused great trust and confidence in all those involved in the project.

The goal firmly in sight
The management of the network is a great challenge and at the same time a decisive success factor for joint development with other companies: coordination rounds at the right time and with the relevant parties, quick and binding decisions on how to proceed, flexibility in the event of unexpected interim results. In the agile development process of OPTIME Schaeffler's clear focus was always on the added value of the customer. Teppo Hemi?, CEO of Wirepas, a leading company in the field of IoT connectivity and a close partner of Schaeffler, explains: “Schaeffler set the bar high from the start and defined high standards for wireless data transmission: low energy consumption, scalability and reliability in industrial use. Thanks to the cooperation with Wirepas and the other Finnish partners who are experienced in working with each other, Schaeffler was able to focus on its core competencies in order to differentiate itself from the competition ”.

The competencies of the partners
"Leading technologies and outstanding expertise are bundled in the partner network," says Richard Haagensen, Partner Ecosystem Manager and OPTIME Program Manager. Wirepas specializes in software development for connectivity in the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) based on its unique Meshnet technology. Wapice is bringing its award-winning software to the Schaeffler IoT platform and is also developing Schaeffler-specific OPTIME applications for the platform. Treon is a product development company specializing in wireless hardware products for IoT solutions. Treon's gateway platform provides the connectivity for data transfer between the sensors in the mesh network and the IoT platform. Schaeffler's wireless, battery-operated sensors for OPTIME are mass-produced by Salcomp, a global developer and manufacturer of power supply and IoT devices.

Business Finland supported Schaeffler in setting up the network. The Finnish government organization provides innovation funding and internationalization services, and promotes travel and investment in Finland. From their point of view, the cooperation is a great advantage for the Finnish IoT sector: “The Finnish IoT ecosystem has its competencies and quality of cooperation with this development company

performance demonstrated - this is an excellent reference. The Finnish economy benefits on several levels. Schaeffler has created jobs through the project, not only in its own company, but also with its Finnish partners. In addition, the partner companies open up new export opportunities, ”says Janne Kari, Head of Industry, ICT and Digitalization, Business Finland.

Schaeffler OPTIME is currently already available in Europe and selected countries in Asia-Pacific and will be rolled out in other regions shortly.