Together for Innovation at CHECK24: The IT Focus Days Hackathon 2024
“Progress happens when people work together.” – This idea was at the heart of our first internal hackathon event at CHECK24, the IT Focus Days 2024. The hackathon spanned three intensive days, during which 70 developers worked on nine creative projects – all under the motto “Collaborate 4 Impact.” The result was far more than just successful projects: the hackathon was a vivid example of how teamwork and creativity can shape our digital future.
What factors were key to the success of the hackathon?
Claudia:
The IT Focus Days 2024 not only had a clear focus on developing IT solutions that simplify our work at CHECK24 but also on collaboration across various teams and locations. Projects were developed in interdisciplinary groups, contributing not only to the introduction of new technologies and methods but also directly to our strategic IT goals.
However, the hackathon wasn’t just an event for technical advancements. A creative “Fast & Curious” racing theme gave the event an exciting dynamic. The project goals were defined along a symbolic racetrack – each milestone was a “race” toward progress. The first evening concluded with a joint go-kart race.
Which IT projects can be highlighted here?
Claudia:
A real highlight of the IT Focus Days was the “IT League” project, aimed at providing a central overview of key IT metrics to establish benchmarks and comparison values for our IT teams. The project collects data on various aspects of software projects and makes it available as a valuable information source. In close collaboration with frontend developers, a user-friendly visualization of the data was developed.
What makes the IT League so special?
Claudia:
Thanks to the IT League, IT teams can now compare metrics such as the use of Composer/NPM packages, security issues in packages, ticket processing times, the duration of code reviews, the number of commits, or metrics related to SSO interfaces. The result is a transparent overview of IT standards across departments, which not only helps identify problems early but also creates incentives for continuous improvement.
This project is an excellent example of how innovation can create real value in a short time.
What’s next after the IT Focus Days 2024?
Claudia:
The IT Focus Days 2024 were a complete success – and we owe this to the dedication and creativity of all participants. At CHECK24, we focus on collaboration, continuous development, and fostering the growth of our employees. The experiences and insights gained from this hackathon will shape our daily work.
At CHECK24, we are always looking for new ways to bring together smart people from different teams and benefit from synergies and creativity. For the coming year, we already have new cross-functional IT initiatives planned. Stay tuned!