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Schwarz Digits

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Schwarz Digits KG
Founded2023 (announcement)[1]
FounderSchwarz Group (as corporate division)
TypeKommanditgesellschaft
HeadquartersNeckarsulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany[2]
FieldsInformation technology, Cloud computing, Cybersecurity
Key people
Christian Müller (Co-CEO), Rolf Schumann (Co-CEO)[1]
Parent organization
Schwarz Group
Employeesc. 7,500 (2023)[1]
Websitehttps://schwarz-digits.de/

Schwarz Digits KG is the IT- and digital-services division of Germany's Schwarz Group, headquartered in Neckarsulm. Announced in 2023, the unit consolidates activities in cloud computing (STACKIT), cybersecurity (XM Cyber) and the e-commerce for discount supermarket chain Lidl and hypermarket chain Kaufland.[1] In 2024/25, the division generated about €1.9 billion in annual sales.[3][4][5]

History

[edit]

The Schwarz Group announced on 29 September 2023 the creation of Schwarz Digits as its fifth division to group IT and digital operations under a dual leadership.[1] The move has been described as a shift by the retailer into providing IT services beyond its own retail operations.[6][7]

Schwarz Digits had at launch about 7,500 employees and was led by co-CEOs Christian Müller and Rolf Schumann.[1]

Prior to the reorganisation, the group expanded into cybersecurity by acquiring Israeli firm XM Cyber in November 2021 for about US$700 million.[8][9]

In 2024 the group and the Deutsche Bahn announced DataHub Europe, a data platform to support AI applications; by October 2024 AuditGPT was cited as an initial use case.[10] In August 2025, Deutsche Bahn stated that the platform had gone into operation with AuditGPT.[11]

Infrastructure and data centers

[edit]

In December 2024 it was reported that Schwarz Digits would build its largest data center on a 13-hectare site near Lübbenau, Brandenburg.[12] Plans exist for a six-building campus targeting around 200 MW of capacity.[13] Co-CEO Rolf Schumann has spoken about their cloud strategy requiring substantial investment in additional data center infrastructure.[14]

Activities

[edit]

Schwarz Digits encompasses several brands and activities:

  • STACKIT – a cloud infrastructure and platform service developed within the group and opened to external clients with a focus on digital sovereignty.[3][14]
  • XM Cyber – cybersecurity and exposure management solutions, acquired in 2021.[8][9]
  • E-commerce operations – IT and digital support for Lidl and Kaufland online operations under the division created in 2023.[1]
  • AI and data initiatives – including the DataHub Europe project with the Deutsche Bahn.[10][11]

They announced a strategic investment and technology partnership with German AI developer Aleph Alpha via an investor consortium in November 2023.[15]

Partnerships

[edit]

Early enterprise users and partners have adopted the STACKIT cloud and security portfolio, which is positioned to serve data sensitive European companies.[3] A 2023 partnership in which SAP planned to use XM Cyber solutions has been reported.[16]

A long-term partnership with Google was reported in November 2024, under which Google Workspace services would be hosted in Schwarz-operated data centers via STACKIT.[17][18] The data residency in Germany and the European Union has been emphasized, including the migration of about 575,000 employees to Google Workspace.[19]

In March 2025, the German Federal Office for Information Security, BSI, announced a cooperation with Schwarz Digits to develop sovereign cloud solutions for public administration in Germany.[20][21]

In August 2025, Schwarz Digits also entered into a partnership with the Südwestrundfunk, Southwest Broadcasting corporation, to provide cloud solutions intended to strengthen the innovation capacity and competitiveness of the ARD and other public broadcasting organisations in Europe.[22]

Conferences and media

[edit]

The division co-hosts the annual TECH convention in Heilbronn with Handelsblatt (first event 25–27 May 2025).[23][24]

In 2025, the podcast Tech, KI & Schmetterlinge [Tech, AI and Butterflies] launched with journalist Sascha Lobo as host.[25][26]

Reception

[edit]

Schwarz Digits is considered a credible regional challenger to large US cloud providers, while limits stemming from a smaller external partner ecosystem have been noted.[3] The company plans to develop a sovereign hyperscale offering in Europe and is expanding its data centers' infrastructure accordingly.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Digitaler Discounter: Lidl-Mutter stellt IT-Sparte neu auf [Digital discounter: Lidl parent reorganises its IT division]". SZ - Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Impressum – Schwarz Digits". Schwarz Digits. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "How Lidl accidentally took on the big guns of cloud computing". Financial Times. 25 August 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Lidl und Kaufland: Mehr Umsatz für Schwarz-Gruppe [Lidl and Kaufland: Higher revenue for Schwarz Group]". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 23 May 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  5. ^ "IT-Sparte der Schwarz Gruppe: Schwarz Digits macht 1,9 Milliarden Euro Umsatz [Schwarz Digits posts €1.9 billion in revenue]". CIO.de (in German). 24 May 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Lidl-Mutter macht Ernst im Cloud-Geschäft [Lidl parent gets serious about the cloud business]". Computerwoche (in German). 29 September 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Wie die Schwarz-Gruppe jetzt Amazon & Microsoft nacheifert [How the Schwarz Group is now emulating Amazon & Microsoft]". Handelsblatt (in German). 7 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  8. ^ a b Eduard Kovacs (23 November 2021). "Schwarz Group Acquires XM Cyber for $700 Million". SecurityWeek. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Cybersecurity startup XM Cyber acquired for $700 million by Schwarz Group". CTech by Calcalist. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  10. ^ a b Larissa Holzki, Josefine Fokuhl (24 October 2024). "Data Hub Europe: Warum Bahn und Schwarz-Gruppe einen Daten-Marktplatz planen [Why Deutsche Bahn and the Schwarz Group plan a data marketplace]". Handelsblatt (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Schwarz Digits und Deutsche Bahn setzen den DataHub Europe in Betrieb: Start mit AuditGPT [Schwarz Digits and Deutsche Bahn put DataHub Europe into operation: start with AuditGPT]". Deutsche Bahn (press release) (in German). 20 August 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  12. ^ Fritze, Heiko (20 December 2024). "Schwarz-Gruppe baut in Brandenburg ihr größtes Rechenzentrum – Gewaltige Dimensionen [Schwarz Group to build its largest data center in Brandenburg – Immense dimensions]". Heilbronner Stimme (in German).
  13. ^ Marvin Djondo-Pacham (13 January 2025). "Lidl-Mutter baut 200-MW-Campus in Brandenburg [Lidl parent builds 200 MW campus in Brandenburg]". Datacenter-Insider (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Finsterbusch, Stephan; Sachse, Maximilian (10 June 2025). "Schwarz Digits: Wir wollen Europas souveräner Hyperscaler werden [We want to become Europe's sovereign hyperscaler]". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  15. ^ Larissa Holzki (8 November 2023). "500-Millionen-Dollar-Deal für Aleph Alpha [US$500 million deal for Aleph Alpha]". Handelsblatt (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Informationstechnologie: SAP und Lidl-Mutter: Partnerschaft bei Cybersicherheit [SAP and Lidl's parent: partnership in cybersecurity]". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Schwarz Gruppe kooperiert umfassend mit Google [Schwarz Group cooperates extensively with Google]". Heilbronner Stimme (in German). 14 November 2024.
  18. ^ Fritze, Heiko (14 November 2024). "Schwarz-Gruppe und Google werden Partner: Änderung für Mitarbeiter von Lidl, Kaufland & Co. [Schwarz Group and Google become partners: change for employees of Lidl, Kaufland & co.]". Heilbronner Stimme (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  19. ^ Christof Kerkmann (18 November 2024). "Schwarz-Gruppe setzt künftig auf Alternative zu Microsoft [Schwarz Group to rely on alternative to Microsoft in future]". Handelsblatt (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Cloud Computing: BSI und Schwarz Digits planen Kooperation [Cloud computing: BSI and Schwarz Digits plan cooperation]". bsi.bund.de (in German). Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  21. ^ Bärwaldt, Erik (18 August 2025). "Die unheilvolle Rolle des BSI – Digitale Souveränität: Das Märchen von der Sovereign Cloud [The BSI's harmful role – Digital sovereignty: the fairy tale of the sovereign cloud]". Golem.de (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  22. ^ "SWR und STACKIT gehen Kooperation für Cloud-Lösungen ein [SWR and STACKIT enter into cooperation for cloud solutions]". swr.de (in German). Südwestrundfunk. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Handelsblatt Media Group, Handelsblatt and Schwarz Digits launch TECH to strengthen Europe's technological competitiveness". Handelsblatt Media Group (press note). 19 November 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  24. ^ Stephan Scheuer, Christof Kerkmann, Thomas Jahn (25 May 2025). ""Europa hat alles außer Zeit" – TECH-Aufbruch in Heilbronn [Europe has everything but time – TECH launch in Heilbronn]". Handelsblatt (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Podcast: Tech, KI & Schmetterlinge". Schwarz Digits (publications) (in German). 2025.
  26. ^ "Tech, KI & Schmetterlinge". Podigee (podcast directory) (in German). 8 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
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