THE SESSION 2024: Creating smarter businesses together

How can companies future-proof their business and remain competitive in times of budget cuts and demands for maximum efficiency?

companies need scalable solutions that maximize the potential of their existing resources. At THE SESS10N, we collaborated with decision-makers and experts to explore various perspectives and solutions. Success depends on mutual inspiration, continuous dialogue, and the willingness to learn from each other. It’s clear that in the post-digitalization era, businesses need to be not just more digital, but smarter and more efficient. The demand is for strategies that maximize digital ROI. So, how do we approach this? By creating real value through software, data, and AI.

Smart strategies, cultural transformation, and strong leadership

Before starting any digital transformation project, companies must decide whether to build digital capabilities internally or through external partnerships. In a panel discussion, Florian Bankoley (Bosch Mobility), Werner Reichelt (Festo), and Sebastian Wohlrapp (diconium) identified speed, resource availability, and internal expertise as critical factors in making this choice.

It's crucial to first understand what needs to be achieved and what core expertise already exists within the organization. Once that’s clear, leaders must have the courage to take action—leveraging technology and the right partners. Transformation should never be an end in itself; the "why" and consistent execution are what matter. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

The most successful technology-driven companies rely on the Product Operating Model to guide their operations. This model enhances agility and innovation by focusing on the problem that needs solving rather than dictating specific actions. The guiding principle is always to serve the customer, not just the stakeholders. Jonathan Wiens, Philipp Arnold, and Christoph Hadelich (diconium) highlighted this point in their workshop.

Sustainability is becoming a key component of corporate strategy, driven by new EU regulations such as CSRD, CSDDD, and LkSG. To meet these standards and build a data-driven sustainability strategy, companies need AI-powered tools. In Fenja Herbers’ (diconium) workshop, it was agreed that smart technologies are crucial in achieving data-based sustainability goals, helping businesses become more resilient while contributing to a sustainable future.

Key takeaways:

• Transformation isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a leadership challenge.
• Architecture, software, and data are the tools, but mindset and leadership form the foundation.
• Innovation means focusing on the greatest potential for impact, even if it requires letting go of some good ideas.
  
  

AI Integration: Artificial Intelligence as a driver of transformation

“The world needs more software, and AI is the key,” says Michael "Rocky" Rocktäschel (diconium). His keynote workshop underscored the enormous potential of generative AI to create innovative, software-defined products and deliver more impact with less effort. To fully harness AI’s potential, companies must train their teams, educate them about potential risks, and prepare for the broader implications of AI. Only with employee buy-in can organizations truly leverage AI’s continuous advancements.

David Mattin (New World Same Humans) identified three key trends in AI development: "Knowledge Sharing" using internal tools and proprietary data to improve knowledge transfer in the era of New Work; "Virtual Companions," where AI assistants enhance efficiency and open new consumer channels; and "Simulated Everything," where virtual experiences allow for digital focus groups and A/B testing of marketing campaigns. These trends offer new ways to innovate with AI—developing tools and solutions that push companies forward.

For companies to effectively adopt AI, they must also evolve as a whole. Anna Kopp (Microsoft) emphasized the importance of continuously challenging one’s own Automated Infrastructure Management (AIM), as arrogance, indecision, and money often drive poor decisions. Her advice: "Ask questions, don’t act like you know it all," "Invest and start quickly," and "Make decisions and take ownership." Adaptability, she argues, is the key to future success.

In the corporate landscape, smart assistants are becoming critical for optimizing operations. But simply acquiring AI tools isn’t enough. Tobias Giese (Intershop) explained that to maximize value, companies must first define a clear AI strategy and architecture, then prioritize use cases and iteratively refine AI products. Ultimately, the success of AI initiatives depends on the quality of the data used to train the algorithms—better input leads to better outcomes.

Generative AI also brings ethical challenges, from data privacy issues to potential discrimination. Dr. Bettina Laugwitz (SAP) highlighted the importance of defining ethical principles to ensure trust and transparency while minimizing risks. The central question for every AI project remains: How much automation is appropriate, and where is human oversight needed?

Key takeaways:

• Customers expect seamless, personalized experiences shaped by their most recent positive interaction.
• The best digital strategies for customer experience combine data insights with human intuition.
  
  

Everything transformation: Shaping digital change with software, data, and A

Software is now a core component of many products, services, and solutions. The focus should be on leveraging software, data, and AI to create tangible value and achieve lasting impact on business operations. This approach is key to driving successful transformation and ensuring long-term viability.

Save the Date: THE SESS10N 2025 continues on June 3rd.