Bechtle commits to artificial intelligence as a key technology

• Bechtle publishes strategic AI positioning statement
• Expansion of IPAI membership for practical AI development
• Bechtle leverages AI for new customer solutions and efficiency

Neckarsulm, 11 February 2025 – As a leading IT service provider, Bechtle AG has published its strategic stance on artificial intelligence (AI), reinforcing its ambition to actively shape the future of this key technology in Europe. The aim is to effectively integrate AI into customer projects, internal processes and the development of new solutions with Bechtle collaborating closely with its strategic vendor partners to stay at the forefront of new developments. In addition, Bechtle is expanding its membership in the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) to drive the development and responsible application of AI. Bechtle’s positioning statement names four strategic areas of action—customers, the market, the company itself and society—which are all closely linked.

“It’s our aim to responsibly and effectively harness the transformative power of AI to drive the success of our customers, including SMEs, large enterprises and public organisations,” says Dr Thomas Olemotz, CEO, Bechtle AG. Customers are, therefore, at the heart of the AI strategy, as Bechtle enables them to integrate AI technologies to efficiently meet their individual needs in the long term. At the same time, the IT company takes a holistic view of the market, leveraging the combination of AI development, application and integration to ensure European IT solutions are competitive and future-ready. Bechtle also intends to significantly expand the use of AI within its own organisation to optimise internal processes, maximise resource efficiency and continually improve the quality of its service offering by automating routine tasks to relieve employees, allowing them to focus on more valuable, strategic activities. “Artificial intelligence is more than just a technology. It is a springboard to innovation, efficiency and sustainable growth,” says Dirk Müller-Nießner, CTO, Bechtle AG. Conscious of its corporate social responsibility, Bechtle has also included society as one of its strategic areas of action and places great importance on adhering to regulatory requirements to ensure the technology is not only used efficiently, but also responsibly to create lasting added value.

Deepening ties with IPAI

By expanding its membership in the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), Bechtle is cementing its position in one of Europe’s central AI ecosystems. Through the IPAI, Bechtle has access to a network of AI experts, technology providers and scientific institutions. Together with customers, Bechtle also wants to trial new concepts and technologies on site at the IPAI campus. “Our partnership allows us to be extensively involved in future-facing AI developments and to apply our expertise in integrating IT infrastructures and solutions to spur them on,” says Dirk Müller-Nießner.

A strategic partner in Planet AI

Bechtle is also underscoring its commitment to AI through a majority stake in the German company, Planet AI—a specialist in deep learning, which is a subset of machine learning—that relies heavily on the use of artificial neural networks in its products. For the last ten years, Planet AI has been creating solutions for intelligent document analysis and process automation. Its core product is a multifunctional software platform enabling companies to automatically process hand and machine-written documents, receipts and other text content, as well as classify document types and harvest information. Other use cases include image and voice recognition. Alongside its site in Rostock, a Planet AI team will also be working from Bechtle’s office space at the IPAI campus in Heilbronn.

Further information on our AI positioning can be found at bechtle.com/de-en/ai-positioning.