Microsoft and Industry Leaders to Host Annual Automotive Summit in Munich
LONDON, February 7 --
- Event Will Explore Ways to Connect the Automotive Value Chain Through Integrated Innovation
Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and 14 manufacturing industry leaders today announced the launch of the first annual Automotive Summit, a two-day event aimed at corporate decision makers, visionaries and strategy leaders, as well as the line-of-business executives who are instrumental to the industry. The summit is the first of a series of events, known as the Microsoft Manufacturing Peak Performance Road Show, and will take place in Munich, Germany on 13 and 14 March 2006.
Hosted by Microsoft, and supported by Accenture, Dassault Systemes, Hewlett-Packard Co, Iconics Inc, Intel Corp, Ivensys Wonderware, Meridio, the OPC Foundation, OSIsoft Inc, Panorama Software Ltd, Reynolds and Reynolds Co, RPMCar, Siemens Automation and Drives and TxT e-solutions SpA, the summit will highlight the companies' value proposition within this space by means of analyst research and customer case studies.
The theme of the summit is "connecting the automotive value chain through integrated innovation". During the event, speakers will move beyond the technical issues to explore the converging trends that are changing the nature of competition and which will have profound implications for senior executives and managers. Approximately 1000 people are expected to attend.
Day one, aimed at senior executives and thought leaders, will focus on Microsoft's vision and strategy for the automotive industry leaders. Sessions will include presentations from key industry analysts on automotive industry trends and successful strategies, as well as a special-interest session on China. Next, the following issues will be discussed:
-- Value-based service transformation
-- The product life-cycle management transformation
-- Achieving agility through synchronised operations and real-time
performance management
-- The dealership of the year 2015
-- IT in the automotive industry
-- Living in a digital world
-- Successful business turnaround
The day will end with a plenary Q&A session, moderated by a recognised industry expert.
The second day will consist of parallel sessions for line-of-business executives, where attendees will have the opportunity to customise their agenda according to their areas of interest and to meet Microsoft executives.
More specifically, this day will delve further into improving performance in the following areas:
-- New product development -- taking ideas from the drawing board to
production more efficiently
-- Operations -- promoting interoperability across the plant floor
environment, leveraging the latest ideas, processes and solutions in
best achieving agility through synchronised operations and real-time
performance management
-- Supply chain -- offering automotive manufacturers a better insight
into their supply chain by leveraging knowledge on the latest
technologies to empower them with real-time information that can
affect product delivery schedules
-- Sales and customer service -- presenting innovative ideas, processes
and solutions to prevent customer losses.
Manuel Simas, automotive industry lead at Microsoft EMEA, said, "The automotive industry needs to become much more customer-centric, better integrated and connected in terms of the customer experience it provides, its innovation and its supply networks. At the summit, Microsoft -- together with analysts, industry shapers and thought leaders -- will provide unique insight into topics such as thought leadership, innovation and excellence in delivery."
About Microsoft in Manufacturing
Microsoft, in conjunction with its team of industry leaders, delivers enterprise solutions to a range of manufacturers including those in vertical industries such as automotive, chemical, consumer packaged goods, high technology, and oil and gas. These industry-specific solutions provide a flexible, scalable and reliable platform that helps to enable businesses to be more agile and connected. As a result, manufacturers can shorten product development cycles, integrate operations with partners and suppliers, acquire and share intelligence in real time, and more easily communicate with customers. More information about Microsoft in manufacturing can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/manufacturing .
About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With deep industry and business process expertise, broad global resources and a proven track record, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills and technologies to help clients improve their performance. With more than 126,000 people in 48 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$15.55 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2005. Its home page is www.accenture.com.
About Dassault Systemes
As world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, the Dassault Systemes group brings value to more than 80,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systemes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire life cycle of products from conception to maintenance. Our offering includes integrated PLM solutions for product development (CATIA(R), DELMIA(R), ENOVIA(R), SMARTEAM(R)), mainstream 3D design tools (SolidWorks(R)), and 3D components (Spatial/ACIS(R)). Dassault Systemes is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges. For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com .
About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended Oct. 31, 2005, HP revenue totaled US$86.7 billion.
HP's solutions for the automotive industry are focused on the integration and collaboration of four key areas of the automotive supply chain environment: manufacturing and extended supply chain; product development -- including design, PLM and collaboration; and dealer management and CRM.
HP's technology, products and services range from the provision of shop floor PCs and handhelds through to integrated global enterprise platforms that can include business and application consulting, end-to-end implementation and full multi-vendor support. In addition, HP delivers superior partnering or outsourcing of non-core activities in all forms, from out tasking to direct business process outsourcing.
More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com .
About Iconics
ICONICS is a leader of OPC, Web-enabled, HMI/SCADA and Manufacturing Intelligence software for all Microsoft Windows(R) operating systems. As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner of the Year for Technology and Innovation within Business Intelligence, ICONICS designs its solutions from the ground up to take maximum advantage of Microsoft .NET technology, offering an unprecedented level of performance and ease of use. ICONICS' solutions provide real-time manufacturing intelligence from the production floor to the boardroom, turning data into your competitive advantage. ICONICS' out-of-the-box, OPC-To-The-Core(TM) solutions can improve productivity, reduce integration and operating costs, and optimize your asset utilization. The BizViz(TM) Manufacturing Intelligence suite enables manufacturers to overcome business challenges with personalized role-based dashboards, configurable key performance indicators, on-demand reporting and real-time alert notification. With more than 250,000 installations worldwide and servicing 70 percent of Fortune 500 manufacturers, ICONICS' award-winning software products are being used in a wide variety of applications across many industries. For more information, or to get a free development CD, please visit www.iconics.com.
About Intel
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products.
Intel changed in the last years from a Microprocessor Company to a Platform -- Solution Company: Intel's role is driving innovation with Intel's next-generation, power-optimized micro-architecture for future digital home, enterprise, mobile and emerging market platforms -- and low-power products that will enable a new category of converged consumer devices. Intel will deliver 'factor of 10' breakthroughs to a variety of platforms that can reduce energy consumption tenfold or bring 10 times the performance of today's products. At the same time, Intel innovation will continue to deliver unique digital enterprise, home, office and mobile features, such as greater manageability, security and virtualization, along with an increasing capability to manage and view digital content.
Intel announced that forthcoming lower-power products will lead to a new category of ultra energy-efficient "Handtop PC" devices that provide a converged communication and PC-like experience but require less than a watt of processing power and weigh under a pound.
Intersecting Innovation and Needs -- From Car Batteries to Better Manageability Emphasizing Intel's strategy to deliver ground-breaking platforms tailored for the digital home, enterprise and developing countries.
Intel is also working closely with the emerging digital entertainment industry to spur innovation in the home, including PC and CE devices that work together effortlessly and deliver the latest online content services for anytime, anywhere access. Specifically, Intel is developing a platform and related technologies to power these PC and CE devices, as well as working with the entertainment and computing industries on interoperability standards and digitizing content.
The introduction of Intel Viiv technology today marks an effort by Intel to enable a broad choice of entertainment and information from around the world so that consumers can more easily download, view, manage, store and enjoy their content anytime and on a variety of devices. Systems based on Intel Viiv technology are available today from various computer manufacturers.
About Meridio
Meridio is a leading worldwide provider of enterprise Document and Records Management software, engineered for Microsoft .NET platforms. Meridio's mission is to enable senior executives to meet their goals of regulatory compliance, business efficiency and profitability through information superiority. With massive scalability, exceptional usability, and proven deployment success, Meridio's secure Document and Records Management is an essential component of compliance infrastructure.
About the OPC Foundation
The OPC Foundation is a non-profit international standards organization dedicated to providing open standards for interoperability in industrial automation. The OPC Foundation has its headquarter in the USA and affiliate organizations in Europe and Japan. The OPC Foundation creates specifications are open and interoperable interface standards that leverage the functionality and technology of the Microsoft operating systems and architecture and also leverage the technology of XML and Web services (as the key to interoperability between factory floor and the enterprise). The OPC Foundation's specifications have been created through a collaboration of leading worldwide automation and hardware software supplier's cooperating together to solve critical end-user interoperability problems. For more information, refer to the OPC Foundation web site at www.opcfoundation.org.
About OSIsoft
OSIsoft delivers performance management software to the world's leading process manufacturing, life sciences, and utility companies -- anywhere real-time operational metrics fuel performance. With more than 10,000 installations worldwide, OSIsoft's real-time data platform crosses IT and process boundaries to incorporate and display operational information. Providing comprehensive visibility into operations, the OSIsoft platform unlocks the potential for timely analysis and the ability to make critical, informed and profitable decisions.
Founded in 1980, OSIsoft, Inc. is headquartered in San Leandro, Calif., with operations worldwide and is privately-held. www.osisoft.com.
About Panorama Software
Panorama Software helps global organizations unlock the hidden value of their information assets to improve business performance and results. Panorama extends the Microsoft platform through integrated business intelligence and corporate performance management solutions. With Panorama decision makers at all levels and functions can easily analyze data, quickly create and distribute reports, and proactively measure performance. Companies gain a greater understanding of their business and make better decisions. These informed decisions improve profitability, increase revenues, reduce costs and time to market and mitigate competitive risks.
Panorama, a leading innovator of business intelligence solutions, supports customers worldwide in industries such as manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, retail, healthcare, telecommunications and life sciences. Panorama has more than 250 partners in 30 countries, and maintains offices throughout North America and EMEA. More information is available at www.panorama.com.
About Reynolds and Reynolds
Reynolds and Reynolds (www.reyrey.com) is a dealer services provider. Reynolds helps dealers and car companies improve their retail operations and profitability.
Since 1927, Reynolds' core competence has been to understand the automotive retail business and its challenges and opportunities. Today, Reynolds provides an integrated portfolio of services, tools, and information management solutions that deliver measurable business value, including Dealer Management Systems (DMS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions.
In the U.S. and Canada, Reynolds is the leading DMS provider. Its international DMS solution, incadea(R), serves a growing community of over 14,000 users at dealerships in more than 25 countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia. incadea is built on Microsoft Windows(R) and Microsoft Dynamics(TM) Nav, formerly Microsoft(R) Business Solutions-Navision(R), an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
Reynolds continues to make significant investments to strengthen its global presence and expand its dealer services solutions portfolio.
About RPMCar
As a spin-off from Microsoft Gold partner Van Loon IT Group, RPMcar is the new kid on the block in the automotive world. RPMcar harbours more than 5 years of experience in creating an innovative application that sits on top of all the software systems that are in use at a typical dealer's site, including DMS, CRM and DCS systems. The company exclusively focuses on improving the control over the dealer processes and providing quick and easy access to vital sales and management information. This will give the dealers new means of increasing profits and streamline their business to prepare for the upcoming multi-brand dealer landscape.
The first product release of RPMcar swept through the dealer space in The Netherlands and within only one year, more than 15% of all cars sold in Holland were tracked and their delivery managed by RPMcar. Using this experience, RPMcar now prepares the launch of Version 2, an internationally oriented, multi-lingual package that is modular by design, so that it can be tailored to the needs of each sales area, brand or market.
RPMcar teams up with strong and successful players in this market for technology, development and rollout. At the Peak Performance Event we will have the new version on display and will make further announcements regarding rollout partnerships. Please pay us a visit as you pass by our boot.
www.rpm-car.com
About Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D)
The Siemens Automation and Drives Group (A&D), Nuremberg, Germany, is the leading manufacturer in this field worldwide. Products supplied by A&D include standard products for the manufacturing and process industries and for the electrical installation industry as well as system solutions, for example for machine tools, and solutions for whole industries such as the automation of entire automobile factories or chemical plants. Supplementing this range of products and services, A&D also offers software for linking production and management (horizontal and vertical IT integration) and for optimizing production processes. A&D employs 60,800 people worldwide and in fiscal year 2005 (to September 30) earned a group profit of euro 1,210 million on sales of euro 9,844 million and orders of euro 10,190 million. www.siemens.com/automation. Within A&D's product range, SIMATIC IT is the software platform for managing integration of shop floor with the business level.
About TxT e-solutions
TXT e-solutions leads the European market in solutions -- software packages, services and consulting -- for demand & supply chain management and for content management.
TXT is highly specialized for the main industrial and retail markets. Amongst these: Fashion, Food&Beverage, CPG, Retail, Discrete Manufacturing, Aerospace&Defence, Telco.
Listed on the TechStar and Allstars section of the Milan Stock Exchange (TXTS), it has a staff of over 500 professionals. It is based in Milan and has offices in Italy, France, Germany, UK and Spain.
www.txtgroup.com
About Wonderware
Wonderware, business unit of Invensys Systems, Inc., is the world's leading supplier of industrial automation and information software. Founded in 1987, Wonderware pioneered the use of the Microsoft Windows operating system in HMI automation software for manufacturing operation systems. Wonderware software powers intelligent plant decisions in real time. The hallmark of the ArchestrA architecture is: "Every system in your plant, working in concert."
Based in Lake Forest, Calif., the Wonderware has regional sales and development offices throughout the North American, European, Latin American and Asia-Pacific regions to provide support to its network of more than 160 distributor offices. Wonderware has sold in over 100,000 plant sites worldwide, which is about 30 percent of the world's 335,000 plants with 20 or more employees. For more information, visit www.wonderware.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.
About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft employs more than 12,000 people in over 55 subsidiaries, delivering products and services in more than 139 countries and territories.
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