Information Technology (IT)
With digitalization and networking on the rise, all of our business processes must also be comprehensively provided with digital support. At the same time, the establishment of new locations is placing high demands on networking and coordination. A modern, tailor-made infrastructure and an efficient application landscape are needed to meet these requirements.
Our Group-wide Production, Information and Control System (FIS) enables us to produce vehicles efficiently all around the world – at the right time and with the right equipment. FIS is a key success factor for flexible, cross-brand manufacturing in the global production network.
The growing convergence of different business areas and IT is opening up new opportunities. In production, for example, big data processes help us to analyze faulty machinery and take action at an early stage. Virtual concept vehicles make the product development process even faster and more efficient. Applied research in the field of intelligent human-robot collaboration, and IT systems to control mobile assistive robotics and networked infrastructure (Internet of Things) are also important elements of the digitalization of production at the Volkswagen Group.
The Company’s internal network Group Connect helps to network all employees. The platform encourages the transfer of expertise and puts experts in touch with one another.
The newly established IT City serves as the central location for the Group’s own IT and digitalization expertise in Wolfsburg. The campus-style office complex has been systematically designed for agile working. In software development centers, we develop applications for a wealth of different uses, thereby maintaining comprehensive in-house expertise in the rapid, demand-oriented development of IT solutions.
Safeguarding data and systems at the Volkswagen Group is another focus of our IT. Over the past fiscal year, we have continued to set up the Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). The Group offers documents, templates and tools to all Group companies and brands in the form of an ISMS toolbox to help them implement their own ISMS. The ISO 27001 standard is one component of this. The key information security processes have been audited and successfully certified within the ISO 27001 framework. This is the most important standard for information security and extends beyond IT to cover issues such as personal security, compliance, physical security and legal requirements.
In 2015, Volkswagen AG co-founded the Deutsche Cyber-Sicherheitsorganisation GmbH – (DCSO). DCSO aims to accumulate specialist knowledge on cybersecurity and become the preferred service provider to German businesses in this field. It conducts security audits and certifies key suppliers and technologies in order to help German companies (especially small and medium-sized enterprises) detect and defend themselves against cyber-attacks and predict them in future. This work also makes our supply chain more secure.
Volkswagen is also capitalizing on digitalization at its in-house IT labs in Wolfsburg, Munich, Berlin, San Francisco and Barcelona. Specialist departments of Group IT, research institutions and technology partners are working closely together at these innovation centers on future trends in information technology, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum computing, digital ecosystems, intelligent human-robot collaboration and smart mobility. These labs act as test laboratories for the Group, as centers of expertise for these future trends and as liaison offices for start-ups. They enable Volkswagen to experiment with new technologies outside the line organization. Here, the experience and strategic expertise of a large company like Volkswagen is combined with the pragmatism and speed of young start-ups.