GEBHARDT Intralogistics Group

The initial situation:

In order to ensure high availability, Gebhardt set up an IoT solution using SAP IoT, SAP BTP and SAP AIN. This was used productively by Gebhardt in its own warehouse as well as by customers. Real-time data from the connected warehouse systems was used for analyses in order to optimize performance and maintenance (predictive maintenance) and thus increase the availability of the warehouse hardware used. In addition, the solution provided a digital twin of the individual warehouses including 3D models, integrated AR glasses for service optimization and served as a platform for the development of new services for customers.

In 2022, SAP discontinued the IoT services, whereupon Gebhardt needed a different basis for the solution - with the aim of minimizing the effort and impact on productive customers. The choice fell on the Microsoft Azure platform.

The project:

Although Gebhardt had excellent in-house IoT expertise, it had no experience with Microsoft Azure. A partner with Azure and SAP Cloud Platform expertise was therefore needed to migrate the solution and was also able to offer a complete solution with both development and consulting services. In addition, the partner should also be able to support the expansion of the Azure & SAP environment after project completion. BLUE-ZONE GmbH was therefore chosen.

In the project, BLUE-ZONE GmbH provided holistic support in bringing the existing SAP IoT solution to the Azure platform within four months - from the architecture definition with security concept, cost sensitivity and scalability, through the definition and selection of the right services and the provision of development services, to the proof of concept (PoC).

The result:

Gebhardt migrated its existing IoT solution to the Azure platform following the SAP IoT discontinuation and now has at least an equivalent architecture available. Following the successful go-live in April 2023 with the company's own warehouse as a test customer, customers will gradually gain access to Gebhardt's tenant and will therefore be able to switch to the new solution without any problems.

BLUE-ZONE GmbH has restructured Gebhardt's productive IoT solution based on the Microsoft Azure platform and the services available there - in such a way that the migration had no impact on productive customers. The solution is now being further developed together with Gebhardt.