Colleagues from the Process Industries & Metals and Industrial Artificial Intelligence units came together in Brussels for a three-day internal hackathon.
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In modern industry, a software solution’s success often depends not only on its functional capabilities, but also on its usability and adaptability in day-to-day operations. To drive innovative approaches to these challenges, development teams from different PSI business units gathered in Brussels for a three-day hackathon.
Unlocking synergies: Where domain expertise meets Industrial AI
The primary goal of the event was to break down silos, combine industry-specific expertise with state-of-the-art industrial artificial intelligence methods, and develop practical prototypes. Cross-functional collaboration between Process Industries & Metals and Industrial Artificial Intelligence provided the ideal conditions for approaching complex industrial requirements from new perspectives.
Highlight project: The AI-Powered Configuration Assistant
One of the hackathon’s standout results was the concept for an intelligent AI-powered configuration assistant.
Industrial control systems and process software require highly precise sets of rules and parameters, which can be time-consuming and error-prone to maintain manually. The assistant developed during the hackathon addresses this challenge directly:
- Natural Language Configuration: Administrators and users will be able to modify or deactivate system settings and logic through intuitive text inputs
- Efficiency and Scalability: By accessing existing configuration files and rule sets directly, the assistant can implement multiple changes simultaneously and consistently, significantly reducing manual effort
- Looking Ahead: In its next stage of development, the system is expected to interpret complex requirements directly from customer specifications and automatically translate them into valid system configurations
More than just code: Team spirit in the heart of Europe
In addition to intensive coding sessions and agile prototype development, the event provided valuable opportunities for personal interaction and knowledge sharing. A joint team-building program, including a guided tour of Brussels in autumn, further strengthened the network of colleagues across Europe.
Looking ahead
The prototypes and concepts developed during the hackathon will now be evaluated by the product teams and selectively incorporated into the roadmaps for future software releases. Once again, the hackathon demonstrated that when creative minds and technological expertise come together, they create tailored solutions that deliver real value to our customers.
