With six use cases for “ready-made” AI applications for SMEs

The partners from IT and industry came together in five speedboat projects to ensure that AI innovations are incorporated into operational service practice as widely as possible. Whether AI chatbot, app or augmented reality application – in the Service-Meister consortium, IT and software providers grandcentrix, inovex and USU are bringing smart tools to industrial service at KEB, TRUMPF, Würth, Open Grid Europe and KROHNE.

With this project, we are addressing the shortage of skilled labour in technical service, the company-wide use of in-house service knowledge, and its marketing. A catalogue of 13 generally usable AI services emerged from the work of the speedboat projects. Our German-language analysis tool shows how companies can find the right application for their challenges. During the short extension period, we were also able to realise the range of SME use cases through to the demo of a catalogue based on Gaia-X principles.

Highlight No. 1: Which AI service helps with your challenges?

With just a few clicks, you can understand AI in technical service, define your own requirements and find a low-threshold entry point! AI newcomers can quickly and easily find out where their strengths and weaknesses lie in service processes. With our Service-Meister tool, we guide you through your processes and work with you to identify the potential for improvement in individual process steps. A detailed report shows your individual service landscape and our service catalogue reveals which proven AI applications are right for you.

Highlight No. 2: SME entry realised via Excel file – “ESW-Schraubenwerk”

A new speedboat project was the reason for the project extension in 2023. The ESW GROUP develops and produces metal-plastic products for the automotive, commercial vehicle and construction industries. To keep machines available and systems productive, the medium-sized company is working with inovex and BHT Berlin to reduce downtime using a smart service ticket system. The path from paper to Excel to AI ticket system leads to success.

Highlight No. 3: Gaia-X in practice with Service-Meister: Transparent, secure and sovereign

Together with deltaDAO, Service-Meister provides the first AI applications for SMEs. The basis is formed by GXFS/XFSC and Pontus-X. How today’s sample cases are paving the way for tomorrow’s value streams in the data economy: Selected Service-Meister applications are described in the decentrally distributed catalogue of Pontus-X and also published in the federated catalogue of Gaia-X. For the launch, deltaDAO implemented the AutoTim application from inovex and KROHNE Messtechnik, as well as the automated damage detection from grandcentrix and Würth.

The portal now lists them online in a comparable manner, mediates between users and providers, and also regulates contracts and costs. “Anyone who launches services productively pays for the necessary computing and storage resources from the cloud”, says Meinke. Companies are also able to contribute, provide and offer data and services themselves. “Those who are involved in the operation of the open ecosystem can benefit economically beyond their own data and software services”, says Meinke. Marketplaces run by individual large providers are different: “Here, one provider alone usually reaps the entire harvest from transaction fees”.

The consortium partners

• Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG
• Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT)
• eco – Association of the Internet Industry
• Fraunhofer Institute for Software and Systems Engineering ISST
• grandcentrix GmbH
• inovex GmbH
• Institute for Internet Security – if(is)
• Karlsruhe Service Research Institute (KSRI)
• Kompetenznetzwerk Trusted Cloud e. V.
• KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
• TRUMPF Machine Tools GmbH + Co. KG
• University of Stuttgart
• USU Software AG