The first step on the way to participating in Catena-X is to define the framework conditions for your individual introduction process. At first, you should determine what you want to achieve with Catena-X and how much support you need along the way. The subsequent introduction of Catena-X can be realized in different ways: from full support to assistance with selected topics to introduction on your own. You are free to choose. We have a selection of suitable onboarding partners ready for you. For example, they can offer you support in drawing up initial cost-benefit plans - through assistance with technical onboarding to further training for your employees. You retain control at all times, whether you want to do everything yourself or be guided. Let us put together your individual onboarding menu together!

In the second step, we work with you to determine the business value of joining Catena-X based on possible use cases. If desired, our onboarding partners will estimate the associated costs and identify potentials for possible public funding. They also assess the value generation opportunities offered by the network and guide you to the right projects, topics and partners. Detailed descriptions of the possible use cases can be found here on the Catena-X website.

The third step involves the technical connection to the network. First, you register your company and your internal Catena-X users via the portal. Alternatively, if you are already using other business networks that are collaborating with Catena-X you can use your existing account to activate yourself for Catena-X. This saves you double registration and user administration. Afterwards you select the required applications in the Catena-X marketplace to be able to implement the use cases you have chosen.

The basic idea of Catena-X is the sovereign sharing of data according to shared principles. Each use case has different data requirements, each of which is precisely specified. You decide how you want to provide this data and which degree of automation you want. For example, it is possible to upload the data manually as a CSV file into the applications of the use case or to set up an automated data pipeline.

Throughout the process, you retain control over your data and the conditions under which it is exchanged with others. Not sure if you have the data you need? Our onboarding partners are happy to guide you through every aspect of technical connectivity.

Finally, successful implementation also includes the organizational anchoring of Catena-X in your organization. Our onboarding partners help you empower your employees. From data literacy training to coaching on the topic of organizational culture, our onboarding partners provide your employees with the necessary skills and mindsets to deal with data, use data and identify innovative business models, as well as optimize internal and cross-company process flows.

Initial Information and Set-up

• Receive all relevant information on the onboarding journey via the onboarding package
• Clarification of the main onboarding-related questions
• Assure core stakeholders required for onboarding are mobilized and informed to Assure a smooth onboarding journey

Onboarding Partner

• As required, an operating company as well as consulting, implementation, and/or backend integration partner can support your company during onboarding
• Utilize standard software packages or consulting services to leverage existing expertise and skills, and to reduce onboarding and integration efforts

Business Value

• Analyze internal business value of joining Catena-X network e.g., using a business value framework
• Catena-X offers your organization a wide range of business opportunities such as new data-driven business models and room for innovation
• Derive arguments to convince sponsors and decision makers within the joining company

Legal 

• For the success of the Catena-X network and each individual partner it is crucial to know the legal and contractual requirements for the participating companies which are needed to execute data exchange between the Catena-X participants
• Assess Catena-X legal framework and frame contract
• Unternehmens vor dem Beitritt zu Catena-X.
• Beantworten Sie die Fragen in der Bewertung, um später im Onboarding-Prozess Entscheidungen über die Einsatzszenarien, Make-or-Buy-Optionen, den Betrieb und mehr zu treffen.

Scenario Questionnaire

• Conduct the scenario questionnaire based on the graphic shown above to determine your companies technical onboarding scenario
• The onboarding journey will vary based on your type of participation in the network: If and in which use cases you participate and if you use managed services or business apps will determine scope and specific actions during onboarding

Registration Form & Contract

• To get enabled to access Catena-X ecosystem and offered service registration must be completed
• The registration process takes place using Catena-X registration form (currently link received via email)

Backend Preparation and Data Transformation

• A review of the current technical environment will be necessary to ensure tech scope
• To efficiently exchange data and enable consumption of value-added services, an agreed data contract and standardized data format is needed
• The standardized data models will require efforts regarding the transformation of data within your company to the Catena-X standard

Enabling Data Exchange

• In this step the EDC is set up and enabled for data exchange
• As the data demands by partners will often not be known upfront, it is important to be able to react to change requests quickly and design and build data pipelines that are configurable and can be adapted to the specific needs of partners

Data Discovery and Access

• Depending on the use case, different mechanisms for data discovery and access might be used. For most use cases the AAS / Digital twin approach is used
• The Digital Twin Registry provides a source of information ("phone book")
• All digital twins within the data ecosystem, need to be registered so that they can be found by data consumers

End-to-end Integration and Testing

• Testing the set-up system for its functionality and stability as well as performing conformance test to check if pre-defined standards are adhered to

Monitoring & Operations

• Just as any other system the Catena-X components, including data pipelines from source systems, EDC and asset registration at the digital twin registry must be monitored.
• Furthermore, IT operations for the components need to be ensured, including incident response / ticketing processes for requests from outside the company.

Data Governance

• It is necessary to assess the impact of joining the Catena-X network on your data governance framework; it is a prerequisite for sharing data between partners in the Catena-X network
• Integrate Catena-X in your Data Governance Framework (strategy, organization, processes & standards, technology & solutions) incl. contract agreement, data release processes, data provisioning and consumption scenarios

Training

• Depending on the use cases and the goals your company wants to achieve with Catena-X, people, processes, and technology may be significantly impacted.
• The training and certification of the teams involved in each case is one of the basic prerequisites for implementing the solution.
• For a successful transformation, a comprehensive impact analysis of the affected organizational parts is necessary and should be followed by supporting transformation activities.

Preparation

• Der Go-Live ist der letzte Schritt des Onboardings, nach dem ein regulärer IT-Betrieb für den Datenaustausch möglich ist.