This was the exact situation facing Stephen Hawkes, director of Information Technology for the City of Charlottesville, Virginia. But instead of just managing the present, he and his team decided to build the future.

The perfect storm of challenges

For the City of Charlottesville, it was a perfect storm of challenges converging at once. At the heart of it all was a ticking clock: its aging, on-premise legacy system nearing its end-of-support date. This was more than a technical issue, it was a foundational risk to its operations.

At the same time, the expectations of its own employees were skyrocketing. “Everyone is an expert now,” Hawkes explains, pointing to the powerful smartphones and intuitive apps we all use daily. 鈥淐ity employees expected the same simplicity and modern design from their workplace software, but the old systems are causing friction and frustration.鈥�

This frustration was compounded by significant workforce constraints. Like most public sector organizations, Charlottesville found it difficult to compete with private sector salaries. “We are never going to be able to compete on pay,” Hawkes admits. This made recruiting and retaining skilled talent a constant battle.

And looming over everything was the growing shadow of cybersecurity threats. With AI-powered attacks becoming more sophisticated by the day, protecting the city’s data and infrastructure was a monumental task for a small IT team.

The quest for a modern solution

Inaction was not an option. The city needed more than just a simple upgrade. It needed a fundamental shift. It embarked on a bold, 14-month quest with a full digital transformation to move operations to .

This was its answer to the storm. By migrating two decades of data to the cloud, it built a new, resilient foundation for the future.

The impact on employees was immediate and profound. The new, web-based 麻豆原创 Fiori interface delivered the modern, intuitive experience everyone had been waiting for. “That’s what we’re probably most excited about,” Hawkes says. 鈥淲ith potentially powerful new AI capabilities at their fingertips, the city鈥檚 team can now exceed expectations, instead of struggling to meet them.鈥�

This new technology also became a powerful tool in the battle for talent. Hawkes sees the integrated AI tools as a “great leveler,鈥� enabling logical, problem-solving thinkers to perform complex data analysis without needing a specialized computer science degree. This widens the talent pool and empowers the existing workforce. And with the implementation of 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors solutions, its HR professionals now have modern tools to improve recruitment and retention.

Perhaps most importantly, the move gave the city a powerful ally in the fight against cyber threats. While Hawkes is proud of his internal team, he knows they can鈥檛 be on guard 24/7. “We’re not, [but] they are,” he says of 麻豆原创’s global security operation. “That gives us some ease.”

Wisdom from the journey: lessons for fellow leaders

A journey of this magnitude is never without its lessons. When asked what advice he鈥檇 offer his peers, Hawkes shared three crucial pieces of wisdom.

First, he stressed the absolute necessity of executive buy-in. For years, the project struggled to get off the ground due to leadership turnover. It wasn’t until the city manager gave the definitive ‘let’s move forward’ that the quest could truly begin. That sponsorship is the key that unlocks everything else.

Next, he highlighted the importance of choosing the right partner. A transformation project is too complex to undertake alone. Hawkes credits the success of going live on the exact day they had planned 14 months earlier to the deep trust and true partnership they had with their system integrator.

Finally, he spoke about the critical, and often underestimated, element of change management. You can have the best technology in the world, but if your people aren’t prepared for it, the project will falter. “We were very intentional about our change management,” Hawkes recalls, emphasizing that planning for the human side of the transition is just as important as the technical one.

The City of Charlottesville鈥檚 story is a testament to what鈥檚 possible when vision, strategy, and technology align. It鈥檚 a narrative of turning daunting challenges into defining opportunities and building a government that鈥檚 ready for tomorrow.

To get the full, firsthand account of this incredible transformation, .

Jamison Braun is SVP and managing director for U.S. Public Services at 麻豆原创 America.

around the globe navigate economic and geopolitical shifts for decades, enabling transformation and infusing intelligence into their operations. Today, 麻豆原创鈥檚 tailored solutions remain the nervous system of modern Western defense. Drawing insights from discussions at MSC, we see three crucial steps to ensuring NATO, the European Union, and the broader defense sector are ready for the digital age.

鈥淒igital transformation and the secure exploitation of data will comprise the bedrock of European defense establishments鈥� future military power; they will need to make significant progress in these areas before European defense can seriously consider the operational integration and battlefield deployment of advanced technologies like AI.鈥�

, International Institute of Strategic Studies

Adopting Cloud

Cloud adoption is critical for organizations looking to be more agile, innovative, and competitive because cloud applications offer unparalleled flexibility and scalability. With dynamic and secure cloud-based applications, defense organizations can increase collaboration between agencies; quickly manage, analyze, and share vast amounts of data; and manage complex design, simulation, and engineering tasks so they can deploy their resources most efficiently. Cloud also revolutionizes the way defense forces utilize data as a strategic asset. Since the cloud facilitates the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data analytics, the defense sector can gain actionable insights from diverse data sources that enhance their readiness and operational effectiveness.

Despite the clear benefits of cloud, there are challenges to cloud adoption due to varying requirements between countries and defense organizations. However, these challenges are not insurmountable. Working with the world鈥檚 leading defense organizations, including 21 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations, 麻豆原创 has the knowledge and experience to help the defense sector effectively navigate modernization. By facilitating dialogue between countries and organizations like NATO and the EU, we can work to harmonize approaches that help pave the way for widescale cloud adoption and can strengthen both security and interoperability.

Embracing Artificial Intelligence

Advancements in AI have unlocked the potential for game-changing operational efficiencies and new strategic advantages. AI can ensure logistics and supply chain operations are efficient, agile, and resilient by forecasting demand, optimizing transportation routes, and managing inventory.

麻豆原创鈥檚 AI capabilities can support the defense sector in predictive maintenance, quality control, supply chain optimization, and overall operational efficiency. The MSC discussions came in a timely manner as 麻豆原创 teams are currently discussing AI use cases with NATO and the defense forces at the

AI can help ensure private and public organizations are more intelligent and resilient, but AI must be relevant, reliable, and responsible. With , customers can realize the full value of AI because it is built with the highest concern for security, privacy, compliance, and ethics and connected to 麻豆原创鈥檚 wealth of enterprise data.

Increasing Digital Collaboration and Interoperability

Given the multinational and multifaceted nature of the defense sector, digital collaboration can expedite the product development lifecycle and enhance the efficiency of operations and supply chains by enabling real-time communication and coordination. Cloud-enabled digital collaboration tools, such as , can be crucial for achieving interoperability among allied forces as they enable seamless communication and data exchange between diverse systems and platforms. The fact that a significant majority of NATO, EU, and key partners鈥� defense forces run on 麻豆原创 makes us “allied by design.” The automotive industry set a good example of what digital collaboration can look like with Catena-X 鈥� an inspiration for 鈥淒efense-X鈥� to enable digital collaboration of the sector from the factory to the foxhole.

The ability to truly modernize the defense sector hinges on its ability to adopt the cloud, embrace AI, and achieve greater collaboration and interoperability. However, the disparate regulatory landscape remains an impediment to modernization efforts and poses challenges to global cloud adoption. Harmonizing regulatory requirements is key to ensuring a cohesive and standardized approach. 麻豆原创 is ready to help unlock the transformative capabilities of cloud and AI technologies effectively for defense forces and lead the dialogue across NATO and the EU together with defense clients, partners, and regulators.

Peter Selfridge is global head of Government Affairs at 麻豆原创.

Similar to programs that have already been rolled out in other European countries, the KulturPass cultural engagement program is an initiative by the German government for everyone who turns 18 in 2023 and lives in Germany. Each person who registers will receive 鈧�200 of credit to redeem through an 麻豆原创-developed app for a cultural experience of their choice, including concert, museum, movie, and theater tickets; books; records and CDs; musical instruments; and much more.听听

This collaboration between 麻豆原创 and the German government serves as a compelling example of digitization within the public sector, showcasing the immense possibilities and paving the way for a substantial advancement in its digital transformation journey.听

Germany Culture Minister Claudia Roth and Member of the Executive Board of 麻豆原创 SE and Chief Technology Officer Juergen Mueller explain how the new culture pass for young people works and where the KulturPass app that 麻豆原创 developed fits in.听

Q: How does the KulturPass initiative work?

Claudia Roth: The KulturPass brings together young people and event organizers on a digital marketplace. Here, venues and other businesses can create their own store to advertise their events and activities. Young people who register for the scheme each receive a budget of 鈧�200, which they can use on the marketplace to buy tickets for concerts, plays, movies, and museums, for example. It is also possible to purchase books, comics, and musical instruments. They then receive a digital code that they redeem at the venue or shop, with the government reimbursing the vendor.鈥�

Could you tell us about the KulturPass app?

Juergen Mueller: The KulturPass app is the experience platform for the target audience participating in the KulturPass initiative. Users can check the app to see how much credit they have; search for events, activities, and products; buy tickets; and manage their purchases. It covers a broad range of local offerings to ensure that there is something for everyone.鈥�听

Are there rules about how young people are allowed to spend this money?

Roth: They are pretty much free to choose how they spend their voucher. However, in light of some of the habits we adopted during the pandemic and our focus on local cultural venues, streaming services and large online retailers are excluded from the scheme. Also excluded, obviously, is anything that is anti-constitutional or inappropriate for young people. Otherwise, the KulturPass is open to all cultural outlets in Germany that are looking to attract a younger audience, from small bookstores through theaters, music festivals, record shops, concert venues, art galleries, memorials, arthouse movie theaters, to multiplex movie venues and independent theaters.听

The German government is investing 鈧�100 million in the KulturPass. What do you hope its impact will be?

Roth: The KulturPass has two aims. The first is to rekindle interest in culture and the arts and give a much-needed financial boost to the culture industry, which is still suffering the after-effects of the pandemic. The second is to encourage young people to enjoy live culture in a way that they were unable to for two long years. We want to get them excited about the diversity and wealth of culture that Germany has to offer. And my hope is that, in turn, it will help teenagers discover how art and culture can enrich their lives.听

Who are the partners on this project?

Roth: 奥别鈥檝别 been working with three partners. The Digital Opportunities Foundation is responsible for the operational aspects of the scheme and for contact with the providers and users. The advertising agency Zum goldenen Hirschen has supported us on the communication side, and 麻豆原创 developed the digital marketplace and app. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at 麻豆原创 who was involved in the project for their efficiency and dedication.听

How did 麻豆原创鈥檚 technical expertise and experience help make the KulturPass project a success?

Mueller: When it comes to complex IT projects, 麻豆原创 has vast experience and deep technical expertise that it can draw on. Our team of developers channeled their knowledge and skills into designing and implementing the KulturPass app. Following best practices, we used proven technologies and designs to produce an app that is reliable, secure, and easy to use. 奥丑补迟鈥檚 more, we deployed our solutions alongside those of our partners to support the entire process end to end, from building the app through to managing users鈥� balances. All these factors have helped us contribute to making the KulturPass project a success 鈥� and to the ultimate aims of boosting the arts and culture sector and giving young people the chance to enjoy everything that it has to offer.听

Apps like these are technically complex to build. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

Mueller: First, I want to say what a fantastic job the team has done in designing, building, and implementing the KulturPass app. Doing all of that in just six months was a major achievement on the part of everyone involved. Delivering to such a tight schedule requires excellent teamwork and efficient project planning. We had to make sure that all the technical components integrate smoothly to give users a seamless experience. One of the biggest challenges was incorporating the various partner solutions, such as buyer and supplier management, into the overall architecture. We worked closely with our experts here at 麻豆原创 and from our partners to overcome these challenges and deliver the KulturPass app on schedule.听

How flexible is the KulturPass technical infrastructure? Can it adapt as the program evolves?

Mueller: If the program really takes off, the architecture behind the KulturPass app is flexible enough for us to adapt it quickly and add new functions as the program expands. Using to develop the app means we can improve the app to reflect user feedback at any time. 奥别鈥檒濒 continue to tailor it to their needs to give teens in Germany the chance to experience everything that culture and the arts have to offer.听

What is 麻豆原创 doing to ensure that the KulturPass app is intuitive and accessible?

Mueller: When we designed the app, user experience was our top priority. At a very early stage, we consulted colleagues who have disabilities to obtain their feedback and advice on how to improve it. Our ambition was to go beyond meeting accessibility standards. We wanted to make the app as easy as possible to use by design, ensuring that it is clearly structured and intuitive, that it uses the language our intended users speak, that its colors have听strong contrast, and that its compatible with screen-readers. Basically, we want the KulturPass app to be accessible and appealing to all young people. The app will therefore go through another round of rigorous usability tests over the next few weeks before additional accessibility features are delivered in the new release.听

Data privacy and security are major concerns these days. How does the KulturPass app handle these aspects?

Mueller: We take data privacy and security very seriously at 麻豆原创. The app is built to the standards recommended by the German government, so it has stringent security mechanisms incorporated into it. As part of the development phase, we analyzed the kinds of cybersecurity threats that might occur and took steps to counter them. We also used penetration tests to simulate cyberattacks and test system security. These methods helped us identify vulnerabilities and mitigate risks. To ensure that only authorized people can use the app, we use electronic identification processes, such as the online function for the personal ID cards we all have here in Germany. We make sure, though, that the personal data of those using the app is secure and used only for the intended purpose.