cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG - SAP Innovation Awards 2025
To support mass production of hydrogen fuel cells, the cellcentric migrated its IT landscape to cloud-based SAP solutions. It implemented SAP S/4HANA Cloud for ERP, SAP Digital Manufacturing, and SAP SuccessFactors for HR, integrating them for streamlined operations. This digital backbone, along with standardized processes and easy-access training, prepares the cellcentric for rapid growth and future technological advancements. Download the DocumentPUBLIC
Entry Pitch Deck
cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
Automotive
Creating a robust technology foundation to
prepare for manufacturing growth
Picture credit | cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG, Kirchheim Unter Teck, Germany. Used with permission.
BUSINESS
AS UNUSUAL
Entry Pitch Deck
cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
Automotive
Creating a robust technology foundation to
prepare for manufacturing growth
Picture credit | cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG, Kirchheim Unter Teck, Germany. Used with permission.
BUSINESS
AS UNUSUAL
COMPANY NAME:
HEADQUARTERS:
INDUSTRY:
WEBSITE:
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:
Company information
2
cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
Kirchheim Unter Teck, Germany
Automotive
www.cellcentric.net
600
Formed as a joint venture between Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group
AB, cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG is focused on the development and
commercialization of next-generation hydrogen fuel cell systems for long-haul
heavy-duty trucks. These offer best in class TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) -
low weight / long range / high flexibility / short refueling times / optimized fuel
efficiency / zero emission / outstanding durability - than traditional fuel cell
solutions. That way cellcentric fuel cell systems have the potential to help the
world take a major step toward climate-neutral transportation.
To date, we’ve gained more than 700 patents, highlighting our pioneering role
in the development of sustainable fuel cell technology. However, to achieve
our ambition of becoming a leading global producer of H2 fuel cell systems,
we need to transition from an IT systems landscape designed for R&D
operations to a robust technology foundation that can support large-scale
manufacturing.
PUBLIC
HEADQUARTERS:
INDUSTRY:
WEBSITE:
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:
Company information
2
cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
Kirchheim Unter Teck, Germany
Automotive
www.cellcentric.net
600
Formed as a joint venture between Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group
AB, cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG is focused on the development and
commercialization of next-generation hydrogen fuel cell systems for long-haul
heavy-duty trucks. These offer best in class TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) -
low weight / long range / high flexibility / short refueling times / optimized fuel
efficiency / zero emission / outstanding durability - than traditional fuel cell
solutions. That way cellcentric fuel cell systems have the potential to help the
world take a major step toward climate-neutral transportation.
To date, we’ve gained more than 700 patents, highlighting our pioneering role
in the development of sustainable fuel cell technology. However, to achieve
our ambition of becoming a leading global producer of H2 fuel cell systems,
we need to transition from an IT systems landscape designed for R&D
operations to a robust technology foundation that can support large-scale
manufacturing.
PUBLIC
CHALLENGE: SOLUTION: OUTCOME:
Getting ready for growth with integrated cloud technology
3
Fit-to-standard deployment of
SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
Scaled production output with
digital manufacturing and an
optimized material supply
Months from project kickoff to
go-live in production assembly
with SAP Digital Manufacturing
99%
cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
>600% 3
Initially set up as a R&D operation, we needed
to transition to mass production of our hydrogen
fuel cells. However, before we could take this next
step, we needed to switch up our IT landscape to
establish a technology foundation that could support
large-scale manufacturing.
To achieve this, we wanted to replace our existing
ERP based on the SAP ERP application with a
next-generation cloud ERP. We also wanted to
implement cloud solutions for manufacturing and
HR management, as well as implement best
practice–based, standardized processes across
our operations.
We used the SAP Signavio Process Manager
solution to determine optimal processes for efficient
operations before implementing the SAP Digital
Manufacturing solution, integrating it with SAP ERP
using SAP Integration Suite. We also began to
deploy SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
which, when live, we’ll integrate with SAP Digital
Manufacturing and our SAP SuccessFactors
solutions. Supported by SAP MaxAttention services,
we accelerated our cloud ERP deployment using the
SAP Activate methodology and the SAP Cloud ALM
tool. In addition, we’re using the SAP Enable Now
solution to make training materials readily available.
Our cloud solutions from SAP provide a comprehensive
and robust digital backbone that will enable us to
successfully ramp up our operations for mass production
of our fuel cells. With standardized processes, clearly
defined responsibilities, and straightforward access to
training materials, we’re ready for rapid growth in our
workforce.
Meanwhile, automatic updates to our cloud solutions will
enable us to take advantage of the latest technologies
and AI-enabled innovations in the future. This will help
us further streamline our business processes and
support us in our goal of achieving global leadership in
sustainable fuel cell technology.
PUBLIC
Getting ready for growth with integrated cloud technology
3
Fit-to-standard deployment of
SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
Scaled production output with
digital manufacturing and an
optimized material supply
Months from project kickoff to
go-live in production assembly
with SAP Digital Manufacturing
99%
cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
>600% 3
Initially set up as a R&D operation, we needed
to transition to mass production of our hydrogen
fuel cells. However, before we could take this next
step, we needed to switch up our IT landscape to
establish a technology foundation that could support
large-scale manufacturing.
To achieve this, we wanted to replace our existing
ERP based on the SAP ERP application with a
next-generation cloud ERP. We also wanted to
implement cloud solutions for manufacturing and
HR management, as well as implement best
practice–based, standardized processes across
our operations.
We used the SAP Signavio Process Manager
solution to determine optimal processes for efficient
operations before implementing the SAP Digital
Manufacturing solution, integrating it with SAP ERP
using SAP Integration Suite. We also began to
deploy SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
which, when live, we’ll integrate with SAP Digital
Manufacturing and our SAP SuccessFactors
solutions. Supported by SAP MaxAttention services,
we accelerated our cloud ERP deployment using the
SAP Activate methodology and the SAP Cloud ALM
tool. In addition, we’re using the SAP Enable Now
solution to make training materials readily available.
Our cloud solutions from SAP provide a comprehensive
and robust digital backbone that will enable us to
successfully ramp up our operations for mass production
of our fuel cells. With standardized processes, clearly
defined responsibilities, and straightforward access to
training materials, we’re ready for rapid growth in our
workforce.
Meanwhile, automatic updates to our cloud solutions will
enable us to take advantage of the latest technologies
and AI-enabled innovations in the future. This will help
us further streamline our business processes and
support us in our goal of achieving global leadership in
sustainable fuel cell technology.
PUBLIC
4
With our cloud solutions from SAP,
we’ve created a strong and highly
scalable technology foundation that’s
enabling us to transition smoothly from
a research company to global
manufacturing operations.
Christian Kruppenbacher, CIO, cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
PUBLIC
With our cloud solutions from SAP,
we’ve created a strong and highly
scalable technology foundation that’s
enabling us to transition smoothly from
a research company to global
manufacturing operations.
Christian Kruppenbacher, CIO, cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
PUBLIC
COMPANY NAME:
Participating partner information
MHP’s contribution is instrumental in helping
us take a clean core approach to establishing
a future-looking IT architecture.
Christian Kruppenbacher, CIO,
cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
5
MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH
MHP, our transformation partner for over two years and an SAP gold partner, has played
a crucial role in helping us optimize our current processes and define future target processes
using SAP Signavio Process Manager.
Additionally, it helped us implement SAP Digital Manufacturing in less than six months, helping
future-proof our production operations.
PUBLIC
SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition,
SAP Digital Manufacturing, SAP Business
Technology Platform, and SAP Signavio are
a perfect match for cellcentric, helping it
become a data-driven company and enabling
traceability and closed-loop manufacturing
based on standards.
Florian Röhr, Business Development OEM,
MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH
Participating partner information
MHP’s contribution is instrumental in helping
us take a clean core approach to establishing
a future-looking IT architecture.
Christian Kruppenbacher, CIO,
cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG
5
MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH
MHP, our transformation partner for over two years and an SAP gold partner, has played
a crucial role in helping us optimize our current processes and define future target processes
using SAP Signavio Process Manager.
Additionally, it helped us implement SAP Digital Manufacturing in less than six months, helping
future-proof our production operations.
PUBLIC
SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition,
SAP Digital Manufacturing, SAP Business
Technology Platform, and SAP Signavio are
a perfect match for cellcentric, helping it
become a data-driven company and enabling
traceability and closed-loop manufacturing
based on standards.
Florian Röhr, Business Development OEM,
MHP Management- und IT-Beratung GmbH