Atos takes centre stage at Siemens’ Rail Supplier Engagement Day

One of the most anticipated events of the year for rolling-stock suppliers took place on 28 November, when Siemens brought together current and aspiring SME partners for a full-day engagement session. The event provided a unique opportunity for SMEs to network and learn about the role they can play in driving transformation for UK railways.

The keynote address, delivered by Atos’ Kulveer Ranger, SVP Strategy & Communications UK&I, laid out the changing regulatory landscape for the rail industry and stressed how both Atos and Siemens regard SMEs as paramount to the success of IT and rail supply chains. Building on key insights from Atos’ Digital Vision for Mobility, Kulveer talked about the power of digital to reshape the mobility industry, fundamentally transforming passenger experience thanks to new capabilities including intelligent, edge computing-enabled trains that can generate and process data on board.

Throughout the day, SMEs were given insight into opportunities to help Siemens make a success of its new rail factory in Goole, and learned about new tools being implemented to digitise interaction with supply chain partners. The day closed with a showcase of cutting-edge technologies for the rail industry, including augmented reality for training and advancements in predictive maintenance.

Looking back on the event, Kulveer Ranger said: “I was pleased with the opportunity to once again commend Atos’ long-standing strategic alliance with Siemens, which has already delivered added value for hundreds of customers since 2011. We share in Siemens’ ambition to harness the power of SMEs to accelerate innovation for customers; this is especially true on our railways, where integration and a healthy ecosystem of partners will prove essential in delivering real transformation for passengers across the country.”