Goals of the hackathon
This year's Challenge focused on Catena-X, a publicly funded automotive industry project involving 28 partners, including T-Systems. Catena-X is the first collaborative, open data ecosystem for the automotive industry of the future, connecting global players in end-to-end value chains.
The goal of the hackathon was to develop an action-oriented business model for the companies using Catena-X. Students were tasked with developing a shared value proposition and positive transactional values for the Catena-X platform from different perspectives. Students were able to select one from each of the following four perspectives offered: Automotive OEM, supplier, IT service provider or other possible relevant stakeholders such as retailers or dismantlers.
The groups were supported on site by Alexandra Gleber, Dr. Thomas Jenne, Ulrich Gehlhaar and Tobias Kasper and by T-Systems, as well as by Prof. Dr. Daniel Schallmo and his research assistants Sarah Leible and Verena Mattes. In addition, the Belgian guest lecturer Peter Janssen from UC Leuven-Limburg University of Applied Sciences supported the students in their challenges.
After a short game to get to know each other, the students worked on their challenge in the previously defined groups using the design thinking process. The very internationally mixed groups from fifteen countries were able to benefit from their diversity and discuss the challenges from different perspectives.
Challenges of the hackathon
Added value for the car sharing sector
The team "Share-X" dedicated itself to the challenge "What can Catena-X do to add value to the car sharing sector?". Following their motto "Digital twins to everyone", the group developed an app/platform for the carsharing sector that can be implemented in Catena-X.
Avoiding the shortage of raw materials
The group "BatterX" addressed the question of how they can avoid a shortage of raw materials by participating in Catena-X and thus ensure their sustainability. With the slogan "better bet on battery?", the group developed a business model and prototype from the supplier perspective using a fictitious manufacturer of car batteries.
Confronting time shifts in production
The "JIT-X" group explored the question of how an OEM can use Catena-X when faced with time shifts in production. Under the slogan "delivering precision on time, every time," the team sought to understand the issues currently facing the automotive industry and decided to focus on the challenges of just-in-time production.
Increasing the value of car dismantling and recycling companies
With the motto "unlocking your true potential through data and parts trade!", the "DPXCHANGE" team developed a concept of how Catena-X can be used to increase the value of auto dismantlers and recyclers. From the perspective of auto recyclers and dismantlers, they sought to explore how dismantlers can benefit from the Catena-X network.
Winner of the Hackathon Challenge
The fourth group "DPXCHANGE" not only convinced the T-Systems team, but also the entire DTE course. Thus, group was chosen as the winner of this year's Hackathon Challenge on Catena-X.
Résumé and evaluation of the hackathon
T-Systems employees were thrilled with the good results achieved in a short time. "Cohesion is key: despite the competition, the individual teams shared the knowledge they had gained from their own projects to support each other, and I'm sure some of the results got better as a result," summed up Dr. Jenne The industry partners were particularly positive about the fact that the students had new, fresh thoughts and an unbiased approach to the problems.
Dr. Thomas Jenne from T-Systems was impressed, as he was last year, by the ambition with which the students participated in the competition. He left the event feeling inspired by the exciting questions and stimulating discussions they sparked. "We as a company should engage even more with future talent like these students: They are an invaluable source of creativity, drive and, most importantly, a fresh perspective. Meanwhile, the real-world observations we give them can help them become the digital leaders of tomorrow."
Guest lecturer Peter Janssen from Belgium describes the hackathon with T-Systems as very productive and was impressed by the group dynamics in the individual project groups. In his opinion, the cultural, as well as the professional diversity was decisive for the great results.
Professor Dr. Daniel Schallmo was also very impressed by the atmosphere and the employees at the castle: "The students worked together in international teams and achieved great results. The fact that T-Systems is supporting the project for the second time shows us that there is also clear added value here for practice partners."
About T-Systems
With locations in over 20 countries and around 28,000 employees (December 31, 2021), as well as annual revenues of 4 billion euros (2021), T-Systems is one of the world's leading service providers for information technology and digitization solutions.
