Complex business processes form the core of the automotive industry, from development and manufacturing, through sales and service. At the SAP Automotive Symposium, manufacturers and component suppliers are engaged in the search for greater efficiency. This year, the event is being held at the International Congress Center (ICC) in Berlin. SAP.info is there to check out the action.

In total, 555 participants and 32 partner companies gathered in the main auditorium to hear the keynotes on the first day of the event. As well as representatives from automobile manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Daimler, MAN, and Volkswagen, automotive component suppliers are also out in force, including Continental, Harman Becker, and ZF Friedrichshafen.

Excess capacity, revenue shortfalls, and protectionism

The global automotive industry is facing tough challenges – a statement echoed by Maximilian Brandl, head of Discrete Manufacturing Industries at SAP. More specifically, this means that the industry needs to get a grip on excess capacity in automobile production and the associated revenue shortfalls. In Germany, the luxury vehicle segment and truck manufacturers are being hit particularly hard, with shrinking profit margins and sales way off target.

And in the component supplier industry, the outlook is far from rosy at the moment, too. High price pressure from auto manufacturers has triggered insolvency among a whole host of suppliers.

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Porsche Panamera 4S (photo: Frank Völkel)