Cloud-Powered Intralogistics: How SYNAOS and AWS Are Transforming Industrial Operations

Efficiency and scalability are key to staying competitive in today’s fast-paced industrial world. For companies managing complex intralogistics operations, the transition to cloud-based solutions is no longer a luxury— it's a necessity. SYNAOS, in partnership with AWS, is at the forefront of this transformation, offering a powerful cloud-based platform that is reshaping how businesses operate and orchestrate manual and automated material floors on the shop floor and beyond.

The Shift to Cloud: Why Intralogistics Needs It Now

Traditionally, intralogistics operations were anchored in on-premises solutions. While these systems offered control, they also came with significant limitations—high maintenance costs, limited scalability, and the need for constant upgrades. The cloud changes all of that. By moving to a cloud-based model, companies can manage their intralogistics operations with greater flexibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

SYNAOS’s Intralogistics Management Platform (IMP), integrated with AWS’s cloud infrastructure, exemplifies this shift. With the cloud, businesses can scale their operations as needed, without the overhead of maintaining physical infrastructure. Whether you’re managing a small fleet of mobile robots or overseeing complex, multi-site operations, the cloud allows you to do it all seamlessly.

Strategic Benefits of Cloud-Based Intralogistics

One of the most compelling reasons to move intralogistics operations to the cloud is the strategic advantage it offers. With SYNAOS IMP, companies gain real-time visibility and control over their manual and automated material flows. This centralized management is crucial for businesses like Schaeffler, a global leader in motion technology, which has successfully implemented SYNAOS mobile robot fleet management across multiple sites.

For Schaeffler, the ability to centrally manage and scale their mobile robotics fleet through the cloud has been a game-changer. The cloud-based approach not only streamlines operations but also ensures consistency and efficiency across different locations. By leveraging robust cloud infrastructure, SYNAOS provides a solution that is both scalable and resilient, allowing companies to adapt quickly to changing demands.

From Shop Floor to Cloud: The Technical Edge

Moving intralogistics operations to the cloud isn’t just about strategic benefits—it’s also about gaining a technical edge. SYNAOS IMP leverages the latest in cloud technology to deliver a platform that is not only powerful but also secure and reliable. By integrating with technology leaders like AWS, SYNAOS ensures that all communications between the shop floor and the cloud are encrypted and protected by industry-leading security measures.

But the benefits go beyond security. The cloud allows SYNAOS IMP to dynamically allocate resources, ensuring that your operations are always optimized for performance. Whether you’re scaling up to meet increased demand or adjusting resources for a new project, the cloud provides the flexibility you need to keep your operations running smoothly.

Real-World Impact: A Closer Look at Schaeffler

Schaeffler’s experience with SYNAOS IMP highlights the real-world impact of cloud-based intralogistics. In 2023, Schaeffler implemented the platform at its Homburg and Haguenau plants, managing small AGV fleets with impressive efficiency. The results were immediate: improved process efficiency, reduced operational costs, and enhanced flexibility.

As Schaeffler continues to expand its use of SYNAOS IMP across its global sites, the company is setting a new standard for intralogistics in the cloud.  

‘In Schaeffler's future factory, we will continue to focus on our core fields of technology and manufacturing excellence. Central to this are automation and efficiency in material provision. To achieve this, we will integrate more AGVs into our processes at our over 80 production sites. This requires a central, scalable, and integrated software solution. The SYNAOS IMP is already a cornerstone in Schaeffler's solution landscape.’
— Andre Heskamp, VP IT Product Line Connectivity and Process Control Solutions, Schaeffler AG

Driving Volkswagen’s Digital Transformation

As leaders in their respective fields, SYNAOS and AWS bring unique strengths to the digital transformation of industrial operations. For instance, the Volkswagen Group, Europe’s largest carmaker, has harnessed the power of AWS to build its Volkswagen Industrial Cloud. This initiative aims to connect data from over 120 factory sites, drive significant productivity improvements, reduce factory costs by 30%, and save €1 billion in supply chain expenses.

While this ambitious cloud-driven transformation is reshaping Volkswagen’s manufacturing and logistics processes, SYNAOS has been instrumental in enhancing VW's intralogistics operations through its expertise in central fleet management and real-time localization. Our work with VW focuses on optimizing complex material flows and intralogistics processes within sites like the VW Commercial Vehicles plant in Hannover, Germany.  

Together, SYNAOS and AWS exemplify how different facets of digital transformation can converge to create smarter, more efficient industrial operations. Whether it’s through cloud-powered IT infrastructure or cutting-edge intralogistics solutions, companies like Volkswagen are setting new benchmarks for the future of manufacturing and logistics.

‘I've encountered customers hesitant to fully automate intralogistics due to interoperability issues between mobile robot vendors. The SYNAOS Intralogistics Management Platform solves this, leveraging AWS to integrate multiple robot brands seamlessly. This allows customers to freely choose best-in-class robots that precisely meet their operational needs, without being constrained by vendor lock-in or integration complexities.’
— Dr. Srinivas Nidamarthi, Global Head of Solutions, Automotive & Manufacturing, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Why Cloud-Based Intralogistics is the Future

The transition to cloud-based intralogistics is not just a trend—it’s the future. With the cloud, companies can achieve a level of efficiency, scalability, and security that is simply not possible with traditional on-premises solutions. SYNAOS and AWS are leading the way in this transformation, providing the tools and expertise that businesses need to succeed in today’s competitive landscape.

By moving to the cloud, you’re not just upgrading your technology—you’re future-proofing your operations. The SYNAOS and AWS partnership ensures that your intralogistics processes are not only optimized for today but also ready to adapt to the challenges of tomorrow.

‘In the era of Industry 4.0, the convergence of IT and OT is crucial for the digitalization of manufacturing and future logistics. However, getting the balance right between these domains has often been a challenge in industrial automation. At SYNAOS, we’ve partnered with AWS to create a cutting-edge solution that leverages AWS’s cloud power and our deep expertise in intralogistics execution. Together, we're enabling industrial operations to achieve new levels of efficiency and flexibility.’
— Dr. Lennart Bochmann, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of SYNAOS

Conclusion: Embrace the Cloud, Transform Your Operations

Intralogistics is at a turning point, and the cloud is driving this transformation. SYNAOS and AWS are at the forefront, offering a cloud-based platform that delivers strategic and technical benefits across the board. If you’re ready to take your operations to the next level, the cloud is where you need to be.

To learn more about how SYNAOS cloud-based intralogistics solutions can benefit your business, contact our team or schedule a personalized demo today.