Case Study: Zeiss Microscopy achieves faster smart-device innovation and unified customer access with Microsoft Azure

Global optics and photonics leader creates smart devices by connecting field devices with back-end systems

ZEISS, a global leader in optics and photonics, wanted to turn its software-enabled products into truly smart devices that could schedule service and provide predictive insights. The challenge was securely connecting millions of field devices to back-end systems (SAP, Salesforce, etc.) and simplifying a fragmented customer sign-in experience across many web applications.

Working with Microsoft partner PlanB, ZEISS built a microservices Enterprise Service Bus on Azure—using Azure Functions, Service Fabric, API Management, and Cosmos DB—and launched ZEISS ID on Azure Active Directory B2C for unified customer authentication. The platform now processes about half a million SAP messages a day, lets customers upgrade device software in minutes, supports single sign-on for 150 apps, accelerates development cycles, and delivers faster, more informed customer service.

Zeiss Microscopy

Kai Walter

Lead Solution Architect