IBM deploys cloud-based network targeting Indian auto firms

NEW DELHI, INDIA: IBM has deployed a business-to-business (B2B) cloud-based network that will help transform the Indian automotive industry by accelerating the movement of data and reducing transaction costs by up to 80 percent.

The new exchange - AutoDX - was developed in partnership with the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Automotive Components Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the two industry bodies in the Indian automotive industry.

Vijay Sethi, CIO, Hero MotoCorp Ltd and chairman, SIAM IT Committee said: "This is the first industry wide digital collaboration initiative for the Indian automotive sector and has the potential to transform the entire industry. AutoDX - using IBM's cloud computing platform - will greatly improve efficiencies and reduce costs across the entire ecosystem as the exchange of information on various critical logistics and financial transactions can now be done seamlessly between supply chain partners without any manual intervention."

"There has been a lot of inconsistency with how transactional data is shared in India between manufacturers, suppliers and customers, resulting in processing delays, inaccurate transactions and other inefficiencies," said Sri Karumbati, CIO of SSS Springs and deputy chairman of the ACMA Technology Committee.

"ACMA and SIAM are excited to come together with IBM and take advantage of its decades of experience in supply chain technology to help build a platform that enables all of our members to exchange data quickly, accurately and in a safe and secure manner."

Jagdish Belwal, CIO, Tata Motors said: "This is a path breaking, industry-wide initiative that seeks to create an overarching platform for the entire Indian automobile industry. This system created by IBM will go a long way in improving overall efficiencies across the entire automotive ecosystem by standardizing the data definitions, data interchange formats and therefore expanding the possibilities of automation."

"Under fierce global competition, companies are increasingly deploying cloud technology to keep pace and dynamically address changes in market demands," said Venkataraman Neelakantan, industry leader - Manufacturing & Natural Resources, IBM India/South Asia. "By combining the emerging power of cloud with our time-tested B2B collaboration network, we can help ACMA and SIAM transform the entire India automotive industry on a massive scale to accelerate their pace of innovation."