How CAF connects data to fuel digital innovation
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. (CAF) is a global leader in transportation systems and mobility. When manual integration of train and business data were slowing AI innovation, it needed a better way. With the SAP Business Data Cloud solution, CAF is connecting third-party solutions, improving data insight, and revolutionizing efficiency.
| Industry | Region | Company Size |
| Industrial manufacturing | Beasain, Spain | 16,000 employees |
Director of Digital Transformation, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. (CAF)
Shaping the future of sustainable mobility with transport and data innovation
Founded in northern Spain more than 100 years ago, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. (CAF) is a global leader in train and tram manufacturing and comprehensive transportation systems. As more and more cities worldwide choose CAF to help tackle the challenges of mobility and transport decarbonization, continuous innovation becomes ever more important.
Developing advanced, tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers is at the heart of CAF’s business. But there was also a need to standardize operations, especially around IT. To do this, CAF embarked on a digital transformation strategy that started with replacing outdated ERP with a unified, global system.
But vast amounts of train operations data was still siloed from business process data, requiring time-consuming manual integration that impacted data quality and time to value. Whether for AI or simple reporting, CAF needed a way to bring that data together for faster, deeper insights.
Director of Digital Transformation, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. (CAF)
Bringing siloed train operations and business data onto the same track
Working with SAP Services and Support, CAF first migrated from its ERP systems to SAP Cloud ERP Private solutions and the SAP Business Warehouse (SAP BW) application. After that, it modernized its instance of SAP BW with the SAP Datasphere solution, now part of the SAP Business Data Cloud and SAP Analytics Cloud solutions, to enable self-service data access and analytics.
But still struggling with the lack of integration between train and business data, CAF then integrated the SAP Databricks capability with SAP Business Data Cloud to bridge the gap.
With SAP Databricks in SAP Business Data Cloud, CAF can now analyze train and business data in a single solution without having to move data between systems, saving the time and cost of manual extractions.
The end result is that AI can now be leveraged wherever necessary—a strategy and technology path with SAP that CAF is confident will lead to a strong return on investment.
Director of Digital Transformation, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. (CAF)
Unifying data for faster innovation and time to value
Obtaining insights across train and business data without moving data has resulted in a lower total cost of ownership.
CAF now has better data quality, which is delivering better results for everything from AI to reporting and insights. Clean, correct data also improves process execution, change management, and general data organization. Deeper insights and intelligent applications are increasing efficiency and speeding time to value across the business from design to train operations.
For example, CAF can inform its design department to remove unneeded accessories, or it can ask train operators to be more efficient around how the train is operated. And better data quality and faster access also mean that CAF can continue to innovate with AI across the entire business.
Director of Digital Transformation, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. (CAF)
Accelerating rollout to 80 more companies
With two successful implementations already complete, CAF looks to accelerate the rollout of SAP Business Data Cloud across its remaining companies. The goal is to speed AI innovation and efficiency gains across the enterprise to empower users to focus on value-adding tasks.
As CAF continues to grow, SAP software will be at the heart of its digital strategy, helping ensure that the company, its customers, and its future stay on the right track.