#Digitalization | Center of Excellence Logistics and IT

Driver Knowledge Integration Tool

Melissa Kohnen — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:58:07 +0000

Using an app on their smartphone, they receive situation-specific answers to questions about driver instructions, load securing, hazardous goods or customer-specific requirements. The content is provided from company documents with the help of the Omnistics AI platform and a RAG-based chat system. DRIVE KIT reduces the number of queries to dispatch and control centers, makes it easier to train new drivers and creates a uniform knowledge base in the fleet.

Drive kit as a new feature of the Omnistics platform

Drive-Kit ist Teil der innovativen Plattform Omnistics, die speziell für Speditionsunternehmen entwickelt wurde ohne umfangreiche IT-Infrastruktur funktioniert. Omnistics offers AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) and significantly lowers the barrier to entry for using artificial intelligence (AI). This allows logistics processes to be designed more effectively and efficiently without having to make high initial investments.

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Martin Friedrich
Fraunhofer IML
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Daniel Hefft
Fraunhofer IML
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Open source implementation of the M2X directive

Melissa Kohnen — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:50:55 +0000

FTS-Connect offers an open source implementation of the M2X guideline. This makes it possible to make existing or new peripherals compliant with the M2X directive without major effort. The FTS-Connect project implements the M2Xinterface to a load change station.

All communication logic and processes defined within the guideline are covered by the software library. This reduces the complexity of communication for the user without them having to familiarize themselves with the directive. Using a minimal interface, it is therefore possible to make existing hardware M2X-compliant quickly and cost-effectively. FTS-Connect is written in C++ and can therefore be used on a wide range of common hardware.

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Dennis Lünsch
Fraunhofer IML
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Felix Borgmann
Fraunhofer IML
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Modular planning system for variable business scenarios

Melissa Kohnen — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 14:24:52 +0000

The budgeting of projects and plans presents companies with major challenges. Trends, product (r)evolutions, market developments and constantly changing regulatory requirements make it difficult to develop a stable planning system. Forecasts on staff turnover, quantity structures and sales must be taken into account, as must historical data on processes and capacities. Shadow IT – often with Excel – provides a remedy. However, the logic developed is hardly reusable or transferable.

As part of the project, a web-based planning system with basic modules was developed using a low-code or no-code framework, to which planning modules can be successively added, which can then be parameterized and linked together by the user.

The solution combines the advantages of software whose components work efficiently and stably and are maintainable, tested and documented with the flexibility of spreadsheets. Customers can adjust parameters themselves and new modules can easily be added to the system.

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Bernd Breitenbach
Fraunhofer IML
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Jennifer Wessels
Fraunhofer IML
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Training tool for getting started with data ecosystems

Melissa Kohnen — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:02:59 +0000

The training tool has been enriched with scientific and industrial perspectives and requirements and can be used regardless of the sector or size of the company. The informative, educational character of the training format enables all stakeholders to build up their skills with the aim of breaking down initial barriers to entry (e.g. uncertainties and skepticism due to a lack of knowledge) in the world of data exchange in a data ecosystem.

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Anzelika Lipovetskaya
Fraunhofer ISST
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Development of cloud edge architecture for digital twins

Melissa Kohnen — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:51:34 +0000

The Cloud-based Collaborative Condition Monitoring (CCM) ecosystem project has developed a cloud-edge architecture for distributed digital twins using the example of the CCM of the Industry 4.0 platform. In particular, data sovereignty was integrated, which enables the secure sharing of data between participants within a CCM ecosystem.

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Steffen Biehs
Fraunhofer ISST
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Philipp Hagenhoff
Fraunhofer ISST
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Sensor-based recording for reliable spare parts data

Melissa Kohnen — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:25:38 +0000

Spare parts are often only rudimentarily described in the IT systems that manage the inventory. If there is a malfunction, i.e. an unplanned breakdown of a machine or system, poor or non-existent master data prevents efficient repairs. This results in long search times, numerous internal and external inquiries, increased pressure and cost-intensive rush purchases.

In the SmartMess project, we want to take the first step towards supported spare parts recording and master data creation. To this end, we are combining the use of a classification system with the use of optical 3D RGB sensors.
The use of 3D RGB sensors creates a precise model of the spare parts in the warehouse. This enables a more precise recording of object properties and improves the high-quality creation of spare parts master data. By limiting possible classes for the technical description of spare parts, the creation of master data is significantly supported and made more efficient. As a result, the master data quality is increased and the acceptance of parametric classification systems is improved. This reduces inefficiencies due to missing or poor master data, such as search times or downtimes due to missing spare parts, and enables planning in maintenance.

Photos: Fraunhofer IML/Vinzenz Neugebauer

Contact person:

Dominik Buß
Fraunhofer IML
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