"Throughout the world of business, not a single sector remains unaffected by the ongoing wave of digitalization", asserted Oliver Frese, the Deutsche Messe Managing Board member in charge of CeBIT, when recently welcoming more than 110 journalists from all over the world and emphasizing the growing importance of the IT show, adding: "A new chapter is being written in the history of CeBIT!" Frese addressed the core arenas for digitalization: markets and companies, government and the public sector, society at large.
This year’s CeBIT will cover a broader spectrum of topics and areas than ever before, embracing all the major trends such as the Internet of Things, Big Data & Cloud, eCommerce & mCommerce and Data Security, and delivering valuable input for solution-seekers from every conceivable background –e.g. industry, services or medicine – and from any type of organization, e.g. start-up, SME or big corporate player. All of these were represented by the 30 CeBIT exhibitors appearing at the CeBIT Press Preview in Hannover, Germany, where journalists caught a glimpse of the highlights awaiting them at the upcoming show.
Deutsche Bahn, Huawei, Salesforce and SAP: New client-focused digitalization concepts.
Dr. Volker Kefer, Deputy Chairman of the Board at Deutsche Bahn, emphasized in his keynote speech how important it is for big companies in particular to keep pace with technological developments. He is convinced: "Digitalization will transform our business too." In Germany this entails developing new digital services for the five million passengers who travel by train every day. For instance, smart data evaluation can anticipate problems before they cause disruption – this is exemplified by the 70,000 points on the tracks of the German railway system. In the years ahead Deutsche Bahn (DB) intends to focus more on "people with the digitalization gene". DB is therefore supporting start-ups which are working together with the rail company to develop new business approaches and innovative technologies. In addition, the German rail company is a key player in the CeBIT Innovations Exchange SCALE11, Europe’s leading platform for digital start-ups and disruptive business models, where approx. 250 new companies will be represented in Hall 11.
Experts claim that the most important condition for successful digitalization concepts is the so-called 360 degree view, an approach that Huawei, for example, offers its customers. Jörg Karpinski, boss of the Huawei Enterprise Business Group, indicated at the Press Preview that this Chinese company will stage an impressive show in Hall 2 with a 2,500 square meter display embracing a broad spectrum of innovative ICT products and solutions in the areas of cloud computing, big data, the Internet of Things, computer centers and data security. In addition, Huawei will present best practice examples from the public sector, the world of finance and the transport sector.
Salesforce, one of the leading CRM platform providers, is an exclusive event partner at CeBIT 2016, where it will stage its Salesforce World Tour for clients and business associates for the first time in two CeBIT exhibition halls. Visitors at this event will discover the role played by the company in accelerating the pace of the digital transformation, as well as its client-oriented approach. Mark Hoenke, Director of Brand Communications at Salesforce, reported at the Press Preview that the event will feature inspiring keynotes and live demonstrations of leading-edge technology, as well as presentations of how business partners have used Salesforce solutions to accelerate their growth.
SAP takes the stage in Hannover as a pioneer in the digital transformation. At CeBIT’s media launch in Hannover, Rolf Schumann, Chief Technology Officer for SAP Europe, Middle East and Africa, explained that "Digital transformation is live business". Groundbreaking technology such as in-memory or cloud computing are central to this transformation. The highlight of the presentation will be the fully integrated SAP HANA platform for all core processes. It is already capable of providing companies with the technology and applications needed for every specialist area, facilitating greater flexibility and fully meeting the requirements of the digital transformation.
Microsoft, Software AG and Thomas Krenn AG: computing power plus big gains in energy efficiency.
At CeBIT 2016 Microsoft will draw attention to seven factors that play a role in advancing growth in the digital economic boom. Using concrete examples from various companies, education and training organizations, administration and NGOs, Microsoft will demonstrate to the audience at CeBIT how infrastructure, organization, co-workers, teams, knowledge, production and government can be upgraded to meet the challenge of digitalization. Technology from the cloud allows for greater flexibility and creativity. By way of illustration the company ABB will present its service platform for the rapid recharging of electric cars that resulted from cooperation with Microsoft. This platform uses the benefits of learning machines and predictive analytics capabilities.
The main message of Software AG at CeBIT is that standard IT is "out", while decentralized, flexible programs developed in co-operation with the clients are definitely "in". The company offers the technology to meet this objective with its Digital Business Platform 2.0. Depending on the type of application, different assets and technology can be used, e.g. business and IT transformation, in-memory tools, integration, processes or predictive analytics.
Thomas Krenn AG announced for CeBIT the presentation of a new technique for server cooling which can considerably improve the energy efficiency of computer centers or servers. The fluid cooling system is networked with the building installation technology so that the waste heat is available almost completely for the heating system or for the hot-water supply system.
AdNovum, Bundesdruckerei, Digittrade, G Data, Kaspersky Lab and Secusmart: Innovations at CeBIT geared to improving security.
According to the Bitkom association, 83 percent of German companies expect that the computing center they use is based in Germany and therefore subject to German law. As a co-founder of the TeleTrust Initiative "IT Security Made in Germany", G Data – the sole antivirus manufacturer with a managed endpoint security solution based on Azure architecture – will play a part in the start of Microsoft Cloud in Germany. This was reported at the CeBIT Press Preview by Thorsten Urbanski, the head of the Corporate Communication Dept. at G Data. The data security specialist unveiled the world’s first PC virus protection concept in Hannover thirty years ago, and at CeBIT will now be providing an insight into its latest business solutions referred to as "Generation 14".
In most cases strong cryptographic keys are needed to ensure secure, reliable data encryption. These so-called digital certificates are used to enable safe online communication, but in order to create, administer and test them companies generally require a complex public key infrastructure (PKI). However, this is not the case for the new cloud solution employed by the Bundesdruckerei (German Federal Printing office), where the certification of electronic identities is created simply and securely in an accredited Trust Center (D-Trust) and may be manually or automatically verified. "With PKI services even small and medium-sized companies and organizations can benefit from modern, highly secure encryption, signature and authentication solutions", says Ulrich Hamann, CEO of the Bundesdruckerei.
For Secusmart the CeBIT Press Preview offered an opportunity to present its latest security solutions in mobile voice and text communication. As reported by Secusmart CEO Dr. Christoph Erdmann: "SecuSUITE for Enterprise is the first real BlackBerry app which can be used globally and independently of all network operators." Other innovations include the BlackBerry Service Good Technology, a safe mobile platform for businesses, and WatchDox for secure document sharing.
DIGITTRADE announced that it will bring HipDisk to CeBIT. This USB 3.0, 2.5" hard disk boasts a compact, interchangeable silicon case which is available with various attractive designs. The silicon case protects the device from external damage and supports hard drives with fast data transmission of up to 400 MBit/s. DIGITTRADE will also be presenting the premium version of the communication app Chiffry at CeBIT. Chiffry enables Android, iOS and BlackBerry users to make secure calls, send and receive encrypted messages, and share images, videos or contacts safely. Other useful apps will also now be available. In addition, the company will be promoting sales of its latest highly secure hard disk HS256 S3. It is even safer, faster and more robust than its certified predecessor HS256S.
The Swiss software manufacturer AdNovum is presenting NEVIS, its identity and access management solution, in Hannover. Originally designed for e-Banking applications, NEVIS protects banking, insurance and public administration portals. Thanks to its modular design it can be seamlessly integrated into existing IT infrastructures. It also permits easy integration into future authentication systems.
Kaspersky Lab wants to draw the attention of visitors at CeBIT to its "Security Intelligence Services" for critical infrastructures and organizations of every size. A new cyber protection solution is being developed against sophisticated attacks. However, the company will not reveal the details until March at the trade fair itself. "Intelligent cyber protection will be the dominant CeBIT theme for the d!conomy", says Holger Suhl, General Manager of Kaspersky Lab for the German-speaking market.
Many new business models now focus on the use of drones – among them the logistics and agricultural sectors, with ground-breaking ideas also coming from the 'ecosystem startups' sector. Other topics covered at the CeBIT Preview included intelligent solutions for mobile business, the smart home, and the city of the future.
At the CeBIT Preview in Hannover, Germany, Deutsche Messe presented the concept for the eagerly awaited first DRONEMASTERS Summit@CeBIT. In addition to an exhibition, this will also feature a conference program over several days, and a "Flight Arena" in Hall 16. The focus will be on business applications for smart, unmanned drones.
Amongst other exhibitors, Swiss-based Wingtra brings an interesting drone design to the trade fair: The fast-growing spinoff of ETH Zürich has built a drone that takes off vertically like a helicopter and can land easily between houses or in woodland clearings.
The "Skye" drone prototype from ETH Zürich combines the energy-efficient flight of a zeppelin airship with the precision of a quadcopter. Fitted with cameras, it will fly over the site in March and show what the Interactive Marketing arena looks like from above.
And speaking of Switzerland, which is CeBIT's Partner Country this year ("We export twice as many IT products as chocolate and cheese together", says Franz Grüter of the Swiss National Council) – the internationally active Swiss financial services provider SIX Group and Noser Young Professionals AG will also be greeting the press in Hannover. Infrastructure provider SIX offers FinTech solutions, and supports banks in upgrading their digitalization strategies. Noser Young Professionals is presenting a model at CeBIT for training next-generation engineers aged 17 and up. Visitors to CeBIT can earn a "CeBIT Training Diploma" in just five minutes.
BVDS, Peat, VoxR.org, ActiWait, Climbtrack and Cryptomator: Trailblazing ideas from ecosystem startups.
Many startup organizations will be demonstrating at the CeBIT Preview the huge spectrum of business ideas that are enabled through digitalization. Their main point of contact at CeBIT itself is the focal CeBIT-SCALE11, developed jointly with Federal German startup BVDS. This presents the entire ecosystem of innovaters, startups, established companies and investors, in Hall 11.
Hannover-based Peat has developed an app that uses artificial intelligence to reduce crop failures. Based on image recognition and self-learning algorithms, it will provide early detection of plant disease.
The founders of VoxR.org offer a means of overcoming the monotony of many business events: Via a simply-constructed Internet site that can be contacted from any smartphone, delegates in a congress or workshop can pose questions, stimulate discussions or send feedback. Five DAX companies already use this service, including pharmaceutical organisation Merck and automobile manufacturer Daimler.
In the contest for the prestigious CeBIT Innovation Award 2016, three teams of young researchers have qualified for the final round. The prizewinner will be announced in Hannover in March, and will display their project at the stand staged by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Hall 6. ActiWait from Urban Invention GbR is an interactive attachment for a signal input button at pedestrian crossings, which not only improves traffic safety but can also be utilized as a WLAN hotspot. Climbtrack, from the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), allows climbers to analyse and document the progress of their training at low cost. In addition, augmented reality solutions permit on-the-spot planning of ascent routes. The Cryptomator, developed by two students from Bonner Informatik, is the first reliable client-side open source encryption for cloud-based storage. It is platform-independent, and is designed for technically inexperienced users.
Pearl, Sennheiser, ZTE, Eurotech: Intelligent solutions for mobile business, the smart home, and the city of the future.
In an age in which companies implement most of their projects across multiple locations and countries, teleconferencing is an important success factor. Sennheiser is presenting "TeamConnect Wireless" at CeBIT – a wireless solution for mobile audioconferencing with up to 24 participants. Smart devices or computers can link to the system in a few seconds.
There are also some interesting accessories for business applications from Pearl: The electronics dealer is presenting its wireless-connected microSD card-reader "Callstel" at the CeBIT Preview; the WLAN interface allows smartphone users to access up to two terabytes of additional memory. Up to eight users at a time can access the data, via app or Internet browser. Pearl is also a distributor for three new wearables, offering to smart-home beginners the VisorTech door and window alarm HSS-1.dw, that sends an automatic push-message if there is a break-in. Up to 100 detectors can be monitored with the associated app.
Practical ideas for the smart city, and new products for corporate business are the focus of ZTE's entry. The supplier of telecoms systems, network solutions and mobile devices will present innovative applications at CeBIT for the eHealth, smart education and smart transportation sectors, plus an urban data operation system for secure smart-city applications, all based on big-data analysis. There is also a wireless charging system for Intelligent Factory 4.0 and an IoT-based smart grid.
Eurotech is involved in the key growth area of the Internet of Things – with an integrated portfolio of hardware and software solutions for M2M and IoT device middleware, and cloud solutions, which act as basic building blocks for modern infrastructures in the Internet of Things.
In touch with research: ETH Zurich, Karlsruhe Institute for Technology and the new trend towards bio-hacking.
The use of digital technologies even allows new approaches in building construction or architecture, as ETH Zurich demonstrates with their "In-situ Fabricator". The mobile robot system transfers the capability and flexibility of digital fabrication directly to the building site. The CeBIT stand of Zurich University was constructed using the "In-situ Fabricator".
Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (KIT) can be found at the "Research & Innovation" showcase in Hall 6, along with many other well-known research institutes. As an impressive appetizer, KIT is presenting software by Kinemic, which allows words to be input by writing them in the air, and applications to be controlled using gestures. Movements are captured by a sensor armband or a smart watch, and translated into gestures or text. Hands-free operation of computers, smartphones or augmented reality glasses is no longer a Utopian dream.
Hannes Sjöblad takes a daring leap forward: The director of the Swedish Bio-hacking Association was promoting digital implants at the CeBIT Preview. He already wears a chip implant in his hand which he can use, for instance, to open doors. Sjöblad believes that physical objects or passwords for identification will soon be a thing of the past: "Human Upgrade Technology is coming!". Anyone who has noted the enormous rate of digitalization in business and industry will feel that Sjöblad's vision may become a reality.