Bosch and SAP will combine their expertise on cloud technologies and software solutions to make inroads into the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 markets.

Customers will be able to use SAP’s HANA database platform within Bosch’s IoT Cloud, which the companies hope will enable large-scale data processing for IoT applications in real-time.

Bosch’s IoT microservices will also be made available in SAP’s HANA cloud platform, providing multiple device and component connectivity. 

Both platforms place a strong focus on data security and privacy, and the companies will seek to not only protect customer data, but also give customers control over access and removal.

“In order to make even better use of the major potential that connected industry holds, international companies must cooperate more closely than before, and they must base that cooperation on open standards,” said Bosch CEO Dr Volkmar Denner in a statement.

Bernd Leukert, member of the SAP executive board for products and innovation, added: “New solutions that offer a high degree of customer benefit will appear only when companies concentrate on their strengths and their core competencies while also pooling their respective strengths.”

Both Denner and Leukert support coordination of efforts with the Industrial Internet Consortium and the German-based Plattform Industrie 4.0 bodies in terms of standardisation.

“Joint testbeds are a tried and trusted approach toward that aim, with partners working together to test the interplay of sensors, machinery, software, and cloud technology, and to derive standards from that,” added Leukert.

Together with traditional industry verticals  such as manufacturing and logistics, both Bosch and SAP are hoping to use the technologies developed in other sectors as well, such as automated and connected vehicles.

“Databases and platform technologies are fundamental building blocks for new solutions in the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0. We would like to put these at the disposal of customers, partners, and users worldwide,” Leukert said.

Denner added: “Bosch can draw on extensive sensors systems experience in the areas of mobility, manufacturing, consumer goods and connectivity.”

“By combining all this, we aim to help our customers generate new sales.”