Trends
AI in Aimtec solutions: put to practical, purposeful and meaningful use
Without a clear goal, AI is only a costly experiment. “Artificial intelligence is no longer just a supporting tool, it’s become an active element in the digital ecosystem," says Aimtec’s Supply Chain Solution Director Rostislav Schwob. So what does an AI deployment that actually delivers measurable results look like? Here are several examples of how artificial intelligence runs through Aimtec’s solutions for companies in logistics and manufacturing.
Digital by Design: Digitalisation Is Not a Patch, It Is the Foundation
This year’s Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) conference marks a double milestone: the 25th edition of the event coincides with Aimtec’s 30th anniversary. Yet the significance goes beyond round numbers. The conference subtitle Digital by Design raises a question that many manufacturing companies are currently facing: how to approach digitalisation strategically without being constrained by the legacy of historical systems.
Zebra ZEC500: A Brain for a Modern Workstation
What if just a little box behind a monitor was enough to give you a powerful, secure and fully manageable enterprise PC? The Zebra ZEC500 Enterprise Computer does just that. This compact device is built on Zebra’s proven Android platform, which links the worlds of mobile terminals, kiosks, digital signage and the shop floor into a single smart ecosystem.
Digitalisation Doesn’t Work without People: How Safran Cabin Saved 75 Million Euros
What is the cost of digitalisation when it isn't used in your operations? And what decides whether people will adopt a new tool, or bypass it with Excel instead? At the TAL 2025 conference, Selim Caluwaerts, Chief Data Officer and DigiMaps Program Director at Safran Cabin, explained that the key is not technology; it’s working with people, processes and data. And that skipping steps doesn't pay off!
How can an upgrade done right save your operations? Aimtec’s Petr Stejskal has a clear answer
In our interview with Aimtec CTO Petr Stejskal, we look at lifecycle management, data security, the benefits of upgrading mobile terminals and more. See how mobile terminals are managed in manufacturing and logistics, with practical examples showing how a well-planned upgrade can make operations easier and more efficient – and the impact of form factor on hardware choices.
BMW iFACTORY: 36 Million Parts Each Day, One Digital System
BMW Group is going through a fundamental transformation. Each of its thirty global manufacturing plants is gradually becoming an iFACTORY – a modern operation that’s effective, sustainable and digital. This is not a pilot project, but a shift in its global manufacturing system towards comprehensive and innovative thinking. Forever. At Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) 2025, Tobias Mayr, BMW Group’s General Manager IT Inbound Logistics, provided a behind-the-scenes look at this transformation.
Vinyl Production at GZ Media Is Built on Expertise, Technology and a Good Team
Among the distinctive speakers at the Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) 2025 conference was GZ Media’s Chief Executive Officer Michal Štěrba. This company from Loděnice, a small town near Prague, has an inspiring story: since its founding in 1951, it has seen a number of changes that have led it into the ranks of the world leaders in vinyl record manufacturing. One of this firm’s key innovations in recent years is the logistics and manufacturing automation project that it launched in 2023.
From Pilot Project to Operations: How Škoda Auto Is Implementing AI in Logistics
What’s the best way to deal with 3,500 freight vehicles a day, 93 systems in logistics and rapid data growth? Škoda Auto is betting on a combination of digitalisation, standardisation and the targeted use of artificial intelligence. At Trends in Automotive Logistics 2025, the company’s logistics systems coordinator Mojmír Barák explained how it’s moving AI out of laboratory conditions into real operations and how to build people’s trust in new technologies.
Helping through Code: How a Life‑Changing Programming Contest Began
Can a hackathon for young programmers help solve a problem that’s been beyond the reach of medicine? Now we know that the answer is yes. #AimtecHackathon proves it. Competing teams address challenges sent in by specific people with disabilities and non-profit organisations. We spoke with its main organiser Petra Šteklová about the road that led to today’s version of this hacker competition.
Panel Discussion on the Future of Logistics: AI, Work with Data and a Clash of Generations
The era of merely collecting data is behind us. Now we have to decide: what’s the right way to use that data – and protect it? The “Digital. Future-Proof?” panel discussion at the Trends in Automotive Logistics 2025 conference this May touched on a number of fundamental questions related to the digitalisation of logistics. The panel’s experts shared their views and experience regarding artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and changing job roles, as well as how to bridge the generation gap in the workplace.
Focus on the Essentials, Accept Change, Stay Humble: Valuable Advice from the Speakers at TAL 2025
“If you had to choose the one thing that’s helped you the most... what would it be?” At this year’s Trends in Automotive Logistics conference – with the tagline “Digital. Future-Proof?” – speakers shared their opinions on the most important lessons their professional journeys have taught them. In these logistics experts’ answers, you’ll find both values and practical tips – from daily decision-making to strategies for managing people and changes. Together they offer a diverse yet surprisingly consistent map for everyone who wants growth – professional or personal.
“We are constantly innovating. Our digitalisation roadmap, ergoscreening, and AI are all helping us in this,” says Tomáš Neškrabal from SKF.
Digitalisation, artificial intelligence, ergonomics and automation – at the SKF plant in Chodov, near the Czech city of Karlovy Vary, all of these areas boost logistics and manufacturing. SKF, which is among the global leaders in centralised lubrication systems, is getting ready to build one of the most modern automatic warehouses in the Czech Republic. We spoke with Ing. Tomáš Neškrabal, the plant’s Logistics Leader, to learn what their digital transformation looks like in practice and what roles are being played by AI, mobile technologies, ergoscreening and more. Tomáš leads a team of more than one hundred employees.
The best quotes from Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL 2025)
How are people in logistics using AI – and is it paying off for them? Is standardisation going out of style? And how is humans’ role within the factory evolving in the real world? Trends in Automotive Logistics 2025, a conference with the tagline Digital. Future-Proof? answered all these questions and more. Experts from key companies such as BMW Group, Bosch, Škoda Auto and Siemens shared their experience and visions for this field’s future. Read on to see the most distinctive words that resounded at this year’s conference. And find out who has the world’s best potato salad.
Make Your Logistics Ready for the AI Revolution: TAL 2025 Speakers Share Their Experience
The automotive industry stands before a revolution. The rise of artificial intelligence is changing established processes and bringing new possibilities. But what obstacles are companies having to overcome so that they can deploy AI effectively? The experts and industry leaders appearing at Trends in Automotive Logistics 2025 – with the tagline “Digital. Future-Proof?” – are sharing their experience and viewpoints on the key challenges in deploying AI.
How can you overcome uncertainty in automotive logistics? Here’s some valuable advice from the speakers at TAL 2025
What can companies do to enable them to respond to challenges that they’re not yet even aware of? We posed this question to the leading experts in automotive logistics who will be coming together on 20 May 2025 at the Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) conference in Pilsen, with the tagline “Digital. Future-Proof?” Read up on what the TAL 2025 speakers see as important for building resilience in the swiftly changing automotive sector.
6 IT Trends Worth Watching – Insights from Aimtec Experts
The digital world is developing swiftly, and so is the way in which firms are innovating. The cloud is bringing flexibility, artificial intelligence is speeding up decision-making and cybersecurity is more important than ever. We carefully test new technologies and select the ones that have long-term potential and are ready for industrial use. We bring you our experts’ insight into which trends truly change the rules of the game – and how to take hold of them so that they’re truly useful.
The Trends in Automotive Logistics Conference 2025: You Can’t Make It Without People and Resilient Systems
Artificial intelligence, electromobility, regulations and fears around competition from China. The automotive sector’s future is in many respects unclear, yet despite this, it is essential for companies to develop a digital factory. Tangible tips, paths and experience are offered once again by yet another year of the Trends in Automotive Logistics conference, coming up on 20 May 2025 in Pilsen. Roman Žák, the co-founder of Aimtec and head of its advisory board, welcomes you to this event with a deep tradition and international impact.
Zebra MC3400: Better Performance, Range and Ergonomics
The worlds of logistics and manufacturing are all about speed, precision and reliability. Every second counts, and every error means losses. That’s why it’s important to have devices at hand that can handle demanding processes without delays. The Zebra MC3400 is a modern mobile terminal with top-notch performance, excellent connectivity, and ruggedness – making it an indispensable tool for anyone seeking improved process efficiency and stable access to data.
Change Management at REHAU Automotive: Digital Transformation in Practice
What’s the most effective way to develop a company’s business? Michael Colberg, Chief Operations Officer at REHAU Automotive, has a clear-cut reply: Digitalisation. He presented his viewpoint in a presentation at the Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) 2024 conference, where he called above all for a pragmatic approach to the entire topic. According to Colberg, digitalisation is really not rocket science. “Don’t be afraid – just dive right in!” says this manager with three decades of experience in automotive.
Focus on cash, data and automation: these are the trends in the industrial supply chain
The automotive industry is in crisis – and not just in Germany. Many suppliers are tied to the large manufacturers. What can they do now to guide their companies safely through the crisis? The 'Trends in Automotive Logistics' (TAL) conference of Aimtec, the digitalisation specialist, which took place in Pilsen in the summer of 2024, provided food for thought and inspiration on how the industry could prepare for the future.
Thilo Jörgl joins TAL 2025 as a speaker – watch his interview
Thilo Jörgl, a prominent figure in intralogistics, is the manager of the IFOY Award and the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS event. During the 24th Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) conference, organised by Aimtec, he sat down for an interview regarding his expertise and experience.
Digitalisation and Its Human Dimension
The digital transformation is a present challenge for many companies in a variety of fields. As Michal Fichtner, Head of Digitalization Operations at Continental Automotive emphasised at Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL 2024), you need to thoroughly understand this process, and above all win over your people for it.
Trends in Czech Logistics 2025 Study: Automation Is Essential
Automation, the collection, evaluation and utilisation of data, the deployment of AI tools, and sustainability. These are the pillars of future growth – and the solution to logistics' most urgent problems, such as the manpower crunch, wage growth pressure and increasing regulation from the EU. These are the conclusions from the Trends in Czech Logistics 2025 study, prepared for SKLAD by the Ipsos agency.
Interview with prof. Dr. Heinz‑Jürgen Klepzig: Companies need cash!
Prof. Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Klepzig, who teaches at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg and mainly focuses on business economics and logistics, assessed the German and European automotive industry’s challenges and trends in an interview at the Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) 2024 conference, organised by Aimtec.
What visions and news did this autumn’s Aimtec DCIx User Group meeting bring?
The regular meeting in Pilsen for users of Aimtec’s DCIx solution took place at the end of October. Participants learned Aimtec’s visions in logistics and manufacturing, the latest features the system has to offer, what plans are in store for future versions and more. Case studies from two companies, DŘEVO TRUST and DENSO MANUFACTURING CZECH, were on the agenda as well. Participants also showed great interest in the morning workshops on current topics, such as logistics automation and the application of AI, comprehensively interconnected and managed manufacturing, and enterprise digitalisation. Couldn’t make it to the meeting and missed the latest news, or want to go back over some of the presentations? Watch the videos from the main afternoon segment.
Interview with Prof. Dr. Nils Finger: What does the new normal mean in the logistics?
The interview with Prof. Dr. Nils Finger, a renowned supply chain expert and regional spokesperson for the German Logistics Association (BVL), sheds light on the current challenges and changes in the logistics industry. Speaking at the Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) 2024 conference organised by Aimtec, Nils Finger emphasises that the world has changed significantly since the pandemic and that we are now living in the ‘new normal’.
The Zebra KC50: A Flexible and Powerful Helper for Smart Manufacturing
Digitalisation is key in today’s swiftly changing industrial environment. In order for companies to remain competitive, they need devices that are powerful, flexible and easy to integrate into existing systems. Precisely these requirements are met by the Zebra KC50, the latest kiosk computer from Zebra. This Android-driven device combines modern design with robust performance and represents the ideal solution not just for retail, but also for manufacturing and logistics processes.
Zebra WT6400 and RS2100: Transform Your Warehouse with This Dynamic Duo
Zebra Technologies has introduced two hot new products that can work together to maximally improve work processes for all your operators. The combo of the Zebra WT6400 wearable hands-free terminal and the RS2100 scanner represents a unique union of comfort, ergonomics and productivity. What’s the potential of wearable devices, and what do the new products from Zebra Technologies bring to the market?
Petr Kraus, SPORTISIMO: Automation technologies can work miracles. But not on their own – these miracles take effort.
Petr Kraus has been in IT for over two decades. He’s full of insights into retail, logistics and manufacturing. The interconnectedness of these areas is what lets him view things with the needed distance. One recent project that he’s just completed is for the Ostrava central distribution centre of the sporting goods distributor SPORTISIMO, s.r.o. What questions did he consider? What challenges did he face? Did everything always turn out smoothly when he knew exactly what he wanted? How did he select suppliers and technologies, and what could he recommend, based on his rich experience, to other companies seeking to automate? We asked Petr about all this and more.
Simulation Tools: The key to efficient process planning in manufacturing and logistics
How can you ensure effective evaluation during the planning processes in a project’s opening phases? Can advanced add-ons like virtual reality and artificial intelligence tools make simulation models more effective? And how necessary are comprehensive simulations of production and logistics systems for proper estimation, process planning and better awareness? Tomáš Sauer, Global Competence Field Leader at FORVIA HELLA, answered all this for us at the Trens in Automotive Logistics (TAL) 2024 conference.
Rostislav Schwob: The Latest Aimtec DCIx Version Makes Connected Manufacturing and AI/ML a Reality
The world around us is constantly accelerating and globalising. That means growing competition, and companies are pushed into ever greater and more frequent changes. New technologies are rushing at them from all sides. It seems like just about everything can be automated now, and everything can control itself with help from digitalisation and artificial intelligence. How can the Aimtec DCIx digitalisation platform help companies with this? And what will our October seminar for customers be showing them? We came with these questions to the person best placed to answer them: Aimtec’s Supply Chain Solutions Director Rostislav Schwob.
We must not forget the values that support our foundations
For the first time in Aimtec’s history, neither of its founders is serving as its CEO. Jaroslav Follprecht and Roman Žák have placed the company in the hands of Pavel Boháč, an experienced manager previously in charge of the division that handles planning and data processing.
“People and data are worth their weight in gold.” The best quotes from the Trends in Automotive Logistics Conference 2024
People, data and sustainability: these are the topics that resounded at the Trends in Automotive Logistics Conference 2024, subtitled Driving the Digital Fast Lane. How can you drive safely in digitalisation’s fast lane while still transforming quickly enough? Nearly 400 experts in logistics, manufacturing and IT from the European automotive sector came to the conference to explore this question. Ten inspiring speakers rotated on the stage throughout the day. What were the most interesting quotes at this conference? Read our picks below.
Focus on your business and let professionals manage your IT systems
One thing is certain: cyberattacks are here to stay, so we have no choice but to be prepared and mitigate the risk. As Aimtec’s Chief Information Officer Michal Kárník explains, it’s best to adopt a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, define an overall plan, and stick to it. We interviewed Kárník and asked which approaches he thought could guarantee that information systems would run smoothly, ideally without requiring any action from the customer.
The Trends in Automotive Logistics Conference 2024: In the fast lane of the digitalisation highway
Digital transformation is like a road that enterprises drive down to adapt to changing conditions and gain a competitive advantage. What do the “drivers” – CEOs, logisticians and IT experts – need so they can enter the fast lane of the digitalisation highway? What abilities, platforms and technologies are necessary to ensure they and their teams are confidently pointed towards their goals? We spoke with Roman Žák, co- founder of the conference organiser Aimtec, on the topics for the next TAL conference, which will take place in Pilsen on 18 June.
Warehouse and Shop floor Electronics’ Worst Foes
Manufacturing and storage spaces are often demanding environments, presenting a challenge not only for the people moving in them, but also for their electronic assistants. Barcode scanners, vehicle-mounted computers or printers are everywhere. What dangers await these devices? Let’s take a look at their three greatest enemies.
The Zebra Technologies MC9400: A Brand‑new Scanner and Other New Features
Almost five million MC9000 terminals are helping worldwide to simplify and improve processes in even the toughest conditions every day. Now a new generation is here. Get to know the leader on the mobile terminals market: the Zebra MC9400. What does it have to offer? More performance, a brand-new barcode scanner and the fastest connection options for wireless networks.
Cyberattacks are stronger and smarter every day. Protect yourself with the cloud.
Cyberattacks today are not just a matter for major multinationals; they’re hitting small and medium enterprises more and more often. So the question is not whether a company and its IT systems will be attacked, but more when they can expect an attack. How can you best prepare for this reality so you won’t be paralysed? Here is some inspiration along with recommendations from our customers’ real-world cases.
Market pressure is the greatest catalyst for change
Zebra Technologies, a global leader and innovator in automatic identification, conducted a Warehousing Vision Study among thousands of industry decision makers around the world, which yielded interesting industry perspectives and preferences. Marian Šramko, Vice President Sales, Eastern Europe & Middle East at Zebra Technologies, spoke about some of them.
Driving manufacturing change with Tom Bianculli, CTO of Zebra Technologies
Thomas Bianculli, CTO of Zebra Technologies, shared his insights at the TAL2023 Conference organized by Aimtec. He delivered a presentation titled “Driving Manufacturing Change: Disrupt or Be Disrupted” (more about his presentation here ), but there’s more – an exclusive video interview with Petr Stejskal, our CTO in Aimtec, which we would like to share with you.
TAL 2023: The future belongs to the flexible and resilient, says Zebra CTO Tom Bianculli
By the end of this decade, a number of technological phenomena, such as artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, will influence many already mature markets. Of the greatest importance, however, will be the ability to deliver the right product in the right quantity to the right place at the right time, said Tom Bianculli, Chief Technology Officer at Zebra Technologies, in his presentation at the TAL 2023 conference.
Brano ‑ the path to 21st century logistics
From complete locking mechanisms, other mechanical parts, door handles to fuel tank caps for Skoda Auto and other car companies. This is the business of Brano, which has recently committed to a change in logistics and invested in digitizing its warehouse to minimize the role of humans. At the TAL 2023 conference, Denis Kittrich, a technologist from Brano, together with Jiří Žižka, project manager at Aimtec, explained how the project was carried out.
Klaus Straub: Key factors of digital transformation at TAL2023 Conference
Klaus Straub, Co-CEO of xelerate.tech and former CIO & SVP at BMW Group, shared insights at the TAL2023 conference organized by AIMTEC. He delivered an engaging lecture titled "Digital Transformation in a Changing World" and also discussed his experiences with Tereza Čechová, Communication specialist in Aimtec, in a video interview which we would like to share with you.
TAL 2023: What Safran's digital transformation looks like
The purpose of any change in company operation should be to improve, whether in terms of efficiency, cost or workflow. Ideally this is an upgrade that brings positive benefits in all areas. This may not be easy for large companies operating in different industries. At technology company Safran, they have done just that, relying on four key pillars of digital transformation, as explained by executives Frédéric Vétil and Bindioa Ouali at the TAL 2023 conference.
Behind the scenes: how new resilient logistics is being built at Skoda Auto
The demands on manufacturing logistics change over time, and this change has accelerated at an unprecedented rate in recent years with the accompanying phenomena of the Covid-19 pandemic. David Strnad, Head of Logistics at Škoda Auto, presented how these challenges are being dealt with and how they are preparing for the next ones in the largest domestic automotive company at the Trends in Automotive Logistics 2023 conference.
Resilience, prediction and risk monitoring form the key to modern logistics, says David Strnad
The automaker Škoda Auto is a major player in the world of logistics. Every day, 3,500 freight trucks arrive at his races. Managing everything from the perspective of warehouses and the entire system, and ensuring production and employment for 30,000 people, is a challenging task. Can an automaker turn logistics trends such as digitalisation and automation into a company reality? What’s the right way to face today’s challenges, and what does a successful project look like? David Strnad, Head of Brand Logistics at Škoda Auto, has shared his opinions in an interview with Aimtec’s Rostislav Schwob.
Disrupted supply chains and the future of the automotive industry with Robert Cameron
The global automotive industry has been grappling with unprecedented disruptions in supply chains, creating a complex and uncertain landscape. The burning questions on the minds of industry leaders and experts are how long it will take to restore stability and whether such stability can ever be fully achieved. Are there multiple approaches available to address the situation? Can lessons from other industries be applied to the automotive sector?
You don't need a software company. You need an ability company.
Which abilities are essential for the automotive industry in a time of unprecedented challenges? Why are people the key to digitalisation and why can't you get by with software alone in today's world? The following interview with Jaroslav Follprecht and Roman Žák, founders and owners of Aimtec, answers these and other questions.
A Brave New World in Automotive Logistics: Robert Cameron's Presentation at TAL2023
Face-to-face with a changed reality in the automotive supply chain. Step into the future of automotive logistics with Robert Cameron, Head of Production, Logistics, and Aftermarket Department at the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). As a renowned industry expert, Cameron brings over 20 years of experience to the forefront, including his vital role in standardizing processes for the European automotive supply chain.
The most interesting quotes from Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL 2023)
How should we connect AI with logistics? Will a green approach truly be a necessity? What path through digitalisation is being chosen by automotive leaders? At the Trends in Automotive conference, we all could hear a wealth of experience, tips, and declarations, which doubtlessly remained in the heads of more than a few of the nearly 400 participants. It’s no wonder, too, since this year’s theme was “Behind the Scenes at a Digital Factory”. Read our selection of the most interesting words on the digital transformation and automation – and change management and green logistics too.
Hunger for change and the need for a strong team ‑ what do our TAL speakers emphasize when building a career?
The Trends in Automotive Logistics conference (TAL) is not just about technology and projects - it's about people and sharing experiences. So we asked the speakers what had given them the biggest boost in their professional career, what was most important to them. The question for all involved was: What do you consider the most important thing you have learned during your career?
The Logistics Tribe: Digital Tools and Transformation in The Automotive Industry and Logistics with Roman Žák
Aimtec has been an innovator in digital transformation since 1996. In a recent episode of The Logistics Tribe, Boris Felgendreher, Host of Business and Logistics Podcasts, sat down with the company’s co-founder and Chairman of the Board at Aimtec, Roman Žák, to discuss Aimtec‘s unique approach and how is Aimtec addressing the challenges faced by their clients in the automotive sector.
Transformation of the automotive industry and the labour market favour automation, say speakers at the upcoming TAL 2023
Important figures in the field of automotive logistics are heading to Pilsen again. They will present their views and experiences at the Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) conference on 16 May 2023.
Local manufacturing and risk management will be the trends of the future, predict speakers at the upcoming TAL 2023 conference
Important figures in the field of automotive logistics are heading to Pilsen again. They will present their views and experiences at the Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) conference on 16 May 2023. Prior to the conference itself, we asked our speakers two important questions about future trends in automotive logistics and the ability of companies to withstand the challenges posed by supply chain disruption.
The Trends in Automotive Logistics Conference 2023: Take a Backstage Look at the Digital Factory
Despite all the current crises, digitalisation is running full steam – for manufacturing firms, the digital transformation is not just a possibility, but rather a necessity if they are to remain competitive. Anyone asleep at the wheel today may face a severe handicap in five to ten years, says Aimtec’s co-founder and supervisory board chairman Roman Žák. He also extends a cordial invitation to this year’s TAL conference, dedicated to digitalisation and other trends in automotive logistics.
