Catena-X provides a secure and standardized data space, enabling seamless collaboration among automotive stakeholders. A key feature of Catena-X is its messaging platform, which facilitates efficient communication between manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and other industry players. This use case enhances transparency and efficiency across supply chain management, vehicle performance tracking, maintenance planning, and compliance reporting.
1. Supply chain and logistics messaging
Effective messaging within Catena-X improves supply chain efficiency and visibility. For instance, when a supplier ships parts to an OEM, the system ensures that inventory data, delivery schedules, and quality certifications are shared in real time. This reduces delays, streamlines documentation, and enhances overall transparency.
- Use case: An OEM receives real-time status updates on incoming parts from Tier 1 suppliers, including quality control checks and delivery timelines. In case of delays or quality issues, the messaging system triggers alerts, enabling swift corrective action.
2. Collaborative carbon footprint reporting
Sustainability is a key focus of Catena-X, and its messaging platform plays a crucial role in carbon footprint tracking and reporting. ECUs equipped with sensors can track fuel consumption and emissions, sending this data to Catena-X. Through standardized messaging, OEMs, suppliers, and logistics providers collaborate to compile accurate carbon footprint assessments.
- Use case: A logistics provider transmits real-time emissions data from vehicles in transit to an OEM. The Catena-X messaging system ensures secure and standardized data exchange, enabling comprehensive sustainability reporting and regulatory compliance.
3. Predictive maintenance and Over-the-Air (OTA) updates
Catena-X messaging also supports real-time communication for predictive maintenance and OTA updates. When an ECU detects an issue—such as brake wear or engine malfunctions—the vehicle can send an alert to the OEM or service provider, triggering the maintenance process.
- Use case: A fleet operator receives ECU-generated alerts about potential braking system failures. Using Catena-X messaging, the operator quickly schedules repairs or pushes an OTA update to affected ECUs, preventing breakdowns before they occur.
4. Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) messaging
As the industry moves towards smart mobility and autonomous driving, Catena-X messaging enables V2V and V2I communication. Vehicles can exchange real-time data on location, speed, and traffic conditions, enhancing safety and traffic flow.
- Use case: Autonomous vehicles in a Catena-X-enabled city exchange messages about road conditions, congestion, and emergency vehicle movements. This allows them to adjust routes and driving behaviour dynamically, improving safety and efficiency.
How T-Systems enhances the Catena-X messaging use case
T-Systems Connect & Integrate is critical in enabling the Catena-X messaging platform by providing secure, scalable, and efficient cloud infrastructure and integration tools.
1. Secure messaging infrastructure
T-Systems ensures that all messages exchanged within Catena-X are encrypted and securely transmitted across the ecosystem. This is essential for protecting sensitive data, including vehicle performance information, supply chain data, and customer details.
2. Middleware integration
T-Systems can offer middleware that integrates messaging systems with backend applications (e.g., ERP systems, fleet management platforms, and maintenance management systems), making the exchange of real-time data from ECUs and other sources smooth and seamless.
3. Scalable data handling
With T-Systems' cloud capabilities, the Catena-X messaging platform can scale efficiently to handle the increasing volume of data as more vehicles, ECUs, and connected devices come online.
4. Compliance and reporting
T-Systems helps ensure that messages exchanged for compliance purposes (e.g., carbon footprint reporting) are handled in a way that adheres to industry standards and regulatory requirements.
5. Easy & quick automated setup within minutes
- Auto-deployment into Catena-X with no technical manual configurations and no IT know-how required
- Quick start into Catena-X applications with Catena-X and IDSA-certified solutions and Gaia-X compliance
- Full support for Catena-X Managed Identity Wallet (MIW) and distributed Digital Twin Registry (dDTR)
- Optional: highly performant, decentralized Digital Twin Registry, powered by Bosch
6. Cloud-agnostic solutions for scalability
To ensure low barrier to entry and scalability, we offer flexible deployment options across all hyperscaler clouds, as well as on-prem deployments. Current supported cloud environments include:
- Open Telekom Cloud (OTC)
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Microsoft Azure
- Google Cloud
- T-systems Sovereign Cloud
- AWS Sovereign Cloud (coming soon)
Image 1. Scalable cloud-agnostic and flexible deployment
7. Easy user interface for no-code users
- Unified ONE Data Governance & Integration Hub for easy data access and usage
- Easy data upload options, including manual upload or automation for data provisioning and consumption
- Simple UI-based policy management tools – ideal for both business and technical users
Image 2. Connect & Integrate application dashboard
Image 3. Policy creation with easy UI in Connect & Integrate
Image 4. Example data exchange messages (incoming)
Seamless data integration across systems
T-Systems' Connect & Integrate enables businesses to streamline the integration of various systems within the Catena-X ecosystem, from ERP systems to IoT sensors on production lines.
Further advantages include:
- Automated publishing or downloading of data packages via API to a secure database synchronized with Catena-X
- “Off-the-shelf” backend adapters for efficient and quick integration with existing systems
- Key semantic modelling functionalities, including data mapping, conversion, and synchronization via an intuitive web-based UI
Image 5. Semantic models and conversion for Catena-X in Connect & Integrate
First successful implementation of messaging use case in Catena-X
T-Systems Connect & Integrate has successfully deployed one of the first Catena-X messaging use cases for Electronic Control Units (ECUs). Already in production and adopted by leading automotive suppliers worldwide, the solution has processed over 10,000 data transfers in less than a month. Read more about the ECU use case.
By providing the secure and scalable infrastructure needed for real-time data exchange, T-Systems enables predictive maintenance, sustainability tracking, OTA updates, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication within the Catena-X ecosystem.
Contact us to learn more about the ECU use case, Catena-X messaging, or other applications. We’d be happy to demonstrate how T-Systems can support your data journey.
