Discover AI solutions locally, build them together, scale them globally

Last week, colleagues from ERGO’s international branches came together in Madrid for our first “Prompt2Impact – ERGO International AI Hackaprompt”. The aim: to develop AI solutions in cross-border teams and then scale them up.

Rather than tackling problems country by country, the teams explored how our shared “Everyday AI” solution could address similar challenges across the organization and then be adapted across markets. The starting point was 12 specific use cases from the various national subsidiaries.

The event was initiated and sponsored by Anne Dreller and Dirk Schautes, members of the Executive Board of ERGO International AG. The jury, consisting of international ERGO CIOs, then assessed the solutions developed.

We asked Anne Dreller how AI will change the way ERGO International works and how such a “Hackaprompt” can support this.

How do you think AI will change the way we work at ERGO International – and what opportunities do you see for our international teams?

I am convinced that AI will fundamentally reshape the way we work, not by replacing people, but by enabling them to focus more on activities that create the highest value for our customers and business.

For ERGO International, AI creates an opportunity to simplify processes, automate repetitive tasks, make knowledge accessible across borders, and support better decisions. Just as importantly, it will bring Business and IT closer together, and AI will accelerate the time to first prototype and the time to deploying actual solutions. The most successful AI solutions emerge when business experts and technology teams work side by side from day one, jointly identifying opportunities, developing solutions, and continuously improving them based on user needs.

As an international organisation, we also have a unique advantage: we can develop solutions once, learn from each other, and scale successful approaches across multiple markets. If we combine this collaborative mindset with strong AI capabilities and responsible governance, AI can help us become faster, more innovative, and even more connected across our international network.

Our business depends on collaboration across countries. Where do you see the biggest opportunities to create synergies between our international entities, and how can we make this collaboration even more effective?

One of the biggest opportunities is to leverage our international scale more systematically. While our entities operate in different markets, many business challenges are similar. Rather than solving the same problem multiple times, we should identify successful approaches early and make them reusable across the Group.

This is particularly relevant in areas such as AI, data, and digital solutions. By working with common reference architectures, engineering standards, and reusable platforms, we can accelerate delivery, reduce duplication, and focus investments where they create the greatest value. At the same time, local entities must retain the flexibility to adapt solutions to their market and customer needs.

To make this work, we need transparency on what is being developed across the organisation, clear ownership, and governance. When we combine local innovation with international scaling, we can achieve far greater impact than any entity could on its own.

What is the most important success factor for you when teams work together with AI – and how do you want to embed this approach in your new role? How does the Hackaprompt support this?

For me, the most important success factors are curiosity and courage. AI is developing rapidly, and the biggest opportunity lies in every individual being willing to learn, experiment, and rethink established ways of working.

Curiosity helps us discover new possibilities, while courage turns those possibilities into real impact. Technology alone does not create value. People do.

The Hackaprompt is a great example of this mindset in action. It encourages colleagues to explore, experiment, and learn from each other while solving real business challenges. Beyond the ideas it generates, it helps build the confidence and AI mindset that will be critical for our future success.