Hoval: AI-supported knowledge access for service technicians worldwide

Hoval manages an extensive portfolio of heating and indoor climate systems with numerous product variants. Each variant comes with its own technical documentation - from installation instructions and circuit diagrams to service documentation.
Carl and Carla: Scalable customer service with ILAI - the new-generation AI voice assistant

At the mobility provider Carl & Carla, the AI agent ILAI handles recurring processes relating to vehicle returns. Thanks to its integration into existing systems, the agent is not only able to communicate, but also to carry out specific process steps independently.
LLOYD Shoes: From shoe factory to digital retail platform

LLOYD Shoes: From shoe factory to digital retail platform Home / LLOYD Shoes: From shoe factory to digital retail platform The project at a glance E-commerce as a new mainstay With collana diva, LLOYD has opened up a sustainable online business segment - alongside traditional retail. Central platform for all channels All sales processes run on a standardised database - integrated across all channels. Scalable cloud solution The IT infrastructure grows flexibly. Ready for increasing order volumes in online retail. Industry E-Commerce Customer LLOYD Shoes GmbH Technology / Product collana diva Project description The task LLOYD Shoes, a traditional company with over 130 years of company history, decided to open a new chapter in its corporate development in 2017. The aim was to build a powerful e-commerce offering that would integrate seamlessly into the existing brick-and-mortar business. To achieve this, LLOYD needed a centralised backend that would bundle all sales channels, ensure a uniform database and meet digital customer requirements. Solution The implementation After a six-month internal test phase with orders from the company's own concept stores, the new online shop was launched in January 2018 - supported by collana diva as the central platform for all retail processes. The ERP system bundles the data from all channels and ensures end-to-end transparency. The IT capacities are provided flexibly from the cloud and scale with the business volume. This has created the technical basis for efficiently managing stock, availability and orders - regardless of the sales channel. The aim is to provide LLOYD's customers with an optimised and consistent shopping experience, regardless of their chosen channel. This is a significant milestone in digital development and the fast pace of shopping behaviour.“ Andreas Schaller Managing Director, LLOYD Shoes GmbH Result / Impact How the problem was solved With collana diva, a digital infrastructure was introduced that not only enables growth in e-commerce, but actively supports it. LLOYD can now control all processes via a central platform, work across all channels and react flexibly to market developments. The cloud architecture based on Microsoft Azure ensures scalability and future viability. The launch of the new online store was not only a symbolic but also a technological milestone on the way to becoming a digital retail brand. Recommendation Customers were also interested in Securely process payments with collana pay and manage all common processes centrally. Learn more Quickly introduce a fully automated sanctions list check with collana shield. Learn more Analyse sales channels and improve customer experiences with data analytics. Find out more Best choice for digital retail strategies With collana diva, LLOYD combines bricks-and-mortar retail and e-commerce to create an integrated customer experience - efficient, future-proof and brand-compliant.
Cairo AG: High speed in furniture retail - omnichannel success with collana diva

Cairo AG: High-speed retail in the furniture sector – the key to omnichannel success Home / Cairo AG: High-speed furniture retail – achieving omnichannel success with collana diva The project at a glance 1 platform for B2C & B2B Cairo brings together all business channels – online shop, catalogue and physical stores – in a hybrid solution based on collana diva. „Order today – delivered tomorrow“ The promise of 24-hour dispatch has been fully integrated into the ERP logic – including specialist logistics. International, secure, scalable With Microsoft Azure, Cairo utilises the highest cloud security standards for cross-border online retail. Industry: E-commerce / Omnichannel Client: CAIRO Aktiengesellschaft (Furniture mail order) Technology / Product: collana diva, Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Azure Project description The challenge Cairo AG is an internationally operating multichannel retailer of designer furniture, lighting and accessories. The company wanted to phase out its legacy system landscape and replace it with a high-performance, standards-based ERP solution. It was particularly important to map complex requirements such as omnichannel capability, client structure, international scalability and the combination of B2B and B2C business models within a hybrid platform. Another key focus was the unique selling point „order today – delivered tomorrow“, which places the highest demands on logistics and system processes. Solution: The Implementation As early as 2006, Cairo opted for the mail-order solution from MAC IT-Solutions, now part of the collana Group. In 2018, the decision was made to upgrade to the latest version. The aim was to introduce a modern ERP, CRM and warehouse management system based on Microsoft Dynamics. During the workshop phase, particular attention was paid to the logistical specifics of Cairo’s business model – including freight forwarding with two- and four-person handling, special services, returns processes and complaints handling. Further challenges arose from international operations: for example, the integration of Swiss customs procedures and the environmental levy in France (Eco-Mobilier). „With the new solution, we have positioned ourselves for the future and created a high-performance platform for our business success. A tip for going live: having the courage to take the plunge was crucial – in this complex project business, the speed of problem-solving is higher once the system is live, and postponing the launch or waiting for perfection makes project success impossible.“ Gero Furchheim, Member of the Executive Board at Cairo AG Result / Impact How the problem was solved With collana diva, Cairo now operates a fully integrated platform that seamlessly connects procurement, logistics, sales and customer service. Running the ERP system on Microsoft Azure not only delivers cost benefits but also meets the highest standards of security, scalability and availability. Thanks to this centralised solution, Cairo is able to process both domestic and international orders efficiently. The hybrid mapping of B2C and B2B business on a shared platform provides the company with crucial flexibility for the future of online retail. Recommendation: Customers were also interested in: Integrate and centrally manage international payments smartly with collana pay. Find out more: Quickly implement a fully automated sanctions list check with collana shield. Find out more: Analyse and utilise cross-channel customer data with Data Analytics. Find out more Best Choice for borderless furniture delivery: Cairo delivers premium furniture at high speed – collana diva ensures that processes will continue to run smoothly tomorrow.
REMONDIS BURCU: Digitalised waste management with Microsoft Dynamics 365

REMONDIS BURCU: Digitalised waste management with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Home / REMONDIS BURCU: Digitalised waste management with Microsoft Dynamics 365 The project at a glance High transparency in project costing Base costing at batch and project level enables costs and revenues to be traced at any time. End-to-end lead-to-cash process Integrated CRM functionalities significantly improve the management and tracking of customer processes. Rollout specifically optimised for the sector Volume tracking, return processes and profitability structures are precisely tailored to the requirements of the waste management sector. Sector Energy and Environment Client REMONDIS BURCU Atık Yönetimi Geri Dönüşüm ve Tem. Hiz. Tic. A.Ş Technology / Product Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations on Azure, including CRM functionalities Project description The challenge REMONDIS BURCU is a leading provider of waste management services in Turkey and part of the internationally active REMONDIS Group. The company previously operated within a fragmented IT landscape that inadequately supported key business processes such as project costing, profit calculation and contract management. The aim was to close these gaps and introduce a seamless, integrated ERP system that takes into account both business processes and the sector-specific requirements of waste management. Solution: Implementation In collaboration with b4dynamics (a member of the collana Group), Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations was implemented – supplemented by CRM functions and bespoke costing mechanisms. The project was implemented across all sites and included, amongst other things, the modelling of a profitability structure, the traceability of volume and value flows, and the documentation of return processes. Customer relationship management was also optimised through integrated CRM functionalities. „With Microsoft Dynamics 365, we have implemented a solution that makes our entire company more efficient – from project costing to customer invoicing. The industry-specific implementation was a real added value.“ Project Management, REMONDIS BURCU A.Ş. Result / Impact: How the problem was solved Since going live in 2021, REMONDIS BURCU has had a scalable ERP system that digitises, standardises and integrates key business processes. The standardised base costing ensures greater transparency and better financial control. Thanks to CRM integration, customer processes have also been significantly improved. The industry-specific focus also enabled the precise mapping of relevant waste management workflows, leading to high system acceptance and a future-proof process landscape. Recommendation: Customers were also interested in ‘Automate processes and intelligently manage supply chains with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management’. Find out more: ‘Gain clarity on requirements and find the right solution in the ERP workshop’. Find out more: ‘Analyse complex process data and optimise it in a targeted manner with Data Analytics’. Find out more: The best choice for a sustainable circular economy. With Dynamics 365 and the right industry focus, REMONDIS BURCU is successfully making the transition to a digitally connected and economically managed future.
IoT platform for Ivoclar Vivadent - real-time data for better dental technology

Ivoclar Vivadent: Cloud-based IoT platform for smart dental devices Home / IoT platform for Ivoclar Vivadent - real-time data for better dental technology The project at a glance Real-time data available Device usage and performance data are recorded and analysed centrally - for well-founded product decisions. Greater reliability Early maintenance thanks to transparent data reduces downtimes and increases device availability. Scalable solution Cloud platform forms the technological basis for future growth and data-driven innovations. Sector Pharmaceutical industry and healthcare Customer Ivoclar Vivadent GmbH Technology / Product Microsoft Azure, IoT Solution Accelerator, Azure Kubernetes Service, Time Series Insights, Azure Active Directory, Azure Storage Accounts Project description The task Ivoclar Vivadent develops innovative dental devices that are used worldwide. Until now, however, there was no central solution for recording and analysing device usage data in real time. As a result, valuable insights into device performance, optimisation potential and maintenance requirements remained largely unused. The aim was to implement a secure and scalable IoT platform that would enable real-time access to telemetry data and create the basis for data-supported further development of the products. Solution The implementation Together with the collana subsidiary Option 4.0, a cloud-based IoT solution based on Microsoft Azure was realised. The combination of Azure Kubernetes Service, Time Series Insights, Azure Active Directory and Azure Storage enabled all dental medical devices to be securely connected to the cloud. The platform collects and analyses device and performance data in real time and makes it usable for different areas of the company via intuitive dashboards - from product development to service and technical support. Working with Option 4.0 has given us access to a rapidly scaling network of talented developers, who have been excellently managed by them. We had full transparency in all matters at all times and were able to implement customised solutions based on mature technologies. Chief Architect Ivoclar Vivadent GmbH Result / Impact How the problem was solved The newly introduced platform enables Ivoclar Vivadent to analyse device behaviour and usage data in real time. This enables maintenance requirements to be recognised at an early stage, downtimes to be reduced and service calls to be planned in a targeted manner. Product development also benefits from the new findings, as customer requirements can now be derived directly from actual usage behaviour. The solution is scalable enough to flexibly cover future requirements and support further company growth. Recommendation Customers were also interested in Develop innovative products with secure AI solutions on Azure - data protection-compliant and scalable. Find out more Determine the status quo and identify specific IoT potential in the digitalisation check. Find out more Analyse sensor data and control smart services intelligently with data analytics. Find out more Best choice for smart dental devices With Azure IoT and data-driven analyses, Ivoclar Vivadent is laying the foundation for intelligent services, greater efficiency and sustainable product development.
Central IoT data platform at HUBER+SUHNER. Traceability and efficiency with Azure

Central IoT data platform at HUBER+SUHNER Home / Central IoT data platform at HUBER+SUHNER. Traceability & efficiency with Azure The project at a glance Seamless traceability Serial number-based tracking throughout the entire manufacturing process Cloud-based data architecture Azure IoT Edge & Data Explorer enable centralised analytics Brownfield-compatible solution Seamless integration of existing systems thanks to a custom edge module Sector Manufacturing and production Client HUBER+SUHNER AG Technology / Product Azure IoT Hub, Azure IoT Edge, Azure Data Explorer, Custom Edge Module Project description The challenge HUBER+SUHNER was faced with a patchwork of local databases. Data analysis was laborious, time-consuming and could not be carried out centrally. To ensure auditability, production data had to be archived in a traceable manner over many years – whilst parts were not clearly labelled. Objective: A centralised, scalable data platform that combines traceability, analysis and system integration. Solution: Implementation In collaboration with Option 4.0, a modular IoT data architecture was built on Microsoft Azure: Azure IoT Edge Runtime: reliable data collection with offline functionality Custom IoT Edge Modules: protocol translation for existing machines Azure IoT Hub: centralised management & secure communication Azure Data Explorer: high-performance storage & analysis of large time-series data The solution captures, stores and analyses production data across multiple sites – including serial number tracking over many years. Key success factors Integration of existing machines – without the need for replacement Consistent data availability even during network outages Foundation for future use cases (e.g. condition monitoring) Cloud solution with a focus on security, scalability and cost-efficiency Result / Impact How the problem was solved The introduction of a central data platform created a unified view of all production data and ensured full traceability for audits and compliance. Manual effort involved in analysis and data maintenance was significantly reduced. The scalable architecture also enables future expansions, for example for quality assurance or predictive maintenance, thereby creating a reliable basis for data-driven decisions. Recommendation Customers were also interested in: Using data analytics to intelligently evaluate production data and enable centralised control. Find out more: Automate processes with secure AI solutions on Azure. Scalable, GDPR-compliant and future-proof. Find out more Assess the current situation with the digitalisation check and prepare for data-driven business models. Find out more Best Choice for data-driven manufacturing: HUBER+SUHNER demonstrates how IoT data becomes the driving force behind efficiency and quality – from the sensor to the cloud.
IoT analytics platform with Azure at Bühler AG - for global efficiency and sustainability

IoT analytics platform with Azure at Bühler AG – for global efficiency and sustainability Home / IoT analytics platform with Azure at Bühler AG – for global efficiency and sustainability The project at a glance Up to 48% less downtime Data-driven optimisations help to significantly reduce unplanned downtime. Real-time analysis of millions of data points Azure Data Explorer processes telemetry data from connected machines in real time and makes it available for analysis. Sustainability target: a 50% reduction by 2025 Bühler aims to reduce its global consumption of waste, energy and water by 50 %. Industry: Manufacturing / Food & Mobility sector Client: Bühler AG Technology / Product: Azure IoT Edge, Azure Data Explorer, Microservices & APIs (Including: Kusto Query Language, Python support, user dashboards) Project description The challenge Bühler is pursuing the ambitious goal of reducing resource consumption (waste, energy, water) by 50 %. Globally, by 2025. To achieve this, machines worldwide needed to be connected, operational data analysed in real time, and individual optimisation strategies made visible. Crucially, the platform needed to be scalable, maintainable and understandable for a wide range of user roles. Solution: Implementation In collaboration with Microsoft, Bühler developed a modern IoT platform: Bühler Insights. The solution is based on Azure IoT Edge for data collection directly at the machine. The data streams (millions of telemetry data points) are analysed in Azure Data Explorer. Visualisation and benchmarking are carried out via role-based dashboards, supplemented by flexible APIs and script access via KQL and Python. The platform has a modular design and can be quickly adapted to new customer scenarios using microservices. „With Azure Data Explorer, we were able to focus on adding value rather than managing infrastructure.“ Cédric Menzi, Solution Architect, Bühler Insights Result / Impact How the problem was solved Bühler was able to achieve measurable results with the new IoT analytics platform: ✔️ Up to 48 % less downtime ✔️ 49 % fewer faults, 18 % lower energy consumption ✔️ 16 % higher productivity The platform now comprises over 50 digital services and is ready for global roll-outs. The focus on sustainability, combined with technical excellence and modern data analysis, makes Bühler a pioneer in data-driven Industry 4.0. Recommendation: Customers were also interested in using data analytics to analyse production data and identify opportunities for efficiency gains. Find out more: Evaluate the right solution for international manufacturing processes in the ERP orientation workshop. Find out more: Carry out precise analyses using secure AI solutions on Azure – compliant with data protection regulations and scalable. Find out more: The best choice for data-driven production: With Azure & Bühler Insights, Bühler reduces resource consumption – efficiently, scalably and with a view to the future.
International BI platform with TARGIT at Beckhoff Automation

An international BI platform based on TARGIT and Microsoft technologies was set up for Beckhoff.
More than 300 users are working with the solution in over eleven countries. Data from Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, as well as historical ERP data, is analysed centrally. The purchasing, warehousing, production and dispatch departments receive up-to-date key performance indicators and are increasingly able to carry out their own analyses.