Siemens Rolls Out MindSphere OS with IBM Watson

In a recent announcement, Siemens has said it wants to further strengthen its position as a digital company and achieve double-digit growth in software, digital services and cloud platforms every year through 2020. Some of that growth is expected thanks to the new MindSphere OS cloud platform, which Siemens is now rolling out companywide.

MindSphere will enable Siemens, for the first time, to offer customers a cloud-based, open operating system for the Internet of Things. It will also make it possible to develop and operate apps and digital services. To take just one example: the immense data volumes generated at a production facility or a company can be swiftly and efficiently collected, evaluated and used to improve system performance and availability.

“The digitalization platform MindSphere is a key element in our Vision 2020 innovation strategy. It'll enable us to decisively shape digitalization at our customers and at our own facilities – across all sectors and businesses,” said Joe Kaeser, President and CEO, Siemens.

Siemens is working with IBM to further simplify the data analysis functions of MindSphere for customers. The companies are planning to integrate the data analysis service IBM Watson Analytics and further analysis tools into MindSphere. This is designed to give business customers access to visualization functions and dashboards, while app developers and data analysts will be able to use analytics technologies via interfaces. IBM is also planning to develop apps for MindSphere – for example, in the area of predictive maintenance. IBM and Siemens want to bundle their respective competences in the area of efficient analysis technologies and the automation and digitalization of industry. In this way, the two companies want to assist their customers on their way to digitalization.

Siemens has also improved in the area of patents. The company holds more than 59,800 patents worldwide. In fact, Siemens’ employees submitted about 7,500 invention disclosures – an average of about 30 per workday.