We helped Siemens AG successfully execute one of the world’s largest AI projects, rolling out GitHub Copilot for 30,000 software developers across the organization.
Impact
Through targeted enablement, managed communications, and strategic community building, we boosted the productivity of 30,000 Siemens developers with GitHub Copilot.
Industry
Software
Key Services
KEY TECHNOLOGIES/PLATFORMS
Microsoft GitHub Copilot
The Vision
How does a global enterprise with complex technological frameworks activate AI for 30,000 developers within 14 months? Through a comprehensive AI training framework for employees.
Siemens AG has a long tradition of innovation. Its AI vision is both ambitious and forward-looking. Siemens management recognized early on that AI is a true game changer for software development. Over eight weeks the company conducted a scientific feasibility study across six different developer teams to examine how software developers could be more productive with AI. The study showed that developers were more productive and satisfied overall when they could focus on higher-value work.
Siemens faced the task of developing a comprehensive AI enablement program covering technical, organizational, and human aspects. The goal: to empower developers to use AI in the long term, in line with the study’s results, and to code more efficiently with GitHub Copilot as an assistance system.
Siemens was aware of the complexity from the outset. Successfully rolling out GitHub Copilot for 30,000 software developers across various Siemens verticals in 50 countries required implementation expertise that far exceeded simply providing technology.
The Solution
Our Slalom team jointly developed an AI implementation framework with Siemens, enabling the company to establish a connected AI community across its software development departments.
Feasibility: Ready to scale
Together, Siemens and Microsoft selected Slalom as a partner to develop and implement a comprehensive AI enablement program. The Slalom team designed a multi-stage training plan to roll out GitHub Copilot to 30,000 developers within 14 months. After initial training for all, users were divided into target groups: essential, intermediate, and intensive AI users. Various learning formats and communication channels were developed to address technical aspects of AI use. The aim was to reach as many people as possible while also providing targeted enablement for different employee groups.
With three hackathons, two learning days, over 120 targeted live trainings, and on-demand training materials in seven languages, the Slalom team equipped 30,000 software developers in 50 countries with the knowledge to use GitHub Copilot in software development.
The human dimension: training and community building as a success factor
At the heart of the AI transformation is the champions community, now comprising over 200 key users. Together with the Siemens team, Slalom identified and trained these users. Their role is to support colleagues in using GitHub Copilot through organized local trainings and to help overcome technical and organizational challenges. Today, the champions are AI ambassadors who, as multipliers of AI adoption in their respective business units, play a key role in acceptance and sustainable success. “Community building and ongoing communication across channels and time zones have led to success over time,” summarizes Thomas Rettenmaier, Senior Project Manager, Siemens AG.
Another key component of the enablement is the train-the-trainer program: Slalom trained seven Siemens internal AI trainers and one lead trainer to ensure the long-term scalability and autonomy of the program. These trainers have gradually taken over the implementation of training courses, supported hackathons, and are making a significant contribution to anchoring AI knowledge within the organization.
Ongoing enablement through targeted communication
Communication was adapted throughout the project to address the diverse needs and challenges of different business units and regions. The Slalom team created relevant distribution lists to deliver content tailored to users’ needs and knowledge levels. Establishing internal communication channels beyond training formats—such as regular newsletters, interactive communication tools, and a central information hub—encouraged users to continually engage with available content.
Legacy technologies: technical challenges of AI implementation
Another challenge was the many different programming languages at Siemens. Legacy code sometimes made using GitHub Copilot seem impossible, as the solution can process up to 60,000 lines of code, while some Siemens applications have millions of lines in different and custom languages. Through targeted training, the Slalom team helped developers understand how to further develop Siemens applications with GitHub Copilot.
Customer Impact
The developed AI framework enabled the activation of GitHub Copilot for 30,000 users.
The many shifts that occurred over the 14-month project demanded a flexible approach. Teams had to continuously adapt to new technical and organizational challenges. Together, Slalom and Siemens developed a framework that serves as a blueprint for future AI projects and lays the foundation for sustainable AI adoption.
“With Slalom as a partner, we developed an AI framework that unites technology, success and measurement, enablement and development, as well as communication and community building under one roof,” says Rettenmaier. “This has already enabled us to achieve productivity gains that exceed the costs of the AI technology.”
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Our Slalom team
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