A New Chapter for Cumulocity: Building an AIoT Powerhouse

I recently sat down with Christof Kerkmann from Handelsblatt to talk about the future of Cumulocity and the role AI and IoT is playing in the next wave of industrial transformation (you can find the full article here). It’s always inspiring to talk to journalists with deep industry expertise and it encouraged me to summarise some of the things we talked about including how Cumulocity began, how we’re helping customers today, and what’s coming next.

How it began

Thirteen years ago, Cumulocity began with a simple but ambitious mission: to make connecting machines, devices, and sensors as easy as connecting to the internet. Back then, we were a small team with a bold vision. Over the years, our journey took us through phases of growth and ownership—most notably as part of Software AG. But in 2025, we began writing the next chapter.

In January, I led the management buy-out of Cumulocity from Software AG, returning to run the business independently. For me it was a logical move—one that reflects my unwavering belief in the potential of ‘Industrial AI’, the technology we’ve built, and the massive opportunity ahead of us.

A vision the market is now ready for

When Software AG acquired Cumulocity in 2017, the Internet of Things was at its beginning. We knew it had transformative potential, but the technology and market maturity weren’t fully there yet. That’s changed.

Today, IoT has become essential infrastructure for industries across the globe. From renewable energy and logistics to manufacturing and healthcare, businesses are leveraging connected assets, devices and sensors to unlock data, automate operations, and drive innovation. And now, with the explosion of AI, that data is more valuable than ever.

Industrial AI needs industrial data to thrive. It needs real-time inputs from machines, sensors, and systems—the very thing Cumulocity was built to deliver. We’re entering what I call a supercycle for IoT - now AIoT- driven by the convergence of artificial intelligence, robotics, and ubiquitous sensor technology. And Cumulocity is positioned at the heart of it. In the cloud and at the edge.

Cumulocity's comeback: bigger, better, bolder

Over the past few years, we’ve made substantial investments in the Cumulocity platform—strengthening our capabilities in device management, real-time analytics, and digital twins. Today, companies like Enercon use Cumulocity to monitor more than 30,000 wind turbines around the world. Others, like SAP, embed our platform to enable seamless machine management in their enterprise solutions. We now serve more than 1,000 customers globally, with use cases ranging from predictive maintenance to digital assistants powered by voice commands.

Industrial companies are at a pivotal junction where the convergence of IoT and AI creates unprecedented opportunities to transform their business. While IoT connections have provided visibility into equipment operations for years, the integration of artificial intelligence elevates this capability by turning raw operational data into actionable intelligence.

Staying independent—and scaling with purpose

Of course, we’re not alone in this market. There are new players and established giants alike moving into the AIoT and industrial data space but what sets Cumulocity apart is our relentless focus on simplicity, scalability, and openness. We’re not trying to own entire tech stacks. We’re here to empower our customers and partners to innovate and build what they need, faster.

Our investors—including Schroders Capital, Verso Capital, and Avedon—believe in this vision. And they share our long-term goal: to create a globally relevant, standalone AIoT leader.

The road ahead

Cumulocity is no longer a start-up. It’s a scale-up with a clear product-market fit, a strong customer base, and a rapidly growing market in front of it. But in many ways, we still think of the company as our “baby”—and like any parent, we want to see it grow into something extraordinary.

We’re on a mission to help the world harness the full power of connected assets, not just for efficiency or cost savings, but to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable industries. That’s what drives me. That’s what drives our team.

And we’re just getting started - again ;-)