Empowering SMEs through Intelligent Collaboration in Industry 4.0
In the era of Industry 4.0, the landscape of business and product development is undergoing a profound transformation. At the heart of this evolution is the concept of collaboration - a synergy between companies, powered by advanced digital technologies, to innovate, develop, and scale new products. The METIS research project is at the forefront of this revolution, pioneering methods to enhance collaborative product development with a special focus on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Building on Solid Foundations
Drawing from our previous research, including the development of the collaboration maturity model in project 19793N, we recognize that optimizing IT tool stacks at the collaboration initiation stage is key to enhanced collaboration. The METIS project aims to leverage this insight to develop a method for the context-dependent analysis, evaluation, and configuration of IT tool stacks, incorporating SaaS technologies and advanced machine learning methods.
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Our Approach: Analyze,
Recommend,
and Evaluate.
Metis aims to recommend
a cost-effective IT tool stack that can efficiently perform all key functions of a project by leveraging anonymized insights from similar real-world use cases.
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In the initial phase, real-world use cases from various industries are analyzed to identify common scenarios and project archetypes.
Within these clusters, key activities and the specific functions of software used in collaborative product development projects are identified. Ratings for these activities, based on the performance of various IT tools, are collected.
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An enterprise can be mapped to these clusters, and based on the identified key and desired activities,
a combination of software
is recommended that
covers all required functions, utilizing collective insights derived from real-world experiences.
Our Motivation: Collaboration in a Digital Age
As Industry 4.0 reshapes business models, product complexity increases and digitalization advances, companies are faced with the challenge of adapting their IT tools flexibly to be successful in collaboration. Effective collaboration, characterized by joint activities, intensive coordination and robust data exchange, is not only beneficial but crucial for success in today's digital ecosystem.
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The Role of SaaS Technologies
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technologies emerge as a
game-changer in this context, offering cloud-based solutions that allow for quick, cost-efficient adaptation of IT systems. These technologies
not only facilitate innovative working methods and product development but also provide SMEs with access to collaborative systems without the need for extensive setup, thereby leveling the playing
field in joint development efforts.
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Ready to Optimize Your IT Tool Stack for Collaborative Product Development?
At METIS Projekt, we offer context-dependent analysis, evaluation, and configuration of IT tool stacks, utilizing advanced machine learning methods and similarity-based AI recommendation systems. Follow us on social media to benefit from our tailor-made, innovative solutions tailored specifically to your company.
METIS Project with Data Figures
2
Research Departments
12
Partner Companies
100+
Most Innovative Tools
150+
Collaborative Activities
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3+
Recommendation Systems
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Our Partners
Funding
Funding acknowledgment
The IGF project 22534 N (approval period: 03/02/2023 - 31/01/2025) "METIS - Methodical Configuration of IT to Enhance the Collaboration Capability of SMEs in Distributed Product Development" by the Research Association for Quality (FQS) was funded through the AiF as part of the Industrial Collective Research (IGF) program by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) based on a decision of the German Bundestag.