1&1 Discusses Their First Steps with Camunda 8

1&1, an industry-leading telecommunications provider with over 12 million mobile customers, has experienced firsthand the benefits of implementing Camunda 8 into its workflow. Operating Europe’s first fully virtualized mobile network based on Open RAN technology, its journey with our platform is a compelling case study for businesses considering a similar shift. During his presentation at CamundaCon, Berlin, 2024, Georg Röver, 1&1 Telecommunications SE, took to our stage to discuss the necessity of a framework and an introduction to the operation and implementation of Camunda 8 at 1&1, including a look at its first process, backup strategies, and more.

1&1 chose to transition from jBPM to Camunda 7 and then to Camunda 8, primarily due to the limitations and maintenance challenges associated with their proprietary framework based on jBPM. They sought a more robust, open-source solution that could provide executable BPMN models, improve maintainability, and avoid the complexities of their previous custom framework. Camunda 8 offered a mature, scalable, and cloud-native solution aligned with their strategic goals for process automation and operational efficiency.

Camunda 8 is a cloud-native, highly scalable process orchestration platform designed to streamline and manage complex business processes. 1&1’s transition to Camunda 8 has improved operational efficiencies and provided a substantial return on investment (ROI). Introducing a powerful tool like Camunda 8 can significantly transform an organization’s operations in business process automation and workflow management.

Clear advantages of Camunda 8

One of Camunda 8’s primary advantages, says Röver, is its cloud-native architecture, which offers outstanding scalability and resilience. This was particularly beneficial to 1&1, which has a large customer base and needs to handle processes at an ever-increasing scale. Efficiently managing processes without worrying about infrastructure is a game-changer for Röver’s team, allowing 1&1 to focus more on innovation and less on maintenance.

Another significant benefit is the ease of collaboration that Camunda 8 facilitates. With its user-friendly Modeler and clear BPMN diagrams, various teams within 1&1 can collaborate seamlessly on process design and improvement. This collective approach ensures that processes are well-understood and optimized across the board.

The ROI of Camunda 8 adoption

For 1&1, the return on investment (ROI) from Camunda 8 can be measured in several ways. One of the most notable ROI aspects being the reduction in development time and costs. The platform’s intuitive design and out-of-the-box features mean that less time is spent on creating and maintaining processes. This equates to cost savings and significantly faster time to market for new features and business-critical services.

Furthermore, the monitoring and analytics capabilities of Camunda 8 allow 1&1 to gain insights into process performance. These insights have led to data-driven decisions that further optimize operations and reduce waste, contributing to a healthier bottom line.

First process implementation

1&1’s first foray into using Camunda 8 was marked by a strategic approach, which Röver discusses in his presentation (currently available on demand). They started by understanding the architecture of Camunda 8 and assessing whether to use it as a service or on-premises. Given their robust Kubernetes infrastructure and data security considerations, they opted for an on-premise setup.

The first process they tackled was to create a backup strategy, a critical operation for any telecommunications company. The ability to perform backups without downtime and ensure data integrity remains paramount, and Camunda 8’s architecture effectively supported these requirements.

Backup strategies and beyond

The backup strategy developed with Camunda 8 considered not just the technical needs but also the business implications. A backup solution that worked across different technologies (such as Elasticsearch and OpenSearch) was implemented, ensuring flexibility and resilience.

As 1&1 continued to evolve its usage of Camunda 8, it became clear that the platform was not just about maintaining the status quo but about pushing the envelope in process automation through orchestration. Features like worker isolation and event-driven process starts were explored and integrated, showcasing the platform’s adaptability to specific business needs.

The future with Camunda 8

1&1’s experience with Camunda 8 highlights a journey of transformation and growth. The advantages and ROI realized through the use of this platform are a testament to its capabilities. From cloud-native architecture and collaborative process design to cost savings and insightful analytics, Camunda 8 has proven to be a valuable asset for 1&1.

As the business landscape evolves and customer expectations demand a path of least resistance, tools like Camunda 8 will become increasingly important in enabling organizations to adapt, provide critical services with minimal friction, and thrive.

The story of 1&1 demonstrates that Camunda 8 is not just a workflow engine but a strategic partner in process orchestration and innovation. The adaptability to company-specific requirements, such as backup strategies and worker isolation, exemplifies the platform’s flexibility. Moreover, the constant updates and improvements, driven by user feedback and feature requests, show Camunda’s commitment to its user base.

The story of implementing Camunda 8 at 1&1 also shows the importance of a well-thought-out adoption strategy. By carefully considering the architecture, deciding between cloud and on-premises, and planning for scalability from the outset, 1&1 has ensured a smooth transition to Camunda 8 that minimized disruption and maximized benefits.

Looking ahead, 1&1 believes that Camunda 8’s potential is exceptionally promising for business operations across the whole organization. As the company continues to explore the platform’s capabilities, from event-driven process initiation to advanced analytics, its journey with Camunda is just beginning. The platform’s ability to facilitate operational efficiency and strategic innovation makes it a compelling choice for any organization, not just within telecommunications, looking to stay ahead in the race to seamless digital transformation.

The advantages and ROI of using Camunda 8 at 1&1 speak volumes about the platform’s potential impact on any business. With its powerful features, scalability, and user-centric development, Camunda 8 stands out as the leader in the process orchestration space. Organizations looking to streamline their processes, improve collaboration, and drive innovation set themselves up for success and significant ROI when using Camunda 8 as a critical component of their digital strategy.