Software for the mechanical engineering industry

Such a project is worthwhile if you want to achieve measurable improvements – for example, in machine availability, service costs, time-to-market for new variants, or in developing data-driven revenue models.
Typical benefits include fewer unplanned downtimes, more efficient maintenance, faster commissioning, or a digital service offering that strengthens customer loyalty and recurring revenue. Often, a clearly defined starting point – such as a pilot for a specific machine series or a concrete service use case – is sufficient. It’s important to define benefits and key performance indicators early on.

Generally, no. Many solutions connect to existing systems and extend them in a targeted way – such as control systems, SCADA, ERP, MES, or existing service tools. Older machines and controllers can also be integrated using open standards like OPC UA and MQTT. Instead of creating parallel, isolated solutions, we recommend a step-by-step expansion of your existing landscape to ensure the solution remains maintainable and integrated in the long term. The key is a clean architecture that bridges the gap between old and new.

An increasingly central one. Starting in December 2027, the Cyber Resilience Act will require “security by design” as a prerequisite for CE marking – including mandatory SBOMs and vulnerability management for at least 5 years. NIS2 has been in effect in Germany since the end of 2025 and affects approximately 29,500 companies. The new EU Machinery Regulation explicitly makes security a safety requirement starting in 2027. Anyone developing or modernizing software now should plan for these requirements from the very beginning. We integrate compliance requirements directly into our development processes – no costly rework.

Software projects in mechanical engineering are not purely an IT matter. Typical stakeholders include product development, service/after-sales, application engineering, production, and, of course, IT. Profitable projects emerge where domain expertise and IT knowledge come together early on. In our experience, clear roles and short decision-making paths are more important than mere organizational assignment. Our “Product Trio” approach (Business + UX + Technology) ensures that all perspectives are integrated from the very beginning.

Servitization describes the shift from simply selling products to data-driven business models: Equipment-as-a-Service, pay-per-use, remote monitoring, and digital after-sales platforms. Off-the-shelf software often reaches its limits here because the business models must be closely integrated with machine logic, customer processes, and the existing IT landscape. Custom software can bridge exactly this gap – between the machine, the data, and the new business model.

Small and clearly defined: a manageable use case with recognizable benefits – e.g., defined processes, a pilot customer, or a clear service use case. The goal is to quickly gain sound insights and experience with technology, organization, and interfaces. Starting this way reduces risks and makes it easier to assess the actual benefits. Afterward, the software can be expanded in a targeted manner – to include additional processes, regions, data sources, or functions.

Typically, this includes contacts from product/development, application engineering or service, IT, and – if necessary – maintenance or quality assurance. What matters most is not so much the team size as clear responsibilities and decision-making processes. Domain and process knowledge is just as important as expertise in integration and operations. Regular communication among all stakeholders contributes significantly to the project’s success.

The duration depends heavily on the scope, the existing system landscape, and the integration effort – ranging from a few months for focused enhancements to longer timelines for comprehensive platforms or numerous interfaces. Pilot projects provide reliable results early on and help to realistically assess the effort required and define the roadmap.