Warning: You are using an outdated Browser, Please switch to a more modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Open with Edge



The GDF Blog

Follow our story, get the latest news and insights

Feb 24, 2021

Is it a fruit or is it a vegetable?

Confusing headline, right? Yes, we agree! On the GDF blog we are usually talking about business related topics, so what has this question to do with? We will clarify: In the end of December some GDF colleagues celebrated a virtual event, a Project Team Quiz Night and this was just one of the funny questions. 
Read more

Feb 17, 2021

Working Student Life at GDF

For me, a crucial part of finding happiness is exploring new countries. However, I cannot deny that to the end of my trips I’m always looking forward to coming home, which I’m thankful for. It has been almost the same feeling when re-joining GDF by end of 2020 as UX Research Working Student. Take part on my journey.
Read more

Feb 04, 2021

Multifaceted – Exciting – Challenging - One day in the life of a GDF Project Manager

Designing, developing and then rolling out target group-specific digital products is a lengthy and complex process. Especially when many different stakeholders are involved, it may become complex and chaotic. Julia, a Project Manager at GDF, will tell you about the tasks of a Project Manager. 
Read more

Jan 13, 2021

One day in the life of a Digital Marketing Manager at GDF

We all know them, confusing job titles. You are reading a job vacancy and ask yourself "Okay, what exactly am I doing for example as Digital Marketing Manager?” We can tell you what it means for us, by giving you a brief insight into the daily life of Florian, Digital Marketing Manager here at the GDF. 
Read more

Dec 09, 2020

eMerge 2020 - All Digital

On 24th and 25th of November our third annual developer conference, the eMerge 2020 took place. But this year we faced a special challenge. Due to the restrictions imposed by Corona, it was of course not possible to hold the event physically in the halls of GDF, but this has not stopped our team from hosting a fantastic digital event!
Read more

Nov 16, 2020

Finally talking about Backend!

At GDF we are always talking about developing and designing very customer centric solutions. Mostly we focus on the design of the applications but not on the development or what happens in the backend. Today we do...  
Read more

Nov 02, 2020

NDBX Deepdive

It's been a long time since we last talked about the Allianz New Digital Brand Experience. A quick reminder: Our Angular NDBX library provides OEs with ready to use design elements. Today it is time to deep dive into NDBX and its facets. Did you know, that there are two different NDBX Design libraries? 
Read more

Oct 13, 2020

Keep It Simple Stupid and Don't Repeat Yourself

Did you ever hear about kiss and dry? If you are in the field of development of course otherwise probably not. Whether you already know it or not, we'll give you a deeper insight into how it works for the GDF.
Read more

Oct 06, 2020

Inside GDF - A look into GDFs Team Structure

Mostly on our GDF blog we talk about how we deliver customer centric digital solutions to different OEs worldwide. But this time we talk about the processes and operations behind. Here is an insight into the GDF teams.
Read more

Sep 23, 2020

GDF UI Component library goes open source!

A digital solution shaped by the Global Digital Factory for… YES: Everyone. We are excited to announce, that we have open sourced a white label version of our UI Component library Angular NDBX!
 
Read more

Sep 09, 2020

Remote Collaboration at the GDF

The appearance of Covid-19 has brought several changes to the business landscape. The process towards remote collaboration has led to a set of learnings. With different approaches, rules and methods we can now respond to the general and individual requirements of different projects. 
Read more

Aug 31, 2020

In the middle of fun, work and digital evolution – leading a team at the GDF

Today, we want you to meet Anian who was one of the first experts starting to work at the GDF as a Digital Marketing Strategist and evolved to Head of Product Design and Optimization.
Read more

Aug 26, 2020

Designing and Developing Allianz Global Digital Architecture - Behind the Scenes

At the Global Digital Factory our experts continuously work on providing not only user-centric assets and solutions. To ensure an as efficient as possible way for collaboration and working mode, we make use of many tools. Wanna have a look behind the scenes? 
Read more

Aug 05, 2020

The App Center - How To

Nowadays, our mobile phones are mostly swamped with tons of photos, data and apps.  In regard of this application overload, it is of course even more important to develop apps that offer a surplus value for the customer. To ensure this, we at GDF have developed a tool. You might remember? The App Center.
Read more

Jul 15, 2020

Sometimes Less Is More!

Make Customer Experience great again and don’t get stuck in the details – How GDF sharpens the focus on user needs, business requirements and technological feasibility with Wireframes.

Read more

Jun 29, 2020

UX Research Roles in a global UX Research Approach

As the Global Digital Factory, we are always striving to create global solutions which can be re-used in several Allianz Operating Entities worldwide – but how do you make sure that solutions are appreciated by end-users across the globe and can be easily used as intended?

 

Read more

Jun 18, 2020

Building Blocks: GDF's Modular Building Block Approach

Building Blocks - looks familiar to you, doesn’t it? A very simple and popular game from childhood times with tiny colorful blocks. Build anything with one kit, no matter if it is a family house, a farm or a castle. The standardized small blocks allowed countless variations. Why should we not use the simplicity of this popular building block system to master complex digital challenges?
Read more

Jun 03, 2020

GDF - The perfect place to start your professional career!

Find out why the GDF is the perfect place to start you professional career. Hardik shares his experiences with us.
Read more

May 13, 2020

Throwback: Motor Claims Journey

The Motor Claims Customer Journey began in the summer of 2016 at the shipping containers of the newly born Global Digital Factory in Munich, Germany. Now it's time for a short throwback to our Motor Claims Journey and where we stand today.

 

Read more

Apr 22, 2020

Earth Day 2020: We Secure your Future!

Learn about Allianz's contribution to tackle climate change and see what our team currently is working on to support Allianz's Sustainability Strategy.
Read more

Apr 15, 2020

Theming: The Way to Customize Applications!

Since launch of our internal User Interface (UI) library, which enables intuitive user experience for transactional web applications, we have always continued to increase usability of our components. In this article we will get into the details of our new concept so called: theming. 
Read more

Mar 16, 2020

GDF: A great place to grow and develop digital skills!

Learn about Gülsah's year at the Global Digital Factory as a Working Student in Digital Transformation.
Read more

Mar 10, 2020

FNOL Home is live in Switzerland!

Bathroom flooded or damaged roof? The FNOL Home Journey allows you to make a claim via a simple and  less time-consuming claim process. Check out how we have implemented and adapted this global product to meet the Suisse customer's needs. 
Read more

Feb 17, 2020

Sketch: The Must-Have for every designer!

Sketch is the tool used by our UI/UX Designer after the first ideation phases have passed and first processes have been put to paper.

Check ou this article to find out how we use Sketch and how it benefits us at the Global Digital Factory.

Read more

Feb 13, 2020

Improving Allianz's mobile App landscape

Gaming Apps, budgeting Apps, photo Apps.. and of course: Insurance Apps. That can only mean one thing: Allianz is not far. To improve the Allianz digital App landscape, the Global Digital Factory has developed the App Center...
Read more

Feb 04, 2020

Working Student life at the GDF

Karen joined the Global Digital Factory as a working student and undertook tasks in Communications and User Experience (UX) Research. Find out what she has to say about her time at the GDF. 
Read more

Jan 20, 2020

The new POI Search has launched in Austria!

You are in a new city, hungry and have no idea where to go for food? You open google maps and type in 'restaurants'. Google provides you now with a full list of restaurants and cafes near you.

This is what we commonly call a Point of Interest (POI) search...

Read more

Dec 18, 2019

eMerge 2019 in other's eyes

This year, eMerge has brought together 110 developers from 24 different Allianz locations and OEs to share their expertise with other experts within Allianz. Read here how they experienced the conference.
Read more

Dec 17, 2019

GDF's journey of utilizing the Angular tool stack

Imagine that the power lines in your bathroom need rewiring. A craftsman comes in, removes the tiles, fixes the wiring, seals the wall, but then runs off with the tiles lying on the bathroom floor. Not cool, right? This is pretty much what happens when software libraries ship breaking changes...
Read more

Dec 16, 2019

eMerge 2019: Retrospective

On 3rd and 4th December 2019 it was time for our Allianz developer community to bust through the doors of Werk 3 and fill the GDF with words such as “Azure”, “Apigee”, “DevOps” and “XSE Tabloid”. That can only mean one thing...
Read more

Nov 20, 2019

Angular Conference 2019 - Updates you don't want to miss

As part of the opening keynote session by Google's Angular team, Jochen introduced some use-cases and learnings from providing a global Allianz UI component library for two years.
Read more

Oct 24, 2019

NDBX: An introduction to our design language

NDBX is the Allianz design language that brings intuitive user experience to Allianz employees and other operating entities all over the world.
Read more

Jul 23, 2019

Developing Digital Allianz solutions made easy with the Page Flow Engine

The Page Flow Engine greatly reduces the time it takes to build an Angular application. Read on to find out how it works!
Read more

Jul 29, 2019

Building chatbots has never been easier!

Literally anyone can build a chatbot with Allianz Chatbot Platform without any IT knowledge. 
Read more

Jul 23, 2019

We want SMEs to focus on what they love, not on insurance!

With Smart SME they finally can. And they are protected. 
Read more

Jul 18, 2019

Ronique’s exchange at the Global Digital Factory

Read what Ronique Forgie, Digital Marketing Specialist from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) New York has to say about her 3-month exchange at the GDF.
Read more

Jul 16, 2019

PassionPass for Summer with 3 new activities

The wait is over! You can be protected with PassionPass in biking, biking and water sports activities this summer.
Read more

Jul 04, 2019

GDF’s Onboarding Experience in others’ eyes

Read what Vasinee Hongyantarachai, Senior UI/UX Designer from Allianz Technology Thailand has to say about her one month onsite onboarding at the GDF
Read more

May 28, 2019

Working student life in the GDF

From experiences in Communications to Data Analytics: Read how Jackie epxerienced and is still experiencing her time with us here at the GDF.
Read more

May 24, 2019

Perfecting Allianz’s HR Global Mobility Experience with Design Thinking

The details associated with global mobility can be overwhelming and highly complex. Not only for HR but also for assignees who face a great deal of uncertainty and stress. Design Thinking helps us tackle this.
Read more

May 10, 2019

Building digital Allianz solutions has never been simpler!

What tools we use and how to facilitate the creation and development of digital assets and solutions in Allianz whilst ensuring consistency.
Read more

Mar 20, 2019

3 customer-centric, digital solutions #MadeInGDF

Intuitive, digital products that put the customer first, resulting from collaboration and co-creation at the Allianz Global Digital Factory...
Read more

Feb 25, 2019

GDF’s Design Thinking Awareness Sessions

The push for Design Thinking has helped to generate new ideas across industries through a human-centered process. Read here to understand how this approach is used at the #AllianzGDF.
Read more

Feb 20, 2019

MyMobility launched in Italy

MyMobility is a fully modular product approach, combining various modes of transportation in their day-to-day mobility
Read more

Feb 19, 2019

Motor Onboarding Journey: Global right from the start

At the GDF, we scale digital assets up globally to support Allianz entities in creating flexible, customizable user experience. Learn more about successfully launched Motor Onboarding solution ins Austria and Thailand. And how we did it.
Read more

Feb 18, 2019

Tailored, real-time insurance: PassionPass launched in Germany

Made for all those who have passion in skiing and snowboarding, are spontaneous and love experiencing life – this innovative insurance offering opens doors to a whole new audience. 
Read more

Jan 07, 2019

Do you want to become more Customer-centric?

Here’s how: use Personas to really put users and customers into the centre, to respond to real needs and create solutions the users want.
Read more

Dec 17, 2018

GDF's Visiting Developer Program continues

Collaboration comes alive with the Visiting Developer Program, this time with two developers from the United Kingdom. Read here what they have to say about it.
Read more

Dec 05, 2018

The App Summit 2018

960 minutes to connect Mobile App expertise, to create and test our ideas. 960 minutes to bring together Allianz Mobile App Experts. Have a look  behind the scenes of Allianz' second App Summit.
Read more

Dec 05, 2018

It's all about connecting with the customers!

... and in Australia, the Land Down Under, we do this for Motor Claims now with a highly personalized onboarding video that is the result of a collaboration between Allianz Australia and the GDF.
Read more

Nov 20, 2018

Customer Journeys: Not just a new approach, but a chance in strategy

What enables successful organizational transformation today? Read here to find out what Florian Heise, Head of the Product Design and Optimization team at the Allianz Global Digital Factory, thinks.
Read more

Nov 19, 2018

eMerge: Allianz’s first Developer Conference

Have a look behind the scenes and inside Allianz's first developers conference - an interview with Clint Lee Pidlubny, one of the creators of #eMerge. 
Read more

Nov 15, 2018

My Internship at the Allianz GDF

Alexandra joined us for a three months internship at the #AllianzGDF. Read about how she experienced her time in Munich at the Allianz Global Digital Factory.
Read more

Oct 23, 2018

What the heck is Angular and Progressive Web App?!

...  and what has the GDF to do with it?! Read here about how we develop assets and solutions that match user needs and make daily business at Allianz easier. 
Read more

Oct 22, 2018

Enrich your agile routine!

A lot has happened in the past two years at the Global Digital Factory - a lot has been ideated, built, launched and scaled. Read here what Maria, an external Senior Consultant from Deloitte Digital, experienced at the #AllianzGDF.
Read more

Sep 25, 2018

Not a typical intern report: Lessons learned!

Read about how our employees experience working at the #AllianzGDF. This time from the perspective of one of our interns: Tatjana, a student from Boston. Take a look behind the scenes and get some real-life insights.
Read more

Sep 10, 2018

The GDF: Then and Now

The GDF has come a long way since its beginning in cargo containers two years ago. As we have recently celebrated our second year anniversary, let's check out how the GDF has changed over time!
Read more

Sep 06, 2018

How we make working at the Factory not feel like working at a factory.

Because Scrum can feel like a real Scrum due it's  steady learning progress.
Let's see what Des Field Corbett our Head of Development at the Allianz Global Digital Factory says.
Read more

Sep 06, 2018

Not another Scrum article please!

Those buzzwords again? 'Agile working method' and ‘Scrum’? No worries, this one is a practice-related article about Scrum and its key role in the daily business of the Allianz Global Digital Factory. 
Read more

Aug 07, 2018

GDF Introduces the Visiting Developer Program

Collaboration and sharing knowledge are central parts of how we need to work to manage global digital transformation.
Read more
Allianz Digital Asset Library: Our global hub for sharing and reusing digital in-house solutions

Aug 04, 2018

Allianz Digital Asset Library: Our global hub for sharing and reusing digital in-house solutions

Copy with pride - The Global Digital Factory developed a one-of-a-kind platform for sharing digital assets from around Allianz Group.
Read more
Motor Claims Customer Journey

Jul 26, 2018

Motor Claims Customer Journey - From Local Needs to Global Solutions

The Global Digital Factory solutions have moved from cargo containers in Munich to customers’ pockets in multiple countries. Learnings from local markets have evolved into a global motor claims product that Allianz entities worldwide can implement quickly and effortlessly.
Read more
UX Research in the Global Digital Factory

Jul 18, 2018

UX Research in the Global Digital Factory - from User Needs to Engaging Digital Customer Experiences

The Global Digital Factory’s mission is to build engaging digital user experiences. But how do we make sure that new and innovative solutions really fit the users’ needs? Simply – by interacting with the users. This is why we set up a team of User Experience Researchers and a User Experience Lab.
Read more
Arne Benzin - Head of Allianz Global Digital Factory

Jul 12, 2018

We aren't the 'cool kids on the block' – it's not like we want to be anyway.

Daniel Poelchau and Arne Benzin head up the Allianz' Digital Factories – and as such, represent the massive cultural change currently underway in the company, which, first and foremost, is a digital change. 
Read more