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Solution

Demand capacity planning accelerator by Capgemini

Demand capacity planning accelerator by Capgemini enables secure, efficient, faster, and transparent data exchange for demand and capacity across automotive stakeholders (OEMs, suppliers) in the Catena-X network.

This is via a “Partner Integration Layer” that maps the entire process between automotive manufacturers and suppliers.

In the Catena-X network, where several thousand suppliers and automotive manufacturers collaborate, industrialization / scaling and automation of data exchange is an important requirement. The “Partner Integration Layer” enables partners to efficiently design, implement, and utilize the integration system. The prerequisite for this is that the suppliers with whom data is to be exchanged are “Catena-X ready,” i.e., they have a business partner number (BPN). This ensures that the connections between the partners comply with the rules of the data ecosystem and that misuse of access and/or data is excluded. The integration layer is developed and implemented on the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP). It can be easily integrated with core applications for mapping business processes, such as SAP S/4HANA.

All companies will be able to use the demand capacity planning accelerator’s pre-designed and configured integration objects (iFLOWs). These are modular and connected to each other via queues. After importing into SAP BTP, piloting can be started directly. This approach not only enhances supply chain transparency and efficiency, but also sets the foundation for broader digital collaboration in the automotive industry.

Why Capgemini?

  • Helps to scale the demand supply use cases with minimal effort.
  • Enhances supply chain transparency and efficiency.
  • Sets the foundation for broader digital collaboration in the automotive industry.

Major automotive OEM

The aim of the project by a major automotive OEM and Capgemini, together with a number of suppliers, was to show that all of the data required for demand and capacity management (BKM) can be easily exchanged via Catena-X and that the partners can be easily connected. In a productive pilot, the entire process between automotive manufacturers and suppliers was to be mapped, i.e., from theautomotive OEM’s application to the supplier’s application and back. 

The core of the new solution is the so-called Partner Integration Layer. The partners were able to design, implement, and use this integration layer productively in the pilot within three months. The prerequisite for this is that the suppliers with whom data is to be exchanged are already “Catena-X ready,” i.e., they have a business partner number (BPN). Otherwise, this must be applied for via the operating company Cofinity-X and received within a short time. Every supplier who wants to exchange data with an automotive OEM must have its own BPN. This is important because Cofinity-X can not only clearly identify all actors, but is also responsible for security in the dataspace – i.e., it ensures that the connections between the partners comply with the rules of the data ecosystem and that misuse of access and/or data is excluded. 

The client integration layer was developed and implemented on the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP). It can be easily integrated with core applications for mapping business processes, such as SAP S/4HANA as well as non-SAP systems. The pre-designed and configured integration objects (iFLOWs) are modular and connected to each other via queues, thus preparing for the upcoming scaling. After importing into SAP BTP, piloting can be started directly. All data aspects of the use case that can be sent by the requester in the direction of the Catena-X data ecosystem have already been converted to the Catena-X data model in the Partner Integration Layer and integrated into the standard interfaces of the EDC (Eclipse Dataspace Connector).