MindSphere Seller Guide 5 6 7 · 2020-03-08 · Introduction MindSphere Seller Guide v1.0 (Jan. 18)...

MindSphere Seller Guide

v1.0 (Jan. 2018)

Introduction

1

Introducing the MindSphere Store

2

Publish your Applications

3

Pricing

4

Manage your Application's

Listing

5

Application Publishing Guidelines

6

FAQ

7

MindSphere Seller Guide v1.0 (Jan. 18) 2/16

Table of Contents

1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 3

1.1 Scope ........................................................................................................................................ 3

1.2 Sell applications on the Siemens Store for MindSphere .......................................................... 4

1.3 Requirements to be a seller ...................................................................................................... 4

2 Introducing the MindSphere Store ........................................................................................................... 5

3 Publish your Applications ........................................................................................................................ 8

3.1 Publishing process .................................................................................................................... 8

3.2 Timing and expectations ........................................................................................................... 8

4 Pricing .................................................................................................................................................... 9

5 Manage your Application's Listing ......................................................................................................... 10

5.1 Update an application's publication ........................................................................................ 10

5.2 Unpublishing process.............................................................................................................. 10

6 Application Publishing Guidelines .......................................................................................................... 11

6.1 Style Guide and specifications ................................................................................................ 11

6.2 Marketing ................................................................................................................................ 11

7 FAQ ...................................................................................................................................................... 16

7.1 MindSphere Community site ................................................................................................... 16

7.2 MindSphere Partner Program ................................................................................................. 16

7.3 Support Contact for sellers ..................................................................................................... 16

7.4 Support Contact for your application customers ..................................................................... 16

Introduction


1 Introduction 1

1.1 Scope

This Seller Guide is solely for use by MindAccess Operator Plan subscribers (incl. their Users).

It supports you in submitting an application listing to the Store in order to provide it to others. It also focuses

on the requirements for public listings on the Store and the selling and marketing of applications.

Information for the development and testing of applications, as well as for their deployment, productive

operation and provisioning are set out in the DevOps Guide.

You must meet or exceed the specifications made in this Seller Guide for all applications.

The requirements and recommendations described in this Seller Guide provide only partial information, and

are only a supplement to the requirements described elsewhere in the MMA (MindSphere Master

Agreement). They shall not be understood as limiting, restricting or otherwise conflicting in any way with

requirements set out elsewhere in the MMA.

This Seller Guide is provided "as-is" and will be updated from time to time. Information in this Guide,

including URL and other website references and information contained on the websites, may change at any

time without notice. This Seller Guide has been reviewed for consistency with the Services described. Since

variance cannot be precluded entirely, full consistency cannot be provided. You shall comply with any

documents published on any referenced website. However, we expressly disclaim any obligation arising out

of such documents or information contained on such websites. Such documents shall not constitute part of

the MMA.

No license to any software or service, know-how or other intellectually property right is granted, conveyed or

implied, by this document and all rights are expressly reserved by Siemens. You may copy and use this

document solely for your internal reference purposes.

Introduction


1.2 Sell applications on the Siemens Store for MindSphere

The Seller Guide enables MindAccess Operator Plan subscribers to market and sell applications as a service

on the MindSphere Store to MindAccess IoT Value Plan subscribers.

The Seller Guide will guide you through all the steps and criteria that are necessary to prepare your

application for the publication. The Operator Cockpit transfers your listing data to the MindSphere Store. The

MindSphere Store allows you to publish your application and sell it to your target group.

● Publishing process: Become familiar with the Operator Cockpit that supports your application deployment

and publishing process.

● Pricing: You have the freedom to set pricing specifications and policies for your application with just a few

guidelines from Siemens.

● Application Publishing Guidelines: These guidelines help you customize your applications listing data and

deliver a professional touch.

● Simple management: Easily update your application publication to new versions or modify details of your

publication through the Operator Cockpit.

Details for each point are described in the following chapters.

1.3 Requirements to be a seller

MindSphere offers a specific MindAccess DevOps Plan. The deployment process splits the developing part

from the operating business. You can choose between the MindAccess Developer Plan and/or the

MindAccess Operator Plan. The general process includes the following steps:

● Developer has finished developing the application and hands over to the Operator (MindAccess

Developer Plan).

● Operator receives the application and deploys it using the Operator Cockpit (MindAccess Operator Plan).

● To become a seller, the Operator publishes the application listing in the MindSphere Store (MindAccess

Operator Plan).

Note

The developer and the operator can be the same person.

As an operator, you can choose to run the application on your productive system and sell it via the

MindSphere Store. Thus, to become a seller on the MindSphere Store, you need to purchase at least the

MindAccess Operator Plan and publish your application listing first.

Please note that as a seller, you are required to support your own application customers. At a minimum,

please include an e-mail address with your listing data for support contact.



2 Introducing the MindSphere Store 2

The MindSphere Store puts all information about applications in one place. It offers an online marketplace

where you can market your application. You contribute towards the opportunity to build and increase a faster

time-to-market solution enabling organizations to innovate faster. You can also take advantage of the

alliances with other providers and customers. Benefits of the MindSphere Store include:

● Integration with the Operator Cockpit.

● A broad global reach.

You can access the MindSphere Store by going to www.mindsphere.io/store.

http://www.mindsphere.io/store



The following graphic shows an image of the MindSphere Store:



Below is an image that provides an end-to-end view of the applications process for the MindSphere Store.

The image shows the components of each major step through the developer, operator, and user journeys:

Publish your Applications


3 Publish your Applications 3

3.1 Publishing process

The Store publishing process follows these general steps:

1. Enter your application listing data into the Operator Cockpit and submit.

2. Receive a preview of your content to be displayed on the MindSphere Store.

3. Approve the preview of your content.

4. Provide product ID/SKU in the Operator Cockpit to initiate publishing.

If you decide not to publish your application anymore, you may cancel at any time. You can also track the

publishing progress through the Operator Cockpit.

3.2 Timing and expectations

We strive to handle your request to publish your application in the MindSphere Store as soon as possible.

The following points serve as a reference for the duration of the process:

● The timing to fulfill publications requests can vary in complexity as well as creation and review time by

you and the MindSphere team.

● The MindSphere team aims to complete the publishing process in a timely manner. It usually takes 7-10

business days to complete the Store publishing. The creation process includes the following steps:

– MindSphere team receives the request for publication.

– Create the application publication page.

– Submit the publication page for your approval to publish.

● After your approval of the publication page, it usually takes 5-7 business days for the application to

appear in the MindSphere Store.

● Time dependencies are based on the complexity of the products, such as the number of iterations and

the number of local websites the publication will be available on.

● Your response time for approvals are not accounted for in the time ranges above.

● Other unforeseen factors may impact the timeline as well.

Pricing


4 Pricing 4

You have the freedom to set your pricing specifications. Within the Operator Cockpit, please link your terms

and conditions and enter your pricing information.

When a customer submits their details to use your application as-a-service, you will receive a notification in

the Operator Cockpit. From that point, the MindSphere Store will not be involved in closing the contract

between you and the customer nor with managing the customer. This means that you will determine and

handle on your own the following aspects with your customer:

● Payment methods

● Payment terms

● Billing models

● Pricing policy

● Refund policy

● Refund process

Manage your Application’s Listing


5 Manage your Application's Listing 5

5.1 Update an application's publication

Once your application is published, you can manage the published information via the Operator Cockpit

within the system of the applications lifecycle. The Operator Cockpit supports you through every step to

manage the publication of your applications, including the updating process.

Use the Operator Cockpit to manage the following steps and options inside the lifecycle process:

● Updates: You can always update your existing version of the publication.

● Manage your listings: The Operator Cockpit provides a functionality to track the publishing process and a

listing of all provided applications that are published on the MindSphere Store.

● Timing and expectations: When updating your application, the same timing and expectations from the

initial publishing process applies.

The limit for free updates is pre-determined and varies case-by-case. Please refer to your MindAccess

Operator Plan.

Changes warrant a new publishing request. Some of the most common changes may include:

● Pricing updates

● Display name

● New versions

● Description

5.2 Unpublishing process

To remove your offering from the MindSphere Store, you must submit an unpublishing request within the

Operator Cockpit. The MindSphere team treats all unpublishing requests as high priority however, the

unpublishing process can take up to 5-7 business days to complete. You will receive a notification as soon

as the application listing has been removed from the MindSphere Store.

Within the Operator Cockpit you have an optional field to enter a reason for unpublishing. The reason will not

affect the unpublishing process. We appreciate your feedback.

This unpublishing process only removes the application publication from the MindSphere Store listing.

Existing customers can still use the application and are not impacted.



6 Application Publishing Guidelines 6

6.1 Style Guide and specifications

To ensure a consistent appearance, your application must comply with the requirements stated in the

Operator Cockpit. Specific details of the style guide and specifications can be found in the Operator Cockpit

documentation (https://documentation.mindsphere.io). The Operator Cockpit sets the specifications and

requirements for the following areas:

● Application icon: Your icon is the first way to communicate the benefits of your application. Within

MindSphere your application requires an icon, which is displayed in the MindSphere Store, websites,

Launchpad and more. The design of your application icon must be distinctively different from the design

of icons used by Siemens as part of the Services (e.g. Asset Manager, Fleet Manager).

● Display name: Every application needs to have an unique display name. The name of the application is

important so that potential customers get a clear understanding of what your application offers.

● Description content: The application description is a short preview of the functionalities. It provides the

relevant and specific application information, features and highlights. Within your description the primary

selling points should be short, clear and concise.

● Images

● Language and countries: The MindSphere Store is available in English only in a variety of countries.

Please refer to the Operator Cockpit for a list of these countries.

● Meta data: For a better SEO (Search Engine Optimization) inside the MindSphere Store we advise you

maintain your meta data.

The MindSphere Store retrieves the specified application data from the Operator Cockpit.

Please provide the terms and conditions that apply to the use of your application in the Operator Cockpit for

publication.

6.2 Marketing

You can contribute to the success of your applications by increasing awareness of the MindSphere Store

and increasing internet traffic directly to the MindSphere Store. This marketing chapter helps you market

your application listed on the MindSphere Store.

https://documentation.mindsphere.io/



Conditions

There are several conditions that you must comply with when marketing your application:

● You must not use designations relating to Siemens, such as "Siemens", "Si", any similar reference to the

designation "Siemens", including but not limited to SIMATIC, SINUMERIK, SINALYTICS, and any

abbreviations thereof, logos relating to Siemens or any word or logo confusingly similar thereto except as

expressly provided for herein.

● You must not use the name of your application or any of your trademarks or trade names in direct or

indirect combination with or adjacent to any Siemens product or otherwise refer thereto except as

expressly provided for herein.

● You are only entitled to use trademarks or trade names of Siemens upon our prior separate written

consent, as provided below in this Guide, or as otherwise provided upon your individual request.

Trademarks and trade names of Siemens include without limitation MindSphere, MindConnect,

MindApps, MindAccess, MindServices and other designations beginning with "Mind".

Using our Powered by MindSphere eye-catcher

For instance, our eye-catcher allows you to show your customers your application runs on MindSphere and

is available in the MindSphere Store. For promoting your application, please use the eye-catcher which

comes in different sizes depending on the DIN-format of your print media and your roll-up (“Powered by

MindSphere Eye-Catcher”). The eye-catcher icon can be downloaded here.

Here is an overview of the available sizes of the Powered by MindSphere Eye-Catcher per format and roll-

up.

Text sizes and spacing in eye-catchers:

Eye-catcher size (in mm) Space at bottom

(in mm)

Space at left, right, top

(in mm)

Recommended

type size (in pt)

Type sizes (in pt)

min. max.

Roll-ups

180 x 180 30 20 72 60 88

160 x 160 30 20 72 52 72

140 x 140 25 15 60 44 60

120 x 120 20 15 52 36 52

Print media

40 x 40 8 5 18 15 22

36 x 36 6 4 15 13 18

32 x 32 6 4 13 13 18

28 x 28 5 3 11 9 13

24 x 24 4 3 9 7.5 11

20 x 20 3 2 9 7.5 11

16 x 16 3 2 7.5 6.5

12 x 12 2 1 7.5 6.5

https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/documentation-mindsphere/downloads/sie-ms-eye-catcher.jpg



Eye-catcher sizes per format/application:

DIN-formats/ print media Eye-catcher sizes

DIN A3 40 x 40

36 x 36

32 x 32

28 x 28

DIN A4/ US Letter 32 x 32

28 x 28

24 x 24

20 x 20

DIN A5 20 x 20

16 x 16

DIN long 24 x 24

20 x 20

16 x 16

DIN A6 16 x 16

CDs and CD inserts (120 x120) 16 x 16

12 x 12

Roll-ups (in mm) Eye-catcher sizes

1000 x 2200 180 x 180

160 x 160

140 x 140

120 x 120

850 x 2500 180 x 180

160 x 160

140 x 140

120 x 120

750 x 2100 160 x 160

140 x 140

120 x 120

560 x 2100 140 x 140

120 x 120

Using the reference "Powered by MindSphere"

The reference “Powered by MindSphere” allows you to show your customers your application runs on

MindSphere and is available in the MindSphere Store. For promoting your application, you may at your own

discretion choose to use - instead of the Powered by MindSphere Eye-Catcher - the reference “Powered by

MindSphere” by using smaller text in a plain font and in black colour (“Powered by MindSphere Reference”).

When using the Powered by MindSphere Reference, you must distinguish it from the name of your

application and/or other surrounding text by capitalizing the first letter of the Powered by MindSphere

Reference, placing the Powered by MindSphere Reference in quotes and using a different style of font.

Your use of the Powered by MindSphere Reference is subject to our Branding Guideline below.



Branding Guideline

This Branding Guideline applies to your use of the Powered by MindSphere Eye-Catcher and the Powered

by MindSphere Reference (collectively “Licensed Designations”).

Provided that you have subscribed to the MindAccess DevOps Plan and provided further that you comply at

all times with the MMA and this Branding Guideline, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable

right under our intellectual property rights in and to the Licensed Designations for the limited purpose to

place the Licensed Designations on Your Material and to market, offer for sale, sell, use, import, export or

otherwise dispose of such marked Your Material in accordance with the Branding Guideline. The rights

granted herein to you may also be exercised by any of your subcontractors and sales partners. The Licensed

Designations may not be used for any other purpose.

Please note that Your Material shall be any material (print or electronic) relating to your application for the

purpose of marketing, such as advertising material, leaflets, brochures, presentations, internet websites, tv

commercials, hand-outs and material used in connection with trade fairs and exhibitions as well as packing

material (print or electronic) relating to the technical description of the application such as manuals, technical

documentation and product descriptions but excluding any business related documents (print or electronic)

such as business stationery, business cards, business forms, e-mail signatures, delivery notes, invoices,

purchase orders, offers, delivery conditions or other similar documents.

You acknowledge that any use of the Licensed Designations, even if permitted hereunder, is at your sole risk

and that we shall have no liability or responsibility in connection therewith. You shall be responsible for your

subcontractors and sales partners and shall make sure that all such subcontractors and sales partners

comply with all your obligations specified in this Branding Guideline.

The Licensed Designations must appear by itself, with reasonable spacing between it and other visual,

graphic or textual elements and may not be placed on any background which interferes with its readability.

You must stop using the Licensed Designation if at any time you cease to be subscribed to a valid

MindAccess DevOps Plan or your application no longer uses or cannot be used with any of our Services. We

reserve the right to terminate your right to use the Licensed Designations at any time in our sole discretion.

You must comply with the most up-to-date versions of this Branding Guideline and any other terms or

policies that we may issue from time to time to govern use of the Licensed Designations. You agree that we

may modify this Branding Guideline at any time.

You may not display the Licensed Designation as the largest or most prominent designation in any Materials.

You may not use the Licensed Designation in any manner that is misleading, unfair, defamatory, obscene,

infringing or otherwise objectionable as reasonably determined by us. You may not use the Licensed

Designations in any manner that implies that you are sponsored or endorsed by us or that your products or

services have been authored by us or represent our views.

You may not abbreviate the Licensed Designation nor include it in the name of your applications, service,

product or in a URL. You may not alter the Licensed Designations in any manner such as changing the

proportion, color or removing or adding any elements from the Licensed Designations.

You may not use the Licensed Designations in a manner which in our reasonable discretion may diminish or

otherwise damage our goodwill in the Licensed Designation.

You acknowledge that Siemens is the sole owner of the Licensed Designations and that the use of the

Licensed Designations is solely for Siemens’ benefit. In the event that in any jurisdiction the use of the

Licensed Designations inures to your benefit or the benefit of your subcontractors or sales partners, you

hereby assign and shall procure that your subcontractors and sales partners assign such rights to us and

execute all documents necessary for such an assignment.



You acknowledge that you do not get any rights in the Licensed Designations other than the rights expressly

granted herein. You shall not register the Licensed Designations in any country in the world or otherwise

seek protection. You may not apply for or register any designations that are similar or confusingly similar to

the Licensed Designations. You shall not directly nor indirectly challenge the validity or Siemens’ ownership

of the Licensed Designations by filing oppositions, nullity requests or taking comparable action.

Announcing your application availability

You can publicly announce the availability of your application on the MindSphere Store. You can do this via

press releases or via your preferred media channels.

In any media and marketing announcements, please be sure to mention that your applications are “Powered

by MindSphere”.

Before submitting any public announcements, please align with Siemens Corporate Communications at

[email protected] as they will need to be involved.

Linking to the MindSphere Store

We encourage using your websites and media to promote your application on the MindSphere Store. You

can add a link to your application on the MindSphere Store. Please be sure to mention that your applications

are "Powered by MindSphere".

Press releases and announcements

Upon release of your application, you may send out a press release or announcement.

This should:

● Describe exactly how your application relates to MindSphere.

● Clearly show what role you play on MindSphere.

● Display the benefits to your customers.

Please align with Siemens Corporate Communications at [email protected]

when you plan to submit press releases and announcements.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

FAQ


7 FAQ 7

7.1 MindSphere Community site

Within the MindSphere Community you can share experiences, ask questions, and join the discussion about

anything related to MindSphere. We encourage you to participate in our community.

Link to MindSphere Community: www.mindsphere.io/community.

7.2 MindSphere Partner Program

If you have any questions related to the MindSphere Partner Program, please visit

www.mindspherepartners.com.

7.3 Support Contact for sellers

If you have any questions or requests for publishing support, please contact us by e-mail at

[email protected].

Your inquiry will be forwarded to the appropriate contact and you will receive a response within 1 business

day.

7.4 Support Contact for your application customers

You are required to provide your own support for the application you published on the MindSphere Store.

Your support information should be sent with your application publishing data during the publishing process,

and should be easily discovered by your customers wherever possible.

http://www.mindsphere.io/community

http://www.mindspherepartners.com/

MindSphere Seller Guide 5 6 7 · 2020-03-08 · Introduction MindSphere Seller Guide v1.0 (Jan. 18)...

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Transcript of MindSphere Seller Guide 5 6 7 · 2020-03-08 · Introduction MindSphere Seller Guide v1.0 (Jan. 18)...