An OCPP broker lets a charge point or network connect to several backend systems at once. That enables a vendor-neutral setup and avoids lock-in – operators can mix hardware and software freely or switch between charge point management systems (CPMS) as needed. For example, a charging provider can integrate different management platforms or services in parallel, ensuring interoperability between hardware and backend vendors and keeping the freedom to choose or change partners without replacing chargers or reconfiguring them onsite.

A common use case is migrating from one backend to another without taking chargers offline. The OCPP gateway acts as a dynamic router that can reroute charger communications instantly. Operators can move some chargers to the new system while others stay on the old one, all without manual device reconfiguration or operational interruptions. This makes testing new platforms or consolidating systems much easier while keeping charging running continuously.

In complex EV charging networks, operators often want to run multiple backends in parallel – for example to test a new software platform or send data to a separate analytics system. An OCPP broker supports duplicating or segmenting traffic so the same charger can report to two systems simultaneously. This enables use cases such as A/B testing a new CSMS alongside production, sending live data to a data warehouse or AI engine, or running a staging environment next to production without separate chargers. It speeds up innovation and troubleshooting by enabling safe parallel experiments.

A broker improves interoperability in heterogeneous networks. It can bridge different OCPP versions (1.5, 1.6, 2.0.1, etc.) and even translate into other protocols or messaging systems (e.g., forwarding OCPP messages via MQTT). This is essential for networks with mixed charger models or legacy systems – the broker ensures every charger can communicate with central systems regardless of protocol differences. It essentially acts as a universal translator so legacy chargers and the latest OCPP 2.0.1 stations can coexist, and it can feed charging data into IoT hubs or enterprise message buses for further processing.

An OCPP gateway provides a central point for real-time visibility into all communication between chargers and backends. It is used for diagnostics and performance monitoring. Operators and engineers gain full transparency over every OCPP message (authentication, start/stop transaction, heartbeat, faults, etc.) flowing between chargers and backends. When issues arise, they can view live logs and even debug message interactions without logging into each charger or interrupting service. This greatly improves troubleshooting – for example, a support team can use the broker's message log from a central console to pinpoint why a charger could not start a session.

Many operators only need to share specific data with third parties (e.g., utilities, billing partners). An OCPP broker supports granular forwarding rules – you can route certain message types to specific endpoints. For instance, you can send MeterValues and transaction records to a billing system or e-roaming platform while directing control commands (start/stop, unlock) only to the primary CPMS. The broker enables this by letting operators enable or disable OCPP message types per connected service. This selective forwarding ensures each partner only receives the data they need (improving data protection and reducing noise) and supports integrations such as a dedicated load management system that only receives load-control messages. In short, the broker can act as an intelligent filter that forwards messages contextually for billing, reporting or site control applications.

The broker unlocks a dedicated support case for wallbox manufacturers: customer wallboxes connect through the broker and can be analyzed, configured and provisioned with standard setups centrally. Firmware updates and device-specific diagnostics can be delivered, and special electrician access enables safe unlocks, checks or resets. The result is an end-to-end remote service that minimizes field support and gets end users charging again faster – including optional parallel reporting for manufacturer support teams.

As smart charging (dynamic adjustment of charging power) becomes more important, brokers act as a bridge to energy management systems (EMS) and load controllers. In a typical scenario, a local load management system must send commands (such as adjusting charging current or pausing a session) to stations without replacing the entire backend. An OCPP proxy/broker can intercept these smart charging OCPP commands and forward them to a dedicated system (e.g., a local controller or cloud EMS) while other messages still flow to the main CPMS. This enables advanced load optimization strategies (peak shaving, dynamic load balancing) by coordinating site controllers with the central system. Brokers also support custom charging profiles and schedules via OCPP, enabling optimized energy use and cost savings. Essentially, the gateway makes it easy to integrate intelligent charging algorithms or V1G load management without disrupting primary operations.

With an independent broker aggregating all charging data, operators can use AI and machine learning on that stream to improve operations. A prominent use case is predictive maintenance – analyzing charger behavior to predict failures or service needs before they happen. Abnormal patterns in temperature readings or error codes can trigger proactive service tickets. AI can also detect anomalies or fraud (e.g., flagging unusual charging sessions or potential energy theft). Some platforms integrate AI services via the broker: the broker can forward relevant telemetry to an AI module that sends alerts back to the operator. By embedding AI analytics into the OCPP data flow, charging providers get smarter alerts, automated fault diagnostics and even optimization advice (e.g., ideal charging times or load balancing strategies) to improve uptime and efficiency.

Fleet operators (e.g., delivery vans, bus depots) use OCPP brokers to better manage complex charging needs across vehicles and locations. The broker centralizes control of many chargers across brands and depots, providing a single view for fleet charging. Key use cases include scheduling and prioritized charging so vehicles needed earlier are charged first, and load balancing so depots do not exceed power limits. An OCPP broker can integrate with fleet management software by passing vehicle state of charge and charger status to enable smarter decisions. It also supports regional segmentation – grouping chargers by depot or geography and applying different policies to each. Overall, this leads to optimized depot operations (vehicles ready when needed, minimal energy costs/downtime). For example, a bus operator can minimize peak consumption by staggering overnight charging while the broker ensures every bus is charged by morning as planned.

Charging providers often need to integrate new payment solutions or billing partnerships. An OCPP gateway can forward transaction events to external payment service providers, enabling seamless payments or loyalty programs alongside the charging network. This includes integrating card terminals, mobile payment apps or RFID billing without tightly coupling them to charger firmware. The broker can also support reimbursements for employees or home charging by securely forwarding session data to employers or fleet managers. For instance, when employees charge company EVs at home, the broker can automatically send energy consumption data to a reimbursement system. As a clearinghouse for billing data, the broker ensures flexible business models (different tariffs, roaming, separate billing) can be implemented without changing the core CPMS – useful for CPOs and e-mobility providers expanding their payment and billing options.

Plug & Charge (PnC) is a standard that lets EV drivers simply plug in, authenticate automatically and start charging thanks to digital certificates (defined by ISO 15118). OCPP 2.0.1 supports this natively, and an advanced broker keeps ISO 15118 communication flowing smoothly to the backends. The use case is to provide EV drivers a seamless charging experience without RFID cards or apps. Once the driver connects, the vehicle and charger perform a secure handshake (using PKI certificate exchange) and the session is authorized automatically. The broker must process these new message flows and may coordinate with certificate management services. By supporting PnC, the OCPP gateway future-proofs networks for effortless authentication and payment, which is increasingly important as more PnC-capable cars and chargers enter the market. It gives CPOs an advantage in usability and security.

With bidirectional charging (V2G) emerging, an OCPP broker is key to handling the growing complexity of energy flows to and from vehicles. In V2G scenarios, an EV can return energy to the grid or site during peak times or as a grid service. OCPP 2.0.1 introduced features such as energy transfer modes and extended event data to support this bidirectional exchange. An OCPP gateway can coordinate between the vehicle, charger and multiple parties (utilities or grid operators) to execute V2G commands and reports. For example, an aggregator could use the broker to instruct a group of EVs to discharge a certain amount during peaks and recharge them later. The broker ensures required messages (such as start/stop transaction with energy delivery direction and regular meter values) reach the right systems. This lets EV fleets act as a distributed battery – supporting the grid at peak times, participating in energy markets or forming a virtual power plant across many EVs. By supporting V2G use cases, the broker helps unlock new revenue (selling energy back) and grid stabilization services through the charging network.

Another important scenario is updating and maintaining chargers. A broker can help with remote firmware management by brokering update commands. Instead of updating each station through its native platform, an operator can use the broker to send OCPP FirmwareUpdate messages or diagnostics requests to chargers across different backends. This is especially useful when a network includes multiple vendors or when the primary CPMS does not handle firmware well – a dedicated maintenance tool can integrate via the broker. Additionally, the broker centralizes remote diagnostics (resets, unlock commands, retrieving error logs). This improves operational efficiency by standardizing charger maintenance tasks through the broker. Field technicians or support systems can interact with any charger over OCPP (via the gateway) and run fleet-wide health checks or software updates. Firmware rollouts and fixes can therefore be executed faster and with less manual effort, maximizing charger uptime.

An OCPP broker is often deployed to support enterprise-scale charging rollouts. By decoupling chargers from a single backend, networks can grow without bottlenecks. Modern OCPP proxy architectures are lightweight and can efficiently handle thousands of concurrent charger connections. They can be deployed in cloud or on-prem clusters to ensure high availability and failover support. Even when a network expands to hundreds or thousands of stations across regions, the broker can scale horizontally to manage the load. The goal is reliable communication at scale – critical for utilities or nationwide CPOs. The broker centralizes control so new stations or sites can be added quickly, and it reduces strain on individual backends by distributing connections. In short, it provides a future-proof, scalable infrastructure where adding chargers or new services does not compromise stability, supporting rapid EV infrastructure growth reliably.

PIPELET ships with an integrated mini charge point management system (Mini-CPMS) that can take over in an emergency – optionally even onsite on an IoT edge device. If a backend fails, it can switch to an alternative system to keep operations running without interruption.

The broker also stores all messages during operations and can continue cleanly after disruptions or resync. For enterprises, PIPELET can automatically build and maintain site-specific RFID lists with valid users – ensuring controlled, stable access even in exceptional situations.