Transforming Wheels to Code

Established more than a century ago, BMW is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of luxury vehicles and mobility solutions, with 31 production facilities in 15 countries and a global sales network.

By making significant strides in autonomous driving technology and automotive innovation, BMW recognized the need to pivot from traditional manufacturing to software development. To facilitate this transformation, BMW partnered with Valtech which championed the implementation of the Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) methodology at its new Unterschleißheim campus in Munich, Germany. This approach prioritized customer value and aligned with BMW's commitment to excellence and innovation in managing large-scale software development.

Our change management experts collaborated with BMW's leadership and employees to shape the LeSS framework rollout. We began by creating a pilot group of 50 individuals in a requirement area, consisting of up to eight teams. Through comprehensive training, including managers, everyone embraced the new model. We also provided technical coaching to instill excellent practices like clean code and TDD, crucial for successful large-scale agile software development.

Furthermore, organizational coaches assisted teams in adopting new ceremonies and techniques. After a few months, the pilot area was operational, leading to further expansion. Valtech supported the initial rollout in 2018, spawning more areas. Teams delivered software biweekly, with Valtech continuing to enhance BMW's agile engineering expertise into 2019. This collaboration embodies the journey towards a high-performance agile organization.

Our commitment extended to BMW's IT department, as we designed and delivered an extensive training program, known as back2code.campus, encompassing critical skills ranging from coding prowess to comprehensive code review. To further bolster BMW's endeavors in the field of autonomous driving, we extended our coaching and training services, particularly within the context of LeSS. We were proud to assist BMW in its certification efforts, and we remain committed to supporting its in-house initiatives as needed.

Valtech has been instrumental in successfully implementing new practices and processes by deploying multiple trainers at BMW. Beyond onboarding, Valtech collaborated with various departments, fostering transformative approaches. The ongoing partnership between Valtech and BMW has proven so impactful that Valtech has been called upon to assist other teams in similar transitions, revolutionizing the brand's operations and significantly strengthening its competitive advantage.