NTT DATA Hosts Transformation NOW! 2026 to Drive AI Revolution

Ender Öztürk

September 21, 2026

On September 17, NTT DATA Business Solutions Turkey hosted its sixth annual Transformation NOW! event at Tersane Istanbul, gathering 1,500 industry leaders and technology experts to navigate the artificial intelligence revolution. The summit focused on evolving business models within the era of cloud computing and generative AI. A centerpiece of the event was the introduction of axet, a secure corporate platform designed to host proprietary generative AI agents for enterprises. By addressing the critical intersection of digital infrastructure and operational strategy, the summit provided a roadmap for organizations striving to maintain competitiveness in a rapidly digitizing global market.

Business Models Evolve with New AI Guidance

Dr. Bahri Danış, General Manager of NTT DATA Business Solutions for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, opened the summit by addressing the uncertainty faced by modern executives. He argued that the primary catalyst for growth is not technology in isolation, but the fundamental transformation of business operating models. During his keynote, he detailed the technical architecture of the new axet platform. Unlike standard public cloud solutions, axet operates on a private, secure infrastructure hosted directly on NTT DATA servers. This architecture ensures that large language models (LLMs) function within a protected environment, allowing employees to leverage AI agents safely to streamline daily operations.

Leadership Strategies Shift Toward Autonomous Operations

The event highlighted the transition from experience-based leadership to models defined by data-driven agility. Jesper Schleimann, SAP EMEA Head of AI, characterized the current business climate as the “age of intent,” where companies dedicate significant resources to clearly defining their strategic objectives before execution. Experts noted that as AI simplifies software development, the primary challenge remains the implementation of these systems at a corporate scale. This involves clearly delineating the responsibilities between human workers and autonomous machines to ensure operational efficiency.

Innovation Requires Flexible Organizational Structures

Discussions regarding corporate structure emphasized that traditional three-to-five-year planning cycles are becoming obsolete during periods of exponential growth. Speakers argued that organizations must dismantle rigid hierarchies to foster innovation. The summit concluded that while AI tools are becoming ubiquitous, the most successful companies are those that effectively integrate these technologies into their existing workflows while maintaining a human-centric approach to decision-making.

Sectoral Insights Influence Future Technology Investments

The afternoon sessions featured deep dives into banking, retail, manufacturing, defense, and textiles. Industry representatives shared practical experiences with digital twins, real-time data analytics, and SAP Clean Core approaches. Participants also engaged in a live simulation where they stepped into the roles of board members, testing how technology investments impact financial profitability, operational speed, and human resource management in real-time. This hands-on experience demonstrated the tangible value of integrating AI into complex corporate structures.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the landscape of modern industry, we want to hear your thoughts on these developments. How do you envision the role of AI agents like axet in your own professional field? Share your insights and expectations in the comments section below.