Buying COTS Application Software
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Volvo Technology AB - Advanced Technology & Research |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 500 000 |
| Project duration | November 2014 - April 2016 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
Buying COTS application software is about purchasing standardised software components as COTS-products without customization of requirements on top of what is possible in the standardised software component´s variant management. Added to this, it poses new requirements on software suppliers to take on a responsibility for embedded software as a product. For smaller software suppliers whom earlier have developed software on an hourly basis a journey is identified into a future where a product responsibility exists throughout a vehicle´s complete product lifecycle.
Results and expected effects
A guideline for buying and selling COTS application software has been developed as a deliverable in the project and it is made open for use. Several benefits have been identified in purchasing software components as COTS. The technical prerequisites exist but it challenges the OEM to do active Make-or-Buy decisions in an early phase. The guideline has been complimented with a technical proof of concept developing an AUTOSAR software component and integrating that into an existing vehicle.
Approach and implementation
The project has been performed in cooperation between AB Volvo, Arccore, and Viktoria Swedish ICT. The guideline for purchasing and selling COTS components has been developed as a series of workshops with the partner companies´ sales and purchasing departments. The technical work package has followed the normal development process and integration has been made jointly between OEM and supplier. The market analysis has been an interview study interviewing OEM and suppliers.