Case Studies
In-depth insights into trends, technologies, and best practices for digital industrial service.
All Case Studies
How the Global UNITED GRINDING Group Restructured Its Service Operations
And why manual processes are no longer viable today. In service, a company's reputation is made or broken. UNITED GRINDING Group faced a significant challenge: approximately 150,000 machines in the field, up to 70,000 spare parts, 550 employees in customer care.
How Gerhard Schubert GmbH Structured Its Service Operations
And why individual tools are no longer sufficient. Service in mechanical engineering has changed. Many companies have systems - often even several. But these systems don't work together. Gerhard Schubert GmbH faced exactly this situation and chose the path to a seamless service platform.
Service Management in Transition - From Product to Service Business
Machine builders sell machines. Or do they? The classic business model: sell a machine, sign a maintenance contract, done. But anyone still thinking this way today is missing the point. Because customers expect more: maximum equipment availability, predictability, downtime reduction. Dieter Schoenfeld from AFSMI (Association for Services Management International) puts it plainly in our podcast: many companies are still strongly product-focused. But the market demands service.
Data Integration Without Detours
Efficient service processes stand or fall with data availability. But in many companies, this is exactly the problem: data exists but is not where it is needed. Especially in mechanical engineering, the lack of integration between service and IT means that important information does not flow seamlessly. Prices have to be manually pulled from SAP, orders are entered twice, and service technicians have no access to current machine data.
Predictive Maintenance with AI
Predictive maintenance is considered one of the most promising use cases for artificial intelligence (AI) in mechanical engineering. The idea: sensors capture machine data in real time, AI models detect anomalies and can predict failures before they lead to downtime. But does it really work that simply? The truth is: predictive maintenance can massively reduce downtime - but only if the right conditions are in place.
AI in Service: Why Isolated Systems Prevent Real Progress
AI is supposed to transform service, but there is a gap between aspiration and reality. Many machine builders invest in smart technologies, yet processes stall because systems don't work together. Machine data, maintenance histories, spare parts lists - all of it exists, but scattered across individual applications without connection. For AI in service to deliver real efficiency gains rather than remain a concept, it takes more than algorithms.
SERVICE WITHOUT DOWNTIME?
WHY DOWNTIME MUST NOT BE AN OPTION - PROACTIVE SERVICE STARTS NOW. "A machine that stands still generates emotions." As a service manager, you know this better than anyone. This statement by Uwe Galm - Director of Customer Services at Gerhard Schubert GmbH - in our Service Insights Talk with us, is more than just a statement. It is a mirror of reality in mechanical engineering.
Review of the KVD Service Congress, Service Pioneers Summit, and Parts Summit 2024
This fall, the KVD Service Congress, the Service Pioneers Summit, and the Parts Summit once again showed us that mechanical engineering is heading toward a new kind of service: where service and innovation in mechanical engineering are truly heading. Technical connectivity and data-driven strategies are no longer buzzwords - they are the backbone on which mechanical engineering companies build their competitive advantage.
Better Customer Relationships Through Digitalization
How Automation and AI Make After-Sales Service More Personal. Digitalization is often associated only with efficiency gains and automation. But it can do much more: it gives machine builders the opportunity to raise the quality of customer service to a higher level. Customers today expect not only fast solutions, but proactive support that understands their needs before problems arise.
Fully Automated Maintenance: The Future of Mechanical Engineering - Part 1
The future of mechanical engineering starts now - and it brings a revolution with it: fully automated maintenance. What exactly is behind this term, and how can you as a machine builder or plant operator use this innovation to fundamentally change your processes? In this article we take a look at the basics of fully automated maintenance, the technologies that enable it, and the challenges that need to be overcome.
Digitalizing Service in Mechanical Engineering: Why Platform + Partner Is the Strongest Solution
Mechanical engineering is strong, no question. But when it comes to digitalizing service processes, many companies stall. IT landscapes are often historically grown, consisting of diverse systems and custom solutions that barely communicate with each other. Processes frequently run manually, interfaces are missing, and important information is scattered across various tools. Instead of seamless workflows, operational chaos dominates.