Gerhard Kress

Gerhard Kress works for Siemens Mobility Customer Service, and is responsible for building up data-driven services. His aim is to strengthen the use of data analytics as an enabler for new customer offerings. His previous work was in Siemens Corporate Technology, where he was responsible for implementing the corporate big data initiative “Smart Data to Business.” Before this, he worked for three years in Siemens Corporate Strategy to develop and refine the digitalization strategy for the Siemens businesses. Prior to his work in Corporate Strategy, Gerhard spent eight years working in Siemens IT Solutions and Services (SIS), managing systems and technologies for the global service desks and in the project management of major IT outsourcing projects. Gerhard started his professional career at McKinsey & Company, where he focused on growth initiatives and high-tech industries. He holds a German diploma in Theoretical Physics and a Master of Arts in International Relations and European Studies.

How trains are becoming data driven

Railways are at the intersection of Internet and industry.

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Trains and public transport are, for many of us, a vital part of our daily lives. Large cities are particularly dependent on an efficient public transport system, and if disruption occurs, it usually affects many passengers while spreading across the transport network. But our requirements as passengers are growing and maturing. Safety is paramount, but we also care about timeliness, comfort, Internet access, and other amenities. With strong competition for regional and long-distance trains, providing an attractive service has become critical for many rail operators today.

The railway industry is an old industry. For the last 150 years, this industry was built around mechanical systems maintained throughout a lifetime of 30 years, mostly through reactive or preventive maintenance. But this is not enough anymore to deliver the type of service we all want and expect to experience.

Deriving insight from the data of trains

Over the last few years, the rail industry has been transforming itself, embracing IT, digitalization, big data, and the related changes in business models. This change is driven both by the railway operating companies demanding higher vehicle and infrastructure availability, and, increasingly, wanting to transition their operational risk to suppliers. In parallel, the thought leaders among maintenance providers have embraced the technology opportunities to radically improve their offerings and help their customers deliver better value. Read more…