New to the job, but more than 125 years of professional experience

An environment where career starters work with knowledge from more than 125 years of company history and leaders gain new perspectives: tesa develops customer-oriented solutions faster and better – thanks to people who purposefully use AI as an innovation accelerator.

At tesa, the fundamental mindshift is in focus: every employee becomes an AI pioneer—from their very first day at work. The holistic AI enablement program goes far beyond tools and creates a new culture of innovation throughout the entire company.

AI empowerment goes beyond simply using AI tools. Our employees independently develop customized AI solutions, implement intelligent agents, and initiate cross-functional agent networks. The core idea: we enhance existing expertise with AI competence. When the entire workforce independently identifies and implements relevant AI use cases within their specific fields, this creates sustainable competitive advantages at the organizational level. Employees tailor AI tools specifically to their areas of expertise, thereby creating more efficient workflows.

The fundamental challenge is manifested less in the technological dimension and more in the organizational transformation: How can the transition from successful pilot projects to company-wide scaling be effectively managed?

Many companies have already gained initial positive experiences with AI. Use cases are delivering promising results, specialist departments are showing interest, and individual teams are working productively with AI tools. The question is: How can these successes be systematically transferred to the entire organization?

tesa's experience shows: Sustainable AI transformation is, above all, a holistic task. The key factor is developing an organization that can systematically use and scale AI. The necessary shift in perspective is: away from "Which AI tools can be used?" towards "How can the organization be designed so that AI can realize its full potential?"

tesa’s integrated approach is based on three equally important pillars: Technology, Data, and People. All three must be developed in parallel. Neglecting any one pillar endangers the success of the entire transformation.

The quality of AI applications depends entirely on the quality of the underlying data. tesa pursues a comprehensive data strategy based on three principles: harmonization, centralized accessibility, and clear governance.

Over many years, extensive test data has been generated in product development, distributed across various systems. By systematically structuring and integrating this data into a data lake architecture, technical customer inquiries can now be answered significantly faster and more accurately. What once required time-consuming manual research is now accomplished through consolidated, AI-powered analyses.

Data governance is not a one-time project, but an ongoing process with clear responsibilities, standards, and controls. This creates a reliable single source of truth as the foundation for scalable AI applications.

Technology and data infrastructure only realize their full potential when people use them competently and confidently. That’s why systematic AI empowerment is a key investment.

tesa’s approach operates on multiple levels: ensuring transparency about the goals and consequences of the AI transformation, open communication around questions such as “What is AI being used for?”, “What does this mean for existing roles?”, and “Which new skills are becoming relevant?”, as well as structured training programs. The tesa AI Academy offers tailored trainings, which were already used by over 1,000 employees in the first week after launch. Additionally, more than 90 AI Ambassadors worldwide act as multipliers and contact persons within their teams. This decentralized structure ensures that support is available where it is needed most—in the specialist departments themselves.

A special milestone was the Global AI Day in February 2025, during which all employees worldwide were able to directly experience and try out AI. Such events create knowledge, enthusiasm, and a willingness to test new ways of working.

The result is reflected in internal surveys: Over 70 percent of employees rate tesa’s AI readiness as high or very high. It is also crucial that use cases are increasingly being independently developed and implemented—a clear sign of successful cultural change.

The successes of the various use cases are clear: 30 percent faster insights into production data, 25 percent increase in efficiency through sales dashboards, and significant time savings when comparing offers. Across all applications, it is already evident what potential the AI initiatives have for return on investment.

At the same time, qualitative changes are taking effect. Teams no longer discuss whether AI should be used, but how it can be utilized optimally. Repetitive tasks are systematically automated. This creates capacity for value-added, creative work.

In May 2025, the approach was honored with the DPOK Award in the category "AI Strategy and Integration." The holistic approach and the consistent AI empowerment of all employees were particularly recognized.

The question is no longer whether companies use AI, but how AI can be integrated in a way that creates real value, empowers employees, and enables sustainable scaling.

tesa’s experience shows: Success depends less on technology and more on an organization’s ability to evolve. An integrated approach that gives equal consideration to Technology, Data, and People lays the foundation for long-term success.

The transformation process is challenging. It requires strategic patience, substantial investment, and the willingness to question established structures. The results show that this path is worthwhile—not only in measurable efficiency gains, but above all in a new culture of innovation that makes organizations fit for the future. At tesa, young professionals today work with the combined knowledge of more than 125 years—and are shaping the future of industrial adhesive technology.