The shift from paper-based standards to SMART standards – Standards that are Machine Applicable, Readable, and Transferable – marks a significant step in transforming global value chains.

Germany plays a pivotal role in promoting European and global standards organizations such as CEN/CENELEC or ISO/IEC towards harmonized data models, processes, technologies, and governance. This represents a significant shift away from the methods that have been successfully established for over 100 years, such as delivering content in layout-driven formats like paper and PDF.

Throughout the value chain, SMART will ensure that semantically enriched data can be seamlessly integrated, reused, stored, aggregated and transformed for efficient access. SMART content delivery facilitates real-time data feeds into customer processes, tools, and projects, enhancing decision-making and process automation while minimizing manual and error-prone tasks.

Beyond formal SMART standards, SMART services leverage AI and NLP methods for post-processing and enrichment. These services extract and transform information from content that may not yet meet formal committee-approved standards, allowing users to work with pre-processed data and facilitating its future integration into the SMART ecosystem. By 2024 already, users can connect their PLM systems and benefit from continuously improved data derived from standards.

This presentation will outline the benefits and challenges of transitioning to SMART standards and services, emphasizing their transformative potential across industries. It will also examine the international journey towards adopting SMART standards across the entire lifecycle, from content creation to management, delivery and usage.