24 March 2025

Continental is Accelerating Product Development With Help of NTT DATA and Microsoft Azure AI Services

• AI tool reduces the effort required to analyze specifications by up to 80 percent
• Continental developed application with support from NTT DATA and Microsoft
• Solution receives prestigious Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award (MIMA), the “Oscar of the manufacturing industry”

München, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, March 18, 2025. No more hassle with the specification sheet: Continental is revolutionizing requirements management in product development with an innovative software application developed in-house. With the introduction of the so-called
"AI-Based Requirements Engineering" tool, the automotive division is positioning itself even closer to the needs of customers and markets on its way to independence as a listed company. With the help of artificial intelligence, a key step in product development is significantly accelerated. For Continental’s customers, too, development projects are brought to a succesfull conclusion faster, more precisely and more efficiently overall.

The innovative analysis tool at Continental was realized in close cooperation between the global IT consultancy NTT DATA and Microsoft in Microsoft Azure AI Services. With the help of artificial intelligence, the tool can read and analyze extensive specifications in an uncomplicated and virtually error-free manner. Individual requirements and project tasks can be automatically assigned to the appropriate Continental development centers. This can reduce the effort required for a traditionally time-consuming step by up to 80 percent.

New AI tool: Enabler for successful, effective automotive developments

Until now, specification sheets – the catalogs of requirements from clients for the development of components, software or automotive systems, which usually contain hundreds of pages – were processed manually. To date, experts in requirements management have invested up to 37,500 working hours in requirement engineering over the course of a development project. As system development and the scope of specifications become increasingly complex, it is crucial to structure requirements management much more efficiently.

The new AI-based requirements management system is now being made available to the development departments of all business units in Continental’s Automotive division in order to accelerate the most demanding projects and at the same time bring them to a successful conclusion with maximum reliability.

"With the new application based on Microsoft Azure AI Services, we are now entering a new era of requirements management," says Philipp von Hirschheydt, Executive Board member for the Continental Automotive group sector. "Together with our technology partners, Microsoft and NTT DATA, we have developed a highly effective tool that makes a time-consuming step in product development significantly more efficient. This not only offers our customers significant added value but also provides our engineers with a reliable development tool to further strengthen our competitiveness."

"As a trusted integration partner with extensive expertise in automotive engineering, we successfully collaborated on the creation of a customized AI solution. Together with Continental and Microsoft, we implemented an innovative, ready-to-use AI-based application. The final result demonstrates significant efficiency potential for Continental and showcases the actual value of AI for businesses," explains Jens Krüger, Head of Global Automotive Engineering at NTT DATA.

"With the Microsoft Azure AI Services development platform, we are providing technology companies with an important tool for realizing highly complex processes such as product development more efficiently and in a more up-to-date manner with the support of artificial intelligence. Continental is showing how a crucial interface with the customer can be designed in a much more targeted, reliable and effective way by realigning requirements management," says Joachim Franz, Automotive Industry Lead at Microsoft Germany.

Continental receives Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award (MIMA), the “Oscar of the manufacturing industry”

The great potential of "AI-based Requirement Engineering" also convinced the jury of the renowned industry prize MIMA. Microsoft and the global management consultancy Roland Berger have now recognized the innovative technology solution as the "Overall Winner" at this year's "Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award." The MIMA recognizes forward-looking projects by companies in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region that make optimal use of the opportunities offered by end-to-end digitalized value chains. The application examples can range from digitalized product development to smart production and supply chain management to intelligent services and product portfolios.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. As a Global Top Employer, we have diverse experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and start-up companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure and connectivity. We are also one of the leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure in the world. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future.

About Continental

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2024, Continental generated preliminary sales of €39.7 billion and currently employs around 190,000 people in 55 countries and markets.

Press contact Continental

Ilona Tzudnowski

Media Spokesperson and Topic Manager
Software and Central Technologies
Continental
Phone: +49 69 7603-2093

Email: ilona.tzudnowski@continental-corporation.com