IDC FutureTech Summit – Germany
Mastering the AI economy with innovative platforms
In an increasingly connected and digital world, companies are faced with the challenge of making their business processes efficient and flexible. Integrated platforms form the technical backbone of almost all digitalization projects. Ideally, they enable the seamless integration of data, applications, and processes, thereby increasing the innovation and agility of IT organizations and your companies.
The range of application scenarios is vast, extending from improving user experience (UX) and client experience (CX) to data and IT service management, human capital management (HCM), and process automation.
In addition, there are platforms for machine learning, (financial) analytics, and artificial intelligence. The latter is increasingly becoming an integral part of platform solutions and is boosting their innovation potential.
Overview
Leading IDC analysts provide a comprehensive overview of solutions, vendors, and the maturity level of emerging technologies and platforms. We will discuss the practical applicability of these approaches through numerous keynotes, case studies, and interactive discussion forums with prominent CIOs and IT decision-makers.
We will explore the following topics in depth:
- Flexibility and scalability: How can integrated platforms make companies more agile?
- Data integration and interoperability: How can data and applications be intelligently linked?
- Cloud technologies and microservices: Which architectures are suitable for future-proof IT landscapes?
- Innovation and competitive advantage: How can platforms be used to establish new business models?
- What potential can already be unlocked with AI, what are the obstacles, and how can these be overcome in practice?
- What innovations are emerging from the latest AI developments, such as agents?
- What other emerging technologies will massively impact the business?
Speakers
Anja Lange
Moderator
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Carla Arend
Associate Vice President, Research, Cloud in Europe
IDC
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Ferdinand Speidel
Enterprise Account Executive
DeepL
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Uwe Pferr
Sr. Solutions Architect
Digital Realty
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Frank Heinzinger
Account Director
Digital Realty
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Robin Mager
Leiter Digital Transformation Office
Siemens Energy
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Marc Stanke
Enterprise Architect & Data Officer
DB Systel
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Dr. Daniela Simone Kappler
AI Officer
DB Systel
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Martin Flechl
GenAI Lead & TechEvangelist
Dynatrace
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Daniel Kleine-Albers
Head of Digital Financial & Central Solutions
KGAL GmbH & Co. KG
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Andreas Messing
Head of BMC Infrastructure, Data & AI
Materna Information & Communications SE
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Armin Hoffmann
Enterprise Architect
Siemens Healthineers AG
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Kai Eisele
IT Strategy Manager
Siemens Healthineers AG
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Matthias Vetter
Senior IB Strategy & Controlling Manager
KGAL GmbH & Co. KG
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Thomas Mannmeusel
CIO
Webasto
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Pia Fischbach
Chief Transformation Officer
OTTO
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Meike Escherich
Associate Research Director, European Future of Work
IDC
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Axel Simon
Field CTO
HPE Deutschland
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Matthias von Alten
Managing Partner and Consulting Leader for Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Wipro
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Anja Lange
Moderator
Anja Lange is a moderator who lives in Stuttgart and has been working successfully as a freelance moderator for several years. She completed a moderator training course at the Institute for Moderation at SWR/Hochschule der Medien and has been regularly on stage or in front of cameras since then. In addition to events, she also presents conferences, trade fairs and film festivals. Her focus topics are digitization, IT, media and marketing. Due to long term stays abroad, she also moderates in English. Her second mother tongue is Dutch. She holds a master degree in cooperate communications.
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 9:00 am | Location:
Welcome and introduction to the topic
Carla Arend
Associate Vice President, Research, Cloud in Europe
IDC
Carla Arend is a senior program director with the European software and infrastructure research team, and heads up IDC’s European cloud research. Arend provides industry clients with key insight into market dynamics, vendor activities, and end-user adoption trends in the European cloud market. As part of her research, she covers topics such as how European organizations are adopting cloud, how cloud drivers and inhibitors are evolving, cloud management, cloud security, data management in the cloud, IoT and cloud, AI and cloud, Devops and cloud, as well as GDPR impact on cloud and cloud code of conduct.
In addition to syndicated research, Arend has worked on many custom consulting projects identifying opportunities in the European cloud market and has authored white papers on subjects such as cloud management, cloud security, data management in the cloud.
Arend is regularly asked to speak at industry events, strategy workshops, sales kick-offs and training, partner events, and end-user events.
Arend holds a BA in business administration from University of Mannheim and an MSc in business administration and management of technology from Copenhagen Business School, in addition to course work at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok.
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 9:10 am | Location:
IDC Keynote: The Importance Of A Tech-first Business Strategy
Ferdinand Speidel
Enterprise Account Executive
DeepL
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 11:20 am | Location:
Language Barriers in the Platform Economy: AI Integration for Global Workflows
In an increasingly interconnected business world, integrated platforms are key to agility and competitiveness. However, language barriers remain an often underestimated challenge in global enterprise workflows. This session will demonstrate how Language AI can be seamlessly integrated into existing enterprise platforms to accelerate processes and enable collaboration across language barriers. Using concrete use cases, you will learn how Language AI acts as an enabler for platform strategies, what integration options modern AI solutions offer, and how companies can increase scalability and efficiency through intelligent language processing. Discover best practices for implementation in complex IT landscapes and how leading companies are using Language AI to drive their digital transformation—without compromising security, compliance, or data sovereignty.
Uwe Pferr
Sr. Solutions Architect
Digital Realty
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 3:05 pm | Location:
Partner presentation Digital Realty: Artificial intelligence-based projects from the perspective of a data center operator
Frank Heinzinger
Account Director
Digital Realty
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 3:05 pm | Location:
Partner presentation Digital Realty: Artificial intelligence-based projects from the perspective of a data center operator
Robin Mager
Leiter Digital Transformation Office
Siemens Energy
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 9:50 am | Location:
Leveraging AI for Enhanced Operational Efficiency
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing operational excellence in the energy sector. Siemens Energy demonstrates how AI solutions such as digital twins, autonomous plant control, and generative AI in engineering automate processes, unlock efficiency potential, and increase reliability. Practical examples illustrate how intelligent platforms master complexity and accelerate innovation. Sustainable success arises from the close integration of technology, data integration, and digital expertise across the entire company.
Marc Stanke
Enterprise Architect & Data Officer
DB Systel
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 11:00 am | Location:
Building and enabling AI governance – Why the entire organization is involved!
In an increasingly interconnected business world, integrated platforms are key to agility and competitiveness. However, language barriers remain an often underestimated challenge in global enterprise workflows. This session will demonstrate how Language AI can be seamlessly integrated into existing enterprise platforms to accelerate processes and enable collaboration across language barriers. Using concrete use cases, you will learn how Language AI acts as an enabler for platform strategies, what integration options modern AI solutions offer, and how companies can increase scalability and efficiency through intelligent language processing. Discover best practices for implementation in complex IT landscapes and how leading companies are using Language AI to drive their digital transformation—without compromising security, compliance, or data sovereignty.
Dr. Daniela Simone Kappler
AI Officer
DB Systel
Martin Flechl
GenAI Lead & TechEvangelist
Dynatrace
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 1:35 pm | Location:
Partner Presentation Dynatrace: Trends in Agentic AI: From Tool to Partner
The rapid development of agentic AI is changing the way companies use artificial intelligence. Instead of merely acting as tools, AI systems are increasingly evolving into proactive, autonomous partners that can support decision-making and act independently. This presentation highlights the key trends driving this paradigm shift and shows how companies can leverage this new generation of intelligent systems today and in the future.
Daniel Kleine-Albers
Head of Digital Financial & Central Solutions
KGAL GmbH & Co. KG
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 1:55 pm | Location:
Between individual products and standardized processes… and what a data platform has to do with it
KGAL’s holistic, strategic digitalization approach combines process optimization and standardization with data management and governance. This takes place in an environment where the three asset classes—real estate, infrastructure, and aircraft—couldn’t be more different. A presentation on challenges and solutions.
Andreas Messing
Head of BMC Infrastructure, Data & AI
Materna Information & Communications SE
Armin Hoffmann
Enterprise Architect
Siemens Healthineers AG
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 1:15 pm | Location:
Planning a Target Architecture in a Volatile Environment: The Example of ERP Migration
IT departments must grapple with increasingly rapid technological and geopolitical changes. How does this impact strategic focus areas, architectures, and digitalization initiatives, using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) as an example?
Kai Eisele
IT Strategy Manager
Siemens Healthineers AG
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 1:15 pm | Location:
Planning a Target Architecture in a Volatile Environment: The Example of ERP Migration
IT departments must grapple with increasingly rapid technological and geopolitical changes. How does this impact strategic focus areas, architectures, and digitalization initiatives, using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) as an example?
Matthias Vetter
Senior IB Strategy & Controlling Manager
KGAL GmbH & Co. KG
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 1:55 pm | Location:
Between individual products and standardized processes… and what a data platform has to do with it
KGAL’s holistic, strategic digitalization approach combines process optimization and standardization with data management and governance. This takes place in an environment where the three asset classes—real estate, infrastructure, and aircraft—couldn’t be more different. A presentation on challenges and solutions.
Thomas Mannmeusel
CIO
Webasto
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 9:30 am | Location:
IT strategy in turbulent times – thoughts on dogmas and sacred cows
Pia Fischbach
Chief Transformation Officer
OTTO
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 3:15 pm | Location:
The Platform Turbo: Accelerator or Even Brake on Transformation?
“Platform approach,” “platform economies,” and the need to “build platforms” are on everyone’s lips. It sounds like the ultimate solution for everything, the turbo that will catapult us through digital transformation at light speed. But is that really the case? Or can this turbo also sputter, slow us down, or even steer us in the wrong direction?
Meike Escherich
Associate Research Director, European Future of Work
IDC
Meike Escherich is an associate research director with IDC’s European Future of Work research service, based in the UK. In this role, she provides coverage of key technology trends across the Future of Work, specializing in how to drive and monitor productivity in a flexible work environment. This includes research into workforce management, agile performance measures, employee engagement/innovation programs and AI driven wellness solutions.
Prior to joining IDC, Meike was a Principal Analyst at Gartner (20 years) – covering Personal Computing, IT Services and Consumer Technologies – and a freelance consultant working with several UK analyst firms and international technology providers (3 years). An expert at identifying and solving strategic pain points Meike has worked with C-level executives across a multitude of industries such as IT, Education, Government, Health, Media, and Finance.
Having studied in Germany (University of Konstanz), Switzerland (University of Geneva, ERASMUS) and the UK (University of Exeter, ERASMUS) Meike holds a bachelor’s degree in Law as well as a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 4:05 pm | Location:
IDC Keynote: Shift Happens – Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce and Business Value
Axel Simon
Field CTO
HPE Deutschland
Axel Simon is Chief Technologist at HPE Networking and has been shaping the IT landscape in Germany for almost three decades. His areas of expertise range from modern network technology and AI-supported automation to security and cyber resilience. As a thought leader and spokesperson, Axel drives digital transformation and helps companies make their infrastructure future-proof and resilient. With a keen sense for innovation and a clear view of the challenges facing the market, he brings in-depth expertise and new ideas to the discussion about the networks of tomorrow.
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 2:15 pm | Location:
Partnervortrag HPE & Wipro: AI for Networking – Networking for AI
HPE’s acquisition of Juniper Networks is more than a strategic move—it marks the beginning of a new era: the dawn of AI-powered, self-driving networks. Experience how the combination of cutting-edge AI technologies with HPE’s edge-to-cloud portfolio sets completely new standards for automation, transparency, and security—and how these innovations are transforming not only networks, but entire businesses.
Immerse yourself in the future of networking: “AI for Networking” enables self-optimizing, adaptive networks that detect and solve problems before they arise. At the same time, “Networking for AI” provides the stable foundation on which AI applications can reach their full potential – with ultra-fast, scalable, and reliable infrastructure.
Look forward to exclusive insights into the strategic roadmap highlights from HPE Networking: Network-as-a-Service, AI-powered operations management, energy-adaptive fabrics, and an open platform strategy. Get practical recommendations on how to make your business fit for the era of AI—with networks that not only think along, but ahead.
Matthias von Alten
Managing Partner and Consulting Leader for Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Wipro
Matthias von Alten is Managing Partner and Consulting Leader for Germany, Austria and Switzerland at Wipro. His focus is on strengthening client relationships and accelerating growth across the DACH region, leveraging a unique blend of strategy, transformation and industry expertise to deliver measurable results.
Matthias has over 30 years of experience across consulting and industry roles. His distinguished career spans many industries like e.g. manufacturing, consumer product, financial services, and pharma companies, where he led value creation and efficiency programs for global organizations. He is well known for blending strategic vision with technology and operational excellence.
Matthias holds a degree in industrial engineering and business administration and is a published thought leader in the industry.
Event Sessions
Tuesday, November 25 2025 2:15 pm | Location:
Partnervortrag HPE & Wipro: AI for Networking – Networking for AI
HPE’s acquisition of Juniper Networks is more than a strategic move—it marks the beginning of a new era: the dawn of AI-powered, self-driving networks. Experience how the combination of cutting-edge AI technologies with HPE’s edge-to-cloud portfolio sets completely new standards for automation, transparency, and security—and how these innovations are transforming not only networks, but entire businesses.
Immerse yourself in the future of networking: “AI for Networking” enables self-optimizing, adaptive networks that detect and solve problems before they arise. At the same time, “Networking for AI” provides the stable foundation on which AI applications can reach their full potential – with ultra-fast, scalable, and reliable infrastructure.
Look forward to exclusive insights into the strategic roadmap highlights from HPE Networking: Network-as-a-Service, AI-powered operations management, energy-adaptive fabrics, and an open platform strategy. Get practical recommendations on how to make your business fit for the era of AI—with networks that not only think along, but ahead.
Practical Information
Time
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM CET
Date
November 25, 2025
Venue
H4 Hotel München Messe
Language
German / Englisch
Comments on last year's event
Christine Grimm, Director für Process & Digital Technology Management, Freudenberg & Co. KG
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Partners
Platinum partner
DeepL
DeepL helps companies around the world overcome language barriers. More than 200,000 customers and millions of individual users in 228 markets worldwide already rely on DeepL’s AI language technology, enabling them to create natural-sounding translations, conduct multilingual meetings and conversations, and optimize texts. DeepL’s AI language solutions offer the highest level of security and help companies around the world improve their business communication, enter new markets, and increase productivity. Today, the company, founded in 2017 by CEO Dr. Jaroslaw (Jarek) Kutylowski, has over 1,000 dedicated employees and is backed by internationally renowned investors such as Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures.
Dynatrace
Dynatrace exists to make the world’s software work perfectly. Our unified software intelligence platform combines broad and deep observability and continuous runtime application security with the most advanced AIOps to provide answers and intelligent automation from data at enormous scale. This enables innovators to modernize and automate cloud operations, deliver software faster and more securely, and ensure flawless digital experiences. That is why the world’s largest organizations trust the Dynatrace® platform to accelerate digital transformation.
Curious to see how you can simplify your cloud and maximize the impact of your digital teams? Let us show you. Sign up for a free 15-day Dynatrace trial.
HPE
HPE is a leader in essential enterprise technology, bringing together the power of AI, cloud and networking to help organizations achieve more. As pioneers of possibility, our innovation and expertise advance the way people live and work. We empower our customers across industries to optimize operational performance, transform data into foresight, and maximize their impact. Unlock your boldest ambitions with HPE.
Wipro
Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have a dedicated workforce of over 170,000, serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future.
BMC
BMC empowers 86% of the Forbes Global 50 to accelerate business value faster than humanly possible. Our industry-leading portfolios unlock human and machine potential to drive business growth, innovation, and sustainable success. We do this in a simple and optimized way by connecting people, systems, and data that power the world’s largest organizations so they can seize a competitive advantage.
Materna
Silver partner
Digital Realty
Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL®, the company’s global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx®) solution methodology for powering innovation, from cloud and digital transformation to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Digital Realty gives its customers access to the connected data communities that matter to them with a global data center footprint of 300+ facilities in 50+ metros across 25+ countries on six continents. To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X.
Venue
H4 Hotel München Messe
H4 Hotel München Messe
Konrad-Zuse-Platz 14, 81829 München
https://www.h-hotels.com/de/h4/hotels/h4-hotel-muenchen-messe
Terms & conditions
The IDC Innovative Platforms Summit is aimed at IT and specialist department employees from IT user companies in Germany.
IT user companies within the meaning of these conditions of participation are all companies that do not provide any consulting services themselves and/or do not develop, manufacture or distribute any information and communication technology (ICT) products or services.
Employees of outsourced IT companies who work exclusively for the parent company and do not conduct any third-party business are also eligible to participate. Employees of IT service companies generally only have access to our events via sponsorship.
IT vendor companies within the meaning of these conditions of participation are hardware, software, service and telecommunications companies as well as consulting firms and ICT service providers.
IDC expressly reserves the right to reject registrations from persons who do not belong to the above-mentioned target group, even if the invitation was issued by one of our partners, by IDC itself in error or through participation in an online survey.
After your registration via the online registration form and successful verification by IDC, you will receive a binding registration confirmation by e-mail.
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