Masterclass: Data architecture and AI/Cloud Infrastructure

AGENDA

12.00 Welcome & Registration with Sandwich Lunch

12.45 Introduction by Peter Vermeylen, Chairman CIOforum

13.00 Opening Keynote: From Logistics to Platform: How Walden Monetised Its Digital Ecosystem with Data & AI by Dennis Willemyns – Chief Digital & Innovation Officer Walden Group and Bo Van de Sompele – CEO Plainsight (supported by Plainsight)

Walden transformed its pharma logistics operations into a monetizable digital platform. By turning operational and industry data into value-added services. Real-time shipment visibility, end-to-end order-to-cash insights, AI-powered agents and ML insights, and market opportunity discovery. Walden created new revenue streams beyond logistics. This session highlights how data and AI enabled Walden to scale digital services while deepening customer value.

14.00 Two Parallel Masterclasses, coordinated by Philippe Verlinde, CDIO Barco, and Reginald Warlop, CIO Imec

14:00 – 16:00 From startup to market leader: how Cyclis is leading the bicycle leasing market with data, AI and Odoo by Bart Criel, co-founder of Cyclis Bike Lease (supported by Dynapps)

Cyclis Bike Lease started in 2014 as a Belgian pioneer in bicycle leasing and has since grown into a market leader, serving 45.000+ active cyclists through 1,700+ distribution points and generating €70+M in revenue. From day one, Cyclis chose Odoo as the single platform to run the business end-to-end: contract management, invoicing, and self-service portals for employers, employees, and dealers. In this interactive masterclass, Bart Criel shares what it takes to build a digital-first business that scales, and why “having data” is not the goal. The real shift happens when data becomes a strategic asset that helps leaders make better decisions, move faster, and align teams around what matters most.
With a rich operational dataset, Cyclis is now asking a new question: not “How do we digitize?”, but “How do we use data and AI to work smarter?” Expect practical insights on connecting data to business strategy, and how AI can amplify impact across processes, customer experience, and operational efficiency.

14:00 – 16:00 The AI journey: from business case to impact: a strategic approach for CIO’s – a work session by Daan Decat, strategic advisor and AI specialist at Cronos, in cooperation with CxO customers of various sectors, private and public, medium or large (supported by Flexso)

AI offers endless possibilities, but success comes from making conscious choices that truly strengthen your business. How do you, as a CIO, build a profitable business case for AI? This session focuses not on technology, but on value creation. You’ll gain a practical framework for strategically embedding AI based on five pillars that determine success: strong CEO support, a centralized platform with an annual budget, a value-based approach with measurable ROI, clear business accountability, and starting small to scale in a controlled manner.
This work session will share insights and practical experiences from various use cases , providing you with immediate inspiration and concrete tools to structurally and profitably implement AI in your organization.

16.00 Welcome & Registration CIO Speaker’s Café

ABOUT THE EVENT PARTNERS

Amista is a growing IT services company and software provider. Our portfolio encompasses market-leading business solutions, with a focus on SAP ERP platforms, Technology & Integrations and Intelligent Document Processing. As a strategic IT expert, we don’t just talk transformation – we make it happen. From optimizing operations to enabling innovation, we drive businesses forward with cutting-edge SAP expertise and game-changing solutions. With a team of 250 specialists in consultancy and development, we have a strong presence across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, with additional hubs in the USA, India and Hungary. https://www.amista.com   Dynapps is the largest Odoo implementation partner in the world. With 260+ experts across Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, and France, Dynapps digitalises business processes for companies ready to move beyond complexity. Through a hands-on, partnership-driven approach, Dynapps doesn’t just implement software – it helps businesses work smarter, scale faster, and stay ahead. www.dynapps.eu   Flexso has been co-innovating with its customers since 2004. As a leading SAP Gold partner, we provide businesses with end-to-end solutions that help them maximize the value of their SAP investments. That’s how we support them on their road to digital transformation, guaranteeing the ultimate peace of mind. By combining the best solutions with the best people, Flexso has built a solid reputation in the market, which is reflected by the many valuable long-term partnerships we cultivate with customers, partners as well as employees. https://www.flexso.com/nl   Gumption supports driven entrepreneurs and starters who offer innovative solutions and services for digital transformation and process improvement. Through financial, strategic and operational support, Gumption gives them space to focus on essential matters: people, customers, services and business development. As a business group, Gumption wants to be the sparring partner and source of inspiration for business and IT executives. https://www.gumption.eu/nl   JUVO is your trusted partner in turning data into business value across Belgium and the Netherlands. From strategy to implementation, we empower organizations to unlock the full potential of their data through cutting-edge Application Development, Data & AI services, and Intelligent Operations. With a strong focus on results, governance, and innovation, JUVO helps you stay ahead in a fast changing digital world. We make data profitable! https://juvo.be/   Plainsight accelerates data and AI roadmaps by guiding organizations from strategy to implementation of high-value analytics and AI use cases. Backed by a multidisciplinary team of data strategists, data engineers, analytics engineers, and AI engineers, they combine strategic clarity with hands-on delivery to build scalable data platforms, modern analytics capabilities, and AI solutions that create measurable business impact. www.plainsight.pro