Mercedes is partnering with Microsoft to handle its data

A large amount of data needs a large solution, and Mercedes-Benz needed a better solution than on-premises data centres.

In a partnership with Microsoft, the automotive company has been moving all of its data to a cloud-based solution called eXtollo. Based on Microsoft Azure, the automotive company will be able to store more data and share it across sites more easily. Sharing is the key point for Mercedes, as the analysis of the data can help the company develop new products and maintenance schemes based on how customers are actually using their vehicles.

“For us, digitisation is more than zeros and ones. It is also a mindset. For us, an open corporate culture is just as much a part of the digital transformation as innovative ideas and new products”, said Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Computers in cars today, called the ECU, can generate data about fuel consumption, usage times, preferred gear and RPM range, among a lot of other information. Technicians may be able to make inferences from the data, assisting maintenance by looking at cases from other vehicles. The computer features a machine-learning algorithm to analyze historical diagnostic data to suggest preventative maintenance.

Data analysis will also help the company calculate forecasts in finance and production areas as well. Mercedes says it can use driving behaviour analytics and forecasting to predict what customers potentially want to buy and get a better prediction of sales.