The success of the digital transformation of the automotive industry depends critically on multilateral collaboration between all stakeholders along the automotive value chain.  Our growing Catena-X ecosystem, will enable enormous amounts of data to be integrated and collaboratively harnessed.   

However, this vision is complex: companies at various stages of the automotive value chain, such as production, delivery or logistics, often have their own IT systems to manage their data. To ensure that these complex data volumes can be sent, received and processed smoothly across all stages of the value chain, we need one language for all players: common standards.  

What are standards and why do we need them?   

The standards of our Catena-X data ecosystem define how the exchange of data and information in our network works. They are the basis for ensuring that the technologies, components and processes used are developed and operated according to uniform rules.  

What are the benefits of Catena-X standards?  

Common standards create added value for everyone involved: Within our network, data flows more smoothly through interfaces. In addition, we avoid cumbersome indivual IT solutions for sharing data with other partners.  

For users and data providers, this reduces the costs that would arise from adapting different systems. In addition, no important data is lost. On the contrary, it even becomes easier to collect data across companies, such as data of CO2 emissions. For operators and developers, standards create a framework that provides reliable orientation and planning security.  

How are standards created in our Catena-X Automotive Network e.V.?  

In order to be able to develop new standards for the growing Catena-X ecosystem, we have developed a standardization process that is compliant with applicable antitrust law.   

At the beginning of the process are so-called standard candidates. These are solutions that have been developed either through the development work in our consortia or through the collaboration of our association members. They form the starting point for the process.   

One example is the introduction of what we call a "Business Partner Identification Number“, a label that uniquely identifies each partner in the data ecosystem.  

Each standard is reviewed by subject matter experts in the Technical Committee and verified by the members of the association. In the next step, the standards are introduced as reference implementations, depending on the state of discussion.   

Do we consider existing standards in the Catena-X data ecosystem?  

We want to be compatible with the existing standards in the industry:  That is why all standards developed for the Catena-X data ecosystem are based on the technological and industry-specific requirements of the automotive industry. We also want to take into account the latest industry-relevant solutions and ensure that our data ecosystem is compatible with them. Thus, the Catena-X Automotive Network relies on collaborations. For instance, we collaborate with the Industrial Digital Twin Association to take into account the industrial digital twin. 

In the field of international standardization, Catena-X follows the proven international standardization institutions: ISO/IEC/ITU and CEN-CENELC/ETSI