Breaking Comfort Zones: Thomas Speck on Revolutionizing IT at Trumpf

Breaking Comfort Zones: Thomas Speck on Revolutionizing IT at Trumpf

In a captivating masterclass at the Navigating Software Production executive summit, Thomas Speck, CIO of Trumpf, shared an inspiring journey of IT transformation. With his candid style and deep expertise, he offered insights into how one of the world's leading technology companies has overhauled its IT strategy to thrive in a fast-changing, high-stakes environment.

A Legacy of Innovation Meets Modern Challenges
Trumpf, a family-owned global leader in machine tools and laser technology, celebrated its centennial this year. Despite its long history, Trumpf continues to grow rapidly, driven by its innovative approach and new ventures, such as semiconductor lithography systems. This growth has created mounting pressures on its IT organization, compelling a rethink of its strategy.

They realized that to support the company’s digital ambition, IT needed to move beyond reactive operations and become a proactive driver of value. As Speck explained, “Transformation cannot succeed in the comfort zone.”

The Roadmap to Transformation
The journey began two years ago with the development of a comprehensive IT strategy. Speck emphasized the importance of analyzing market trends and internal demands to shape a future-proof plan. He noted critical external factors like global tensions, the war for talent, and rising cybersecurity threats, alongside Trumpf’s own scaling needs and ambitious digital objectives.

The strategy was structured in three phases, beginning with the stabilization of existing systems and processes, followed by the optimization of resources and costs, and finally focusing on delivering measurable business value.

Key Pillars of Change
Speck outlined several initiatives that have been central to Trumpf’s IT transformation:

• Global IT Reorganization:
  Trumpf moved from a centralized IT model to a global one, establishing regional hubs in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. By integrating local IT teams into a shared global structure, the organization unlocked new efficiencies and established 24/7 operational capabilities.
• Cost Transparency and Optimization:
  Shifting from ad hoc cost-cutting to systematic cost management, Trumpf implemented standardized processes and reduced its application portfolio costs by 15% within two years. This allowed IT to reinvest savings into transformative projects while managing the inevitable cost growth of a rapidly expanding company.
• Project Consolidation:
  Trumpf restructured its project portfolio to prioritize large-scale programs with significant business impact. This approach increased project delivery capacity by 150%, enabling the organization to run five major transformation programs simultaneously.
• Enterprise Architecture Management:
  A robust reference architecture became the foundation for Trumpf’s IT strategy. By standardizing application building blocks and reusing existing components, the company reduced time-to-market and saved costs while enhancing the reliability of its digital solutions.

Driving Cultural Change
Beyond technical adjustments, Speck underscored the importance of culture in achieving transformation. Trumpf launched an extensive change management program that put employees at the center of the process. Key initiatives included leadership training, transparent communication, and the involvement of HR in fostering resilience and team spirit.

“Transformation isn’t just about systems and processes; it’s about people,” Speck emphasized. “By investing in our employees and fostering a one-team mindset, we’ve built a culture that embraces change and delivers value.”

Lessons from the Frontlines
Reflecting on the journey, Speck shared valuable lessons:

• Start with momentum and maintain energy throughout the organization.
• Balance ambition with organizational capacity to avoid burnout.
• Use data-driven frameworks to measure progress and communicate results.
• Recognize and reward employees to sustain morale and engagement.

The Road Ahead
As Trumpf enters the next phase of its IT evolution, Speck remains optimistic.  Success lies in aligning IT with the company’s strategic goals and ensuring every initiative contributes to creating value, as he concluded. The comfort zone is no place for innovation or progress. True transformation requires bold steps, a clear vision, and unwavering commitment.

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A Note to Our Readers

This article offers an overview of the key ideas presented by Thomas Speck during his talk. While we’ve captured the main concepts and innovations he shared, the full scope of his insights and examples is best experienced by watching the entire session. To dive deeper and hear directly from the speaker, we invite you to view the complete presentation. For any questions or further information, please contact us.