Wolters Kluwer, a Dutch company with nearly 200 years of history, has been quietly transforming how it uses artificial intelligence. Instead of just adding AI as an afterthought, they’ve woven it into their core products for more than a decade. This approach has paid off, with AI now responsible for about half of their digital revenue.

Building a Responsible and Effective AI Framework

The company takes a careful, responsible approach to AI development. They’ve created a set of principles called Responsible AI Principles, which focus on transparency, privacy, fairness, and human oversight. These principles help ensure AI is used safely and ethically across the business.

One key lesson Wolters Kluwer learned is that clean, high-quality data is essential. Without it, AI can produce mistakes or “hallucinations.” That’s why they focus on deep integration of AI into their products, rather than just adding it on as a feature. For example, their Tax & Accounting division uses a strategy called “Firm Intelligence,” which combines AI, their own content, and platform integration to better anticipate the needs of their staff and clients.

Using AI to Improve Development and Close Skills Gaps

Mark Sherwood, the company’s CIO, explains that AI tools are making software development faster and more accurate. They’re seeing a 25% reduction in both the time it takes to write and test code, which is a big boost for efficiency. The company uses a mix of large language models, automated testing tools, and specialized AI models, choosing the best tool for each task. It’s like having a big toolbox filled with different tools for different jobs.

Sherwood believes AI will change how they structure their teams. Instead of replacing jobs, AI helps reduce repetitive coding tasks, freeing up developers to focus on more creative and complex work. So far, they haven’t cut any roles but have seen a decrease in open positions for software engineers. This shift allows junior developers to work on more advanced projects earlier in their careers.

Ensuring Quality, Security, and Collaboration in AI Use

Wolters Kluwer uses AI to assist in testing both AI-generated and human-written code. They aim to eventually automate all testing with AI, but currently include engineers in the process. Security is also a top priority. They have controls in place as part of their DevSecOps strategy that help catch potential issues early. An AI governance team and security group work together to set rules and boundaries to keep AI systems safe and compliant.

One interesting area is AI orchestration, where multiple AI agents are managed to work together on complex tasks. The company is building AI agents for IT functions like service desks and disaster recovery, using orchestrators to coordinate these efforts. The main challenge has been ensuring all these models and tools integrate smoothly, but the benefits include better efficiency and stronger governance.

AI is also helping Wolters Kluwer close skills gaps and reduce reliance on specific roles. As interest in AI grows internally, the company is quickly building expertise. They see AI as a way to empower their staff, not replace them. This is especially important in regulated sectors like healthcare, finance, and legal, where managing risk and data security is crucial.

To handle these concerns, they’ve established an AI Center of Excellence tasked with creating and enforcing governance policies. These policies ensure AI is used responsibly and that data remains protected, especially since the company relies on nearly two centuries of proprietary information. Looking ahead, Wolters Kluwer plans to expand their AI capabilities further, including deploying more AI agents to automate and optimize workflows across the organization.

All in all, Wolters Kluwer shows how a big, traditional company can embrace AI responsibly. By combining deep integration, strong governance, and a focus on quality, they’re driving efficiency while maintaining trust and safety in their AI initiatives.

Inspired by

• https://www.computerworld.com/article/4041520/qa-wolters-kluwer-cio-touts-his-companys-ai-toolbox-and-benefits.html

Sources

• gmpg.org
• wolterskluwer.com
• idc.com
• nenpa.com
• asbpe.org