Artificial intelligence has become an integral part of everyday operations in many companies–including Leadec. However, there is a crucial step between initial experiments and real value creation: structure. Leadec is taking this step decisively with its new AI Competence Center.
It starts with small steps. Especially at a time when AI technologies are still in their early stages and have only recently reached the level of maturity required for scalable use in professional environments. Leadec recognized this potential early on and has consistently explored ways to leverage AI meaningfully for its own business.
In doing so, the company deliberately gathered experience, tested applications, and came to a key realization: the true potential of AI unfolds when initial initiatives evolve into a systematic approach anchored in strategy.
With its new AI Competence Center, Leadec is now taking exactly this step. “Over the past years, we have tried out a lot,” says COO Markus Hucko – a statement currently heard in many companies. “But while AI initiatives in many places remain fragmented, we want to clearly mark a turning point with the new Competence Center: moving away from testing and toward targeted scaling,” Hucko continues.
The strategic idea behind this is clear: today, competitiveness is no longer driven solely by efficiency, but by the ability to rapidly translate innovation into tangible applications.
What stands out is that the AI Competence Center is not a traditional department. Instead, Leadec relies on a cross-functional task force – an approach already established in other companies with more advanced AI maturity. Experts from business, IT, and operational units collaborate on solutions within an agile setup.
The AI Competence Center is led by Astrid Lichtl-Dengel from Leadec’s Smart Factory Group, who has long worked at the interface between business and technology. Her experience shapes the center’s approach: “AI does not create value through technological excellence alone, but through practical applications that work in everyday operations and deliver real added value,” says the AI expert. “The quality of the results largely depends on the quality of the underlying processes and data,” Lichtl-Dengel explains. That is why AI at Leadec is not viewed in isolation, but is closely linked to the digitalization and standardization of processes.
Industrial services are becoming increasingly complex: assets, contracts, and service scopes vary depending on location, customer, and situation. To process service requests quickly, accurately, and in a structured way, Leadec relies on intelligent digital support.
One example is an AI-powered service agent that analyzes incoming tickets – through which customer needs or specific requirements are entered into the Leadec.os system – and structures them accordingly. This allows requests to be classified more quickly, assigned to the appropriate contractual context, and supplemented with relevant information for further processing. “We’re kicking off in April 2026 – moving from theory to AI in practice, all integrated in Leadec.os,” says Ba-Lam Ngo, Digitalization Manager at Leadec. Manual review efforts are reduced, and response times are significantly shortened.
At the same time, the AI Competence Center is establishing a clear governance and compliance framework. This not only creates security but also provides guidance for employees. Only when it is clear within which framework AI can be used can the necessary trust emerge to embed new technologies across the company.
Leadec’s development exemplifies what many companies are currently facing – and where the greatest challenge lies: transitioning from initial experiments to structured, scalable use of AI. The key difference lies not only in the technology itself, but in the organization behind it.
Or, put differently: the real competitive advantage of AI arises where it is not only deployed, but strategically embedded. This is precisely the path Leadec is taking with its AI Competence Center.
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