Digital X 2023: Three days above the clouds

In this article you will read about

•  the importance Frank Thelen sees in European clouds for digitalization,
• what Tim Höttges thinks of multi-cloud approaches and
• the extraordinary initiative the Open Telekom Cloud scored with at Digital X.

Digital X! From September 20 to 21, Deutsche Telekom once again hosted the leading digitalization trade fair for SMEs. The Open Telekom Cloud was right in the middle of it – with its own brand house and the presentation of its new fragrance series.

Even before the actual Digital X began in downtown Cologne, the Open Telekom Cloud was in the starting blocks. For the warmup event in the Schanzenviertel district, the team had already put together a packed agenda the day before: With Tim Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, founder and innovator Frank Thelen, and Dr. Walter Daumann, CEO of the Weiss+Appetito Group and founder of the startup we.digitize, there were top-class speakers. Around 150 colleagues, partners and customers of the Open Telekom Cloud made their way to the Design Offices in the Schanzenviertel. Get first impressions in our aftermovie:

Before the invited speakers appeared before the audience, the stage belonged to the makers of the Open Telekom Cloud. Vice President Open Telekom Cloud Andreas Falkner put the event in perspective: "We want an open exchange. We want to hear from you what your expectations of the Open Telekom Cloud are. Where can we get better? What should we develop?"

Later, Chief Product Manager Daniel Schellhase presented an overview of the Open Telekom Cloud solutions. He gave an outline of the capacities and possibilities of the platform – summarized in one sentence: one of the largest European public clouds with an immensely wide range of services.

In breakout sessions, participants were given the opportunity to delve deeper into current topics. These included cost control in the cloud, automation possibilities, use cases for artificial intelligence, and the presentation of the Circle partner program and concrete partner solutions.

After Falkner's introduction, Dr. Walter Daumann, Partner and CEO of the Weiss+Appetito Group, took over first. As founder of the start-up we.digitze, he also looks for innovative solutions to rethink everyday challenges. In doing so, he shared their LiveLocker and LiveCharger. LiveLocker makes lockers usable via a smartphone app. Keys become unnecessary – remote reservations are made possible. The range of applications is broad: coworking spaces, museums, schools and sports centers can rely on the advanced IoT solution. LiveCharger is a highly flexible charging system for electromobility. His summary: "The cloud is indispensable for the implementation of IoT innovations".

Frank Thelen, known from the TV series "Höhle der Löwen," brought further "start-up DNA" to the podium. The series founder occupies the interface between digitization and the future of Germany like no other. In his bestsellers, for example, he has also dealt with artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computers. He took the audience on a journey of technological upheaval and how it has transformed the face of the world. One focus of his talk was on the importance of AI. "The cloud is essential to process the necessary amounts of data at a reasonable speed." But he also stressed the importance of digital security and cyber security. "European sovereignty and the availability of European cloud solutions such as the Open Telekom Cloud are relevant aspects of secure as well as advanced digitalization in Europe."

Late in the afternoon, Tim Höttges readily picked up Frank Thelen's torch: "92 percent of all data is in the USA. Europe must free itself from this dependence in the medium term." In addition to sovereignty and data security, he highlighted the importance of the cloud for sustainability initiatives. However, he also advocated multi-cloud approaches, saying, "Europe is far behind in terms of multi-cloud thinking. But multi-cloud offers the best prospects for enterprises." In the multi-cloud mix, the Open Telekom Cloud plays an important role for highly sensitive and protectable data of companies operating in Europe.

A small feast for the senses rounded off the event: The Open Telekom Cloud presented its own fragrance. The idea behind it is to combine the highly virtual and less tangible cloud services with a sensory experience. Together with perfumers, the team has tried to capture the brand identity in a high-quality eau de parfum. The fragrance is available in three variants: for men "Duftwolke", for women "Duftwölkchen" and as a room fragrance "Wolkenrein".

The idea also proved to be a big hit at the Digital X main event. There, the Open Telekom Cloud was present in its Brandhouse at Friesenplatz. The perfume generated all kinds of discussions that carried over to digital innovation topics, but also frequent data protection issues. Andreas Falkner: "We look back on a super interesting event. In many discussions with customers, interested parties and partners, we were able to provide the right answers to the challenges faced by companies. We are looking forward to new digital innovation projects that we can accompany with the Open Telekom Cloud."

Here are some more impressions from the Digital X Warmup and the Open Telekom Cloud Brandhouse at Digital X: