Think Digitally - Cloud

Data “in the Cloud” Improves Work

The carmaker is increasingly relying on cloud solutions, which means having shared data or applications on remote servers

t is not only a matter of video calls or shared storage sites. Without cloud services, it would be much more difficult for ŠKODA AUTO employees to create and use software, manage their business processes in Production and Logistics, as well as Sales and Marketing, or develop any new ŠKODA models. “Thanks to the shared resources, the cloud makes it possible to minimise IT infrastructure costs. Above all, it helps individuals and teams across the carmaker to work much more efficiently. From various devices, they can connect to cloud platforms from anywhere and any network”, explains Jan Mraček, coordinator of the FIT/1 – Enterprise Architecture & Cloud IT department. Simply put, you do not need your computer but can go to any device and start working on it.

This year, ŠKODA AUTO approved its corporate cloud strategy, whose pillars include the principle that every newly introduced application must be “cloud-ready”. It might not work on this principle right away, but it must be possible to move it to a cloud without any issues, if required.

Pay only for what is needed

Companies usually develop their private clouds for some of their solutions, but the public ones are the most widespread and advantageous type. It is a worldwide network of interconnected servers functioning as a single ecosystem. Some store and download data, launch applications or provide and deliver a variety of content and services, such as streaming videos, e-mail, office software and social media. ŠKODA AUTO employees use the Office365 software, which works on this principle. It is not even necessary to have a text editor or spreadsheet installed: They can also run remotely and be opened via a web browser. Most of the clouds aimed at the end customer also belong to the public category. ED

Did you know that...

... ENYAQ iV is the VW Group’s first model to take full advantage of cloud solutions? It is used, among others, for navigation and to use the ŠKODA Connect application and the MyŠKODA Powerpass service. Previously, the cars had partially communicated with local servers.

Cloud configurator

One example of effective cloud use is the web configurator of ŠKODA models, which previously ran on the carmaker’s servers. However, they remained busy only at peak times. “In the public cloud, we now only pay for what we use and when we need it. Performance capacity automatically increases only at peak times, such as at car showrooms or the launch of new models. Thanks to this elasticity, we save resources”, says Mraček.

Tool for working from home

Another cloud service helps employees to better manage home office life, which the pandemic has forced upon them. The MS Teams application has enabled them to cooperate online between teams and individuals. Each of the participants can connect from anywhere in the world. For example, they can work together on one Excel spreadsheet while simultaneously seeing each other on camera.