Back to the future with Kubernetes – from cloud to edge in a continuum at Europe's largest retailer

This talk discusses the growing importance of edge computing in relation to AI at the edge, Industrial IoT, IT/OT integration, and immersive experiences. The speakers provide insights into the application of edge computing for the Schwarz Group, Europe's largest retailer, known for Lidl, Kaufland, and PreZero. They introduce a lightweight approach for managed Kubernetes across over 14,000 edge locations, supporting both autonomous operations and integration with cloud environments. Attendees will gain practical insights into a cloud-based reference architecture for managing workloads in various locations, while also addressing typical operational challenges encountered in edge computing. Timo Lakner and Martin Schuessler from STACKIT bring significant expertise in platform engineering and Kubernetes at the edge to this session.