From Experimenter to Practitioner: How Giesecke+Devrient Accelerated Its AI Transformation

The Challenge

Giesecke+Devrient is a Munich-headquartered global leader in SecurityTech, from currency management and financial platforms to digital security . With around 14,400 employees worldwide, G+D operates across a broad and specialised set of markets - from banknote solutions to digital identity.

G+D's starting position was a familiar one for large industrial groups: plenty of AI activity, but spread thin. With divisions operating independently across security printing, currency technology, and digital security, each business unit was exploring AI at its own pace. Teams ran pilots in parallel - sometimes on similar problems - and what one division learned rarely made its way to the others.

Short investment cycles added another layer of friction. They made it difficult to fund the less visible groundwork such as data foundations, governance and capability building, that AI work needs in order to move from prototype to production. The use case list kept growing, but only a small share actually went live. Across the AI Strategy House, G+D's overall maturity sat at the Experimenter stage.

The leadership team recognised this had to change. The harder question was where to start and how to take the whole organisation along.

Why AI - and Why Now

G+D's challenge was not a lack of ideas or investment appetite - it was a strategic and organisational one. More headcount, additional process optimisation, or incremental technology investments would not bridge the gap between isolated experiments and the systematic, enterprise-wide AI adoption that creates sustainable value.

The security technology industry is undergoing rapid structural change. AI is not a marginal efficiency tool here: it is reshaping how products are designed, how threats are detected, how services are delivered, and how companies differentiate themselves in the market. For G+D, the strategic imperative was clear: build genuine, scalable AI capability - or risk ceding ground to faster-moving competitors.

What was needed was a rigorous, evidence-based understanding of exactly where the organisation stood today, where it needed to go, and a structured roadmap for getting there - one that could align leadership, mobilise business units, and sustain momentum across an organisation of G+D's scale and complexity.

The Solution & Approach

appliedAI partnered with G+D through the appliedAI Companion Partnership Program - providing both the diagnostic rigour and the ongoing strategic support required to drive meaningful, measurable progress in AI maturity.

At the heart of the engagement: the appliedAI AI Maturity Assessment (MAT). This is a proven, structured diagnostic framework that evaluates an organisation's AI readiness across all key dimensions of the AI Strategy House - covering leadership and strategy, data and technology foundations, use case development and execution, talent and culture, and governance.

The baseline MAT assessment, conducted in 2024, delivered a clear, evidence-based picture of the organisation's starting position across every dimension. Approximately 18 months later, a comprehensive follow-up assessment was deployed across key stakeholders in multiple divisions and business units - measuring progress systematically, identifying where momentum had built, and pinpointing the areas requiring continued focus.

Both assessments were complemented by structured interpretation workshops, bringing together leaders and practitioners to translate findings into concrete, prioritised action plans. Between assessments, the ongoing Companion Partnership provided G+D with regular expert guidance, access to appliedAI's knowledge base, and a trusted sounding board for strategic decisions.

The Results

In under two years, G+D's overall AI maturity advanced from the Experimenter stage to Practitioner level - with several key strategic dimensions - such as AI steering, AI ambition, culture and AI use cases - already reaching Level 4 (Professional). For an organisation of G+D's size and structural complexity, this represents a remarkable and measurable leap forward.

Beyond the numbers - what else changed:

• G+D established a global AI Center of Excellence to coordinate AI activities across all business units and subsidiaries - directly addressing the structural fragmentation that had previously held the organisation back. More mature divisions now share knowledge systematically with those earlier in their AI journey.
• The company developed Lighthouse Use Cases that demonstrate tangible AI value, and launched an AI Performance Program to sustain and accelerate ongoing progress.
• G+D now operates with a clear, documented AI strategy and defined ambitions - providing the organisational alignment and strategic focus that was previously missing.

What This Means for You

G+D's journey shows that AI maturity is achievable for any large, complex organisation - not just tech-native companies. The right partner, a structured assessment, and a clear roadmap can unlock real, measurable progress at enterprise scale.

This case study is relevant if you recognise any of the following:

• Your AI initiatives feel fragmented - different business units moving at different speeds, with little alignment or knowledge-sharing across the organisation.
• You have a strong pipeline of AI ideas, but only a fraction are reaching implementation.
• You are under pressure to demonstrate concrete AI progress to C-level leadership or your board.
• You want to accelerate your AI transformation - without the cost of figuring out the right approach on your own.

Looking Ahead

G+D's transformation is a work in progress - and deliberately so. With a global AI organisation in place, Lighthouse Use Cases delivering results, an AI Performance Program sustaining momentum, and a clear strategic direction providing alignment, the organisation has set ambitious targets for the period ahead.

The focus now is on unlocking the next stage of AI maturity: expanding technical standards, expanding the impact of proven use cases, fostering an AI-first mindset,  and ensuring that every part of G+D can contribute to - and benefit from - the company's AI transformation. appliedAI continues as a strategic partner in that mission.

Ready to accelerate your AI transformation?

Learn more about the appliedAI Companion Partnership Program - and how a structured AI Maturity Assessment can give you the clarity, direction, and momentum your AI transformation needs.