High Performance at Mercedes-Benz: Navigating the ever-evolving automotive landscape through digital transformation and customer-centric approaches.

In this interview presented at CIO Edge, Jan Brecht, CIO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG & Mercedes-Benz AG, provides a comprehensive overview of Mercedes-Benz’s business and its transformation endeavours.

Jan underscores the multifaceted nature of transformation, encompassing process modifications, shifts in business models, and innovation. He categorises transformation into three stages of maturity: process optimisation with data-driven insights, business model adaptation, and, at the highest level, business model innovation. There are challenges with technology integration in the transformation journey and Jan underscores the importance of involving employees in this evolution.

Factory 56, Mercedes-Benz’s highly digitalised manufacturing facility, serves as a prime example of a successful IT-driven transformation. The factory’s advanced technology, including adaptable assembly lines, precise torque control, and wireless data transmission, showcases the profound impact of digitalisation on modern manufacturing.

Jan explains Mercedes-Benz’s approach to striking a balance between local innovation and shared capabilities, which hinges on a product-oriented strategy.…