D-AI-Y

Background

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are increasingly recognizing the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for innovative new business models. For example, AI can enable more accurate predictive maintenance of industrial machines, dramatically improving availability and reducing downtime.

However, compared to large enterprises, SMEs face considerable hurdles when it comes to implementing AI-based solutions:

• Technical expertise: Lack of in-house AI skills and know-how
• Infrastructure: No scalable, cost-efficient AI infrastructure
• Data quality & quantity: Insufficient training data for robust AI models

Project Goal

The D-AI-Y project addresses this gap by developing a comprehensive toolbox of solution modules that enables SMEs to:

1.  Evaluate their current state with respect to AIaaS readiness
2. Design suitable business model patterns for AIaaS-based services
3.  Implement AIaaS solutions effectively within their existing products and services
4. Transfer AI-driven service innovations into sustainable, competitive business models

The project develops business model patterns and implementation concepts for AIaaS offerings, tested and validated in real-world pilot projects across multiple industrial domains. Both technical and organizational/personnel prerequisites are systematically addressed.

The D-AI-Y Toolbox is the central outcome of the project – a digital platform providing:

•  Business model patterns for AIaaS-based services
• Implementation concepts tailored to SME requirements
• Practical guidance for deriving individualized measures and business model development

The toolbox is complemented by:

• An online portal for low-threshold access to knowledge and tools
• Workshop concepts for knowledge transfer into the industrial SME sector
• Guidelines and best practices for AIaaS integration

Infosim^® – Our Focus

Within the D-AI-Y project, Infosim^® applies the developed tools and concepts – such as modular solution components and AI-supported tools – to automatically transform existing files into structured ontologies based on their content and format, combine them into a consistent company-wide ontology, and enable their editing and optimization through a user-friendly chatbot interface. In doing so, Infosim^® demonstrates the practical value of the D-AI-Y toolbox in an industrial application scenario and shows how SMEs can benefit from the project’s infrastructure. The approach contributes to improved data integration and knowledge management, supports preparation for regulatory requirements such as the Digital Product Passport, and strengthens companies’ competitiveness in the circular economy. The concept can also be transferred to many other manufacturing sectors.

Funding

This project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) as part of the funding measure Development of New Digital Services for Data-Oriented Value Creation (DigiLeistDAT) in the BMBF’s “Future of Value Creation” program and is supervised by Projektträger Karlsruhe (PTKA).