Recap of 2025: A year marked by platform development

For openpack, 2025 was about making a clear strategic choice: continuing to grow the digital platform. The focus was on expanding the digital platform to serve as the central basis for connected digital solutions in the corrugated board and packaging industry.

In an industry characterized by historically grown system landscapes and a multitude of specialized solutions, an overarching structure is becoming increasingly important. This is exactly where openpack comes in. As an open platform, openpack counteracts the increasing fragmentation of digital solutions, creating a consistent digital infrastructure on which different applications can be integrated, combined, and further developed.

Last year, the focus was on strengthening this system level technologically and organizationally, as well as clearly positioning openpack as the central platform for connected digital applications.

Adopt a Platform Mindset Instead of Selective Digitization

A key goal of platform development is to provide companies with a consistent digital base without replacing existing systems. Many plants already use numerous digital systems, and their machines, IT systems, and applications provide valuable data. However, these systems often remain isolated from one another due to a lack of interoperability.

This results in isolated data, redundant functions, and high integration costs. Rather than replacing existing systems, openpack creates a central system and base layer that connects existing solutions, brings data together in a structured way, and enables more consistent use for different applications.

This creates end-to-end processes and a reliable database for operational and strategic decision-making. It reduces complexity and lowers development and maintenance costs. This approach significantly shaped the 2025 strategy and formed the framework for all subsequent developments.

Close collaboration with OEMs and partners

As the platform expanded internally, collaboration with existing and new OEMs intensified. These collaborations aim to simplify data exchange between applications and integrate digital solutions from other providers into the platform seamlessly.

This close integration fosters a digital ecosystem where different solutions work together rather than independently. Users benefit from reduced integration effort, consistent data flows, and the ability to deploy new applications more quickly.

Example: Digitizing a purchasing process

A major project in the purchasing and procurement area at a spare parts supplier demonstrated the immediate benefits of digitization. The process was initially highly fragmented and partially manual, requiring a high level of coordination and offering limited transparency.

Digitizing and structuring the entire procurement process via the openpack platform resulted in a continuous digital workflow. Information became centrally available, processes were clearly structured, and media breaks were reduced. The purchasing department benefited the most from this change. Process traceability improved significantly, process reliability increased, and the scope of the procurement process overview expanded considerably. It quickly became clear that the digital approach not only creates efficiency but also lays the foundation for the continuous improvement and sustainable development of processes.

This demonstrates that digitization reveals its added value when it is not approached as an isolated project, but rather as a structured, long-term strategy for streamlining core processes.

Outlook for 2026

openpack will continue to focus on the long-term digitalization of the corrugated cardboard and packaging industry in 2026. A stable platform, standardized structures, and a central digital hub will form the basis for this effort. openpack sees itself as an enabler within an open digital ecosystem. A platform that reduces complexity, facilitates collaboration, and ensures that a multitude of digital solutions can be combined into a usable overall system.

A key focus will be deepening cooperation with BHS’s iCorr® solutions. Additionally, we are driving forward the expansion of cooperation with other OEMs. This close integration enables continuous data exchange between applications, allowing innovations to be implemented more quickly and digital solutions from different providers to be integrated into a common environment for long-term use.

Summary: Continue with the platform approach consistently

Productivity is not created by individual digital applications, but rather by a clear digital structure. Digitalization reveals its true added value only when systems are connected, data can be used consistently, and processes are clearly organized. With the strategic expansion of the platform, openpack has created this foundation.

Looking ahead, it is clear how this approach will continue to gain momentum. Connected solutions and clear structures create a stable basis for sustainably increasing productivity.

And this is precisely the mission of openpack: Making Packaging More Productive.