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280 participants and 1,000 cans of energy drinks: This is the twelfth time that AXA has organized the in-house hackathon. It’s a fantastic opportunity not only for IT employees but also for anyone who enjoys solving problems with others.
The twelfth AXA Hackathon was held on November 12 & 13, 2024 in the Winterthur Superblock. 257 employees took part in the event, supported by 23 students from the ZHAW. This popular event specifically promotes internal innovation – in the spirit of lifelong learning. It is open to all employees. And interest in the Hackathon grows year on year. Techies still made up the majority this time with 55%, however the number of participants without an IT background is catching up. For two whole days, participants worked together intensely to develop ideas, code programs and create prototypes. The most promising ideas then go into production. In this way, employees are able to take an active role in shaping their job and the future of the company – an experience that is extremely motivating and satisfying.
The word hackathon is a combination of “hack” and “marathon”. What initially began as a programming competition is now known in a broader sense as an innovation event. Many companies, universities and the like now use hackathons to solve problems and generate ideas. Thanks to the interdisciplinary teams and more relaxed atmosphere, there are no limits to creativity. Hackathons usually last between 24 and 48 hours.
The experience is just as important as the outcome in a hackathon. The creative process, sense of team spirit and fun factor all inspire the participants. “Our Hackathon is ideal for anyone who likes to learn new things, expand their horizons and meet new people”, says Natalie Aeschbacher, Senior IT Communication Specialist and part of the OC since 2019. All you have to do to qualify for the event is register, submit or join in with an idea, and participate in a preparatory workshop. As always, security and data protection are a top priority – other than that, there are barely any rules at a hackathon. The teams work individually and organize themselves. “The OC provides an organizational framework in order to guarantee the necessary scope”, explains Aeschbacher. And it’s precisely this freedom that makes the Hackathon so popular. This opportunity to work in a completely different way for two days – detached from day-to-day business – is appealing to more and more employees. The most exciting part is getting to solve problems in truly diverse teams. “These include people with different backgrounds, skills and interests – creating the perfect conditions for a successful hack”, explains Aeschbacher.
Once again the vibe throughout the hackathon was impressive – lively, dynamic and positive. Copious amounts of coffee and energy drinks helped to keep the productivity levels high for the duration. The large, open-plan area on the third floor was literally swarming with activity. The event also served as a fantastic platform for internal networking. There was plenty of time for participants to socialize and share ideas over dinner at a local restaurant. “When we make new acquaintances and find out who does what and why, we automatically grow closer”, says Natalie Aeschbacher. The lively discussions continued at the cocktail party following the award ceremony. In these days of smart working – where we tend to meet less frequently in the office – employees appreciate these kind of events all the more. They are valuable opportunities for interdepartmental networking that clearly benefit all involved.
In addition to the participating AXA employees, 23 advanced students from the ZHAW also attended the event. Most came from the Business IT course, which offers participation in the AXA Hackathon as an optional subject and awards ECTS points for this. Four IT students also joined. It proved worthwhile integrating the students into the existing AXA teams. Their perspective was very helpful and, at the same time, they also benefited from gaining insight into a major company. An HR point of contact also offered the students the opportunity to find out more about AXA as an employer and to leave their contact details if interested.
It was up to each team to decide what they would focus on during the Hackathon. Whether they chose to get to grips with a problem from everyday working life, a new technology or a crazy future idea, the participants loved being able to concentrate on one thing for two whole days without distraction. The themes ranged from complex IT problems to new insurance products and tools designed to facilitate day-to-day work. Important keywords in this regard are automation, increased efficiency and optimization of internal processes. Artificial intelligence and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) were once again in the spotlight.
If you’ve ever taken part in a hackathon before, then you’ll know how much can be achieved in a short space of time under these ideal conditions. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the pitches. Each team had chosen their preferred category in advance:
The idea, result and outlook then had to be presented in the space of three minutes. The various panels awarded one Oscar per category to the team with the most convincing pitch. Interested AXA employees who were not on site were able to watch all the pitches live via Teams.
Of the 33 ideas, 21 teams pitched in the "Greatest potential” category. The Oscar for this category went to the “Vorsorge-Miners” team, who pitched their idea to extract data from PDF documents and use this to create a simple pension situation overview for our customers – without them having to enter the data individually. It’s an idea that would certainly save our customers a lot of time and effort in the future, however the AI model will first need to be extensively trained.
The Oscar for the "Most original idea” went to the “Lifegamers” team for a jump & run learning game about pensions. The “Drü Tääg Sunneschii” team received the Oscar for the “Most sustainable idea” for an insurance policy designed to protect SMEs from loss of revenue caused by bad weather. And the “WTFTF” team was awarded the “Greatest technical challenge” Oscar for their idea of simplifying extremely complex deployment or release instructions by using AI and generating a clear summary.
The winning team in the additional category of “Best team spirit” was chosen by the participants themselves. All hack teams were in agreement and awarded this Oscar to the organizational team of the Hackathon for their great organization and tireless work both before and during the two-day event. But ultimately, everyone who took part in the Hackathon was a winner: More important than any Oscar are the insights, experiences and encounters from these two days. Everyone achieved great things, learned lots and created added value for AXA through their input.
Following the Hackathon, Senior Innovation Architect Reimund Rozek has been taking a closer look at all the ideas that were submitted: Some of them are definitely worth pursuing further, for example through the internal sponsorship of those involved. Here are just some of the initiatives that were conceived at an AXA Hackathon:
Following heavy summer hailstorms, the Customer Service lines are inundated and those affected can experience long waiting times. To solve this problem, a voicebot was developed during the 2022 AXA Hackathon. It receives telephone claims automatically around the clock. Once the voicebot has recorded all the necessary information, the customer is sent a direct written confirmation and, if necessary, a drive-in appointment. This means that we can process claims for hail damage in a more efficient and customer-friendly way than ever before.
What are the specific needs of young adults who have had very little experience with insurance to date – perhaps because they still live with their parents? This question was addressed by one of the teams at the 2023 AXA Hackathon. AXA launched the answer to this question exactly one year later in the form of free ticket insurance for new customers between the ages of 18 and 29. The insurance covers tickets to concerts, festivals, sports events, the theater, dance events, trade fairs, etc. in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. The policy term is two years and covers a maximum of two claims up to CHF 150 each.
The larger the company, the greater the anonymity. Areas you’re not involved in on a daily basis can sometimes feel far removed. However, good networking is worth its weight in gold. It not only facilitates everyday working life, but also promotes team spirit among employees. The “AXA Grow to Go!” podcast serves as a platform to get to know the people behind the name – both professionally and privately. The former Hackathon team has become a permanent podcast team that is driving the project forward with dedication and passion. It’s a project that aligns wonderfully with our values and our corporate culture.
Anina Sabourdy is an Online Editor at AXA. She researches and writes on various insurance topics and loves the versatility of her job.
