1. General Information
What is Catena-X?
Catena-X e.V. is a joint project of automotive manufacturers, automotive suppliers, software providers and consulting firms. Catena-X aims to make the supply chain in the automotive industry more stable and transparent. The approach: a secure and interoperable exchange of data between companies along the automotive value chain. This is achieved by defining standards on the basis of which data is exchanged. The cloud-based network is open to participants from the entire automotive value chain: Regardless of their size, car manufacturers and their global partners, dealers and suppliers can join the network. CatX Service GmbH is a member of Catena-X e.V. and offers certified solutions that implement the standards.
What does DCM mean?
DCM stands for ‘Demand and Capacity Management’. By matching demand and capacity data over a strategic planning horizon (2 - 24 months into the future), shortages or overproduction can be identified at an early stage and appropriate countermeasures can be initiated.
What are the benefits of the MIRA DCM-Suite?
The MIRA DCM-Suite ensures minimised costs and increased transparency between companies in the automotive supply chain: from OEM to tier n. We create a single point of truth for customers and suppliers to exchange information on demands, capacities and secondary demands for the strategic planning period of 2 weeks to 24 months. From the supplier's point of view: Impending bottlenecks in your own production due to peaks in demand from your customers are recognised at an early stage so that you can take countermeasures in good time. This allows you to avoid costly short-term measures such as express transport, overtime surcharges or the use of temporary labour and reduce your production costs by over 20%. You also maximise on-time delivery. From the customer's point of view: With the MIRA DCM-Suite, you always retain control over your entire supply chain. Thanks to the transparent exchange of information on your demands and the respective capacities of your suppliers, you can identify possible bottlenecks and potential delivery delays at an early stage and react accordingly. And, in the worst case scenario, before production stops due to material shortages. Key Advantages of MIRA at a Glance: Intuitive Operation: MIRA is fully intuitive to use – no lengthy training is required. Central Traceability: Critical information is often stored only in individual minds or personal files. When the responsible employee leaves the company, this data is lost. MIRA stores all information centrally, transparently, and accessibly – independent of any individual. Reduced Sources of Error: With MIRA, all participants work on a shared, structured platform, which reduces errors caused by manual input. Secure Data Control: Data is never shared automatically in MIRA. Every action can be controlled according to the four-eyes principle. Measurable Added Value Through Cost Reduction: MIRA significantly reduces manual effort and urgent measures, leading to lower personnel, storage, and transportation costs.
2. Technology
What is an Eclipse Dataspace Connector (EDC)?
The Eclipse Dataspace Connector is the interface through which the DCM-Suite communicates with your supply chain partners. The EDC implements a framework agreement for sovereign, cross-organisational data exchange. The EDC takes into account the International Data Spaces Standard (IDS) and relevant principles in connection with GAIA-X. If you select the Pro or Enterprise version of the DCM-Suite, we will set up and manage your company-specific EDC so you don't have to worry about anything. Unlike a traditional DCM system, MIRA can exchange data via the EDC. This capability is becoming increasingly important as many OEMs require interoperable data exchange through EDC for future contracts. Another advantage over traditional solutions: the commonly used EDI data exchange is not standardized and must be manually adjusted for every change. The EDC established by Catena-X offers a much simpler and standardized alternative—not only for demand data but also for a wide range of other use cases along the supply chain. Ideally, MIRA can completely replace the existing EDI connection. Running both in parallel is usually not necessary.
What technical requirements do I need to fulfil?
You only need to fulfil two requirements to use the MIRA DCM-Suite: 1. Register your company via the operating company of Catena-X (called Cofinity-X) to obtain a business partner number (BPN) 2. Install an EDC or use the EDC integrated in the MIRA DCM-Suite Our solution is a plug-and-play application: no IT project is required, ongoing costs are manageable and 100% predictable — similar to a subscription model like Netflix. We are happy to support you throughout this process.
How do we enable secure data exchange within the Catena-X network?
You decide with whom you share what data. The Catena-X standards regulate data sovereignty using an EDC (Eclipse Dataspace Connector). This ensures that data is always exchanged in 1:1 communication between you and your supplier or customer.
Can data be exchanged across software?
Yes. As long as the software solution is build according to the Catena-X standards, data can be transferred across all software. This means that it doesn't matter which DCM solution your supplier or customer uses, the data can be shared without any problems.
3. Business Aspects
Can I exchange data with non-automotive supply chain partners?
Yes. In order to exchange data with any supply chain partner, only the following requirements must be met: 1. Register the company via Cofinity-X to receive a Catena-X specific BPN (Business Partner Number) 2. Set up your own EDC or use the integrated EDC from CatX
Can I manage the demands of different customers in the MIRA DCM-Suite?
With our DCM-Suite, you can create multi-customer capacity groups. This means that you can combine and manage all demands for a specific part from different customers in one group. This also applies if the parts are customer-specific but use the same resource.
Is the availability of raw materials taken into account?
The capacities of your own production often depend heavily on the material availability of the respective sub-supplier. The MIRA DCM-Suite offers the option of automatically converting your customer demands into secondary demands for raw materials. If the sub-suppliers are connected, these can be exchanged directly with them. In this way, bottlenecks for downstream material availability are also identified at an early stage.
Where does the demand data come from?
The demand data is maintained by the respective customer in the customer-supplier relationship in the supply chain. There are three ways to create, edit and update the demand data: Firstly, the demand data can be entered and updated manually. The second option is to upload an Excel spreadsheet with the relevant demand data - we provide a suitable template. The third option is an API to the ERP system so that the data is updated automatically.
Where does the capacity data come from?
The capacity data is maintained by the respective supplier in the customer-supplier relationship in the supply chain. There are three options for this: Firstly, the production capacities can be entered and updated manually. The second option is to upload an Excel spreadsheet with the corresponding capacity data - we provide a suitable template. The third option is an API to the ERP system so that the data is maintained automatically. It is important to note that, due to contractual obligations, capacity data must already be reported in the OEM portals today. MIRA simply simplifies the exchange of this information — the data is not new, but shared more efficiently.
Who is already using the Catena-X standard today? Is it even relevant?
The Catena-X standard is already actively used by numerous OEMs and suppliers across a wide range of use cases along the supply chain. It is no longer just a German or European concept: Hubs and pilot projects exist in countries such as Germany, Spain, France, Sweden, Japan, the USA, and China. The growing international adoption shows that Catena-X is evolving into a globally relevant standard for interoperable data exchange in the industry—with increasing importance for future business relationships.
Am I obligated – by OEMs – to use the standard?
Yes, some OEMs have already defined clear requirements: BMW and Mercedes have made the DCM standard (based on Catena-X and EDC) a prerequisite for future contracts. This is documented, among other places, in BMW’s EDI Implementation Guideline and Mercedes’ Supplier Portal. For suppliers, this means: interoperable data exchange via Catena-X is becoming increasingly mandatory to continue participating in tenders.
