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Belgium 01-10-2026 Squad Only Virtual english

Letting Teams Build Safely with Low-Code, No-Code, and AI Tools. ; How to enable business-led development while keeping security, architecture, and support under control.

Low-code, no-code, and AI tools are giving business teams more ability to build solutions themselves. The challenge is setting the right boundaries before fast local solutions become important operational assets. Three pressure points need attention. - Boundaries must be clear: teams need to know what they can build alone and what requires IT, security, or architecture review. - Supportability matters when a quick solution becomes business-critical. - Risk control remains necessary around data access, compliance, security, process dependency, and maintenance. The working question is simple: how do we enable business-led development while keeping security, ownership, and support under control? If you are trying to enable this safely, let’s compare approaches with others facing the same balance.

Belgium 06-10-2026 All Members Physical english

The Token Trap: Reclaiming Control of Enterprise AI

As enterprise AI transitions from experimental Proofs of Concept (POCs) into real implementations, digital leaders are encountering a shared challenge: consumption-based public cloud token billing models do not fit neatly into traditional IT budgeting. Daily token consumption can rise unexpectedly, pushing expenses through the roof while arbitrary caps quickly kill momentum for innovation. For many CIOs, this raises an open strategic question: How do we keep costs under control while further stimulating innovation? During this interactive CIONET roundtable, we will explore among peers how to navigate AI tokenomics. Rather than treating public cloud LLMs as the default path, we will investigate how different execution environments, ranging from hybrid cloud setups and targeted on-premise models to specialised edge hardware, can help balance cost with performance. This session is intentionally designed as an open peer-to-peer exchange; a space to compare notes, challenge current ways of working and architectural setups, and discuss practical approaches to building predictable, scalable AI models.

Belgium 08-10-2026 All Members Physical english

The Permanent (R)evolution

Every large organisation has been through a major transformation, and most through several. The word transformation is misleading because it suggests a beginning and an end. But organisations that do well are the ones that have given up on the idea of arriving and realise that constant change has become the new norm, and missing a single cycle leaves you permanently behind. This evening, two leaders will share how they think about this, coming from opposite directions. John Porter led Telenet through a sustained period of reinvention spanning the pandemic, a full reorganisation into tribes, M&A, and a shift to a performance driven culture. Along the way, the IT department was dissolved and technology was embedded inside autonomous tribes that run as small businesses. There is no CIO at Telenet. It is Telenet Group’s purpose to become a digital-first, customer-centric organisation. To deliver on this ambition, it has embarked on a transformation journey built on three pillars: (i) the implementation of a scaled-agile operating model (organisation), (ii) the acceleration of digitisation and automation underpinned by optimised IT systems, platforms, and strategic technology partnerships (digitisation), and (iii) a performance leadership culture focused on accountability, ownership, and a change mindset (culture). Kris Vervaet, on the other hand, has just become CIO at KBC, the bank whose mobile app has been ranked best in the world three times and whose AI assistant Kate now handles 70% of customer queries on its own. But Kris is no ordinary CIO: he ran DPG Media Belgium as CEO, and KBC went looking for someone who has led transformation rather than someone who manages technology. So while one organisation got rid of the CIO role, the other reinvented it, and both are thriving. The conversation will range across organisational and IT redesign, the rise of digital-first customer experience, the impact of AI on how every business is run, and the harder questions of culture, talent and leadership. The question for every leader in the room is what that tells you about your own role, your own operating model, and the pace at which you are prepared to keep evolving.

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Sparkling new ideas for Kärcher’s digital transformation

How we transformed this cleaning manufacturer's operations with cloud-based connectivity.

Overview
Kärcher has always been one step ahead. The world’s largest cleaning equipment manufacturer invented Europe’s first hot-water pressure washer in 1950. Today, Kärcher is working on everything from robotics to eco-friendly cleaning tools that use less energy and are more recyclable. The company also launched 150 new products in 2019 – more than it had ever achieved before within a single year.

When the company needed to upgrade its network, it wanted a partner that valued innovation as much as them. That’s why Kärcher came to us.

The challenge
Kärcher’s existing network was under a lot of pressure. To create an agile working environment, team members were increasingly connecting in the cloud. While the manufacturer was also offering new online services built on its ‘cleaning on demand’ platform, to appeal to customers' high-tech tastes.

This growing digital demand was affecting the network’s performance. This made it harder for Kärcher to expand at the speed it wanted and risked impacting customers experience online. While sending its IT maintenance costs spiralling.

Kärcher needed a digital transformation that would clean up its operations. Making its network smarter, faster, more secure and more reliable. So the company could work the way it wanted to.

We now have a network that can flex for what’s next.”

Leonard KerscherDirector. IT & Digital Transformation, Kärcher

The solution
To help Kärcher adapt, we created a custom networking solution that was built on three cornerstones: growth, security and innovation. This started with improving its infrastructure. To handle the increased traffic flow, we added intelligent connectivity that can automatically prioritise business-critical apps, while added control makes it easier for Kärcher to scale its systems as it expands.

Moving to the cloud opens businesses up to increased cyber-threats. So we added several layers of protection to keep Kärcher’s data safe. This included a new firewall to defend the company’s entire network, plus endpoint protection to detect and respond to threats on individual devices faster.

To make sure Kärcher’s global network is always up to date, we added a service wrap. While the company remains in control of its security policies, our experts routinely check its infrastructure for vulnerabilities and maintain its firewall. While another team makes sure all its Cisco hardware and software stays compliant.

The result
Kärcher now has a network that can flex for what’s next. The automatic traffic prioritisation means customers always get the best experience when using its online services. And deploying applications at scale is simple, so team members always have the tools they need.

Next-level security means the cleaning manufacturer can stay protected. It remains in control of policies, so can still work the way they want. But our managed support also means Kärcher get up-to-the-minute reports on their system’s health. So it can block threats before they reach its network, reducing risk.
This all means it’s easier for the company to expand, embrace new technologies and keep pace with the ever-changing business landscape.

CIONET Business Circles

Cyber Circle

CIONET’s Cyber Circle: a new three-event programme exclusively focusing on the most urgent, complex, and high-impact challenges in cybersecurity today. Launched in 2026, this initiative brings together CISOs, CIOs, and senior IT executives with a strong interest in cybersecurity for three curated gatherings each year. As part of CIONET’s trusted executive community, the Cyber Circle provides a confidential, peer-driven environment to exchange insights, share real-world experiences, and address evolving cyber threats. Each session is designed to foster strategic dialogue, strengthen resilience, and elevate cybersecurity as a core driver of business value.

Telenet Business Leadership Circle

The Telenet Business Leadership Circle powered by CIONET, offers a platform where IT executives and thought leaders can meet to inspire each other and share best practices. We want to be a facilitator who helps you optimise the performance of your IT function and your business by embracing the endless opportunities that digital change brings.

Les Rencontres

Découvrez la dynamique du leadership numérique aux Rencontres de CIONET, le programme francophone exclusif de CIONET pour les leaders numériques en Belgique, rendu possible grâce au soutien et à l'engagement de nos partenaires de programme : Deloitte, Denodo et Red Hat. Rejoignez trois événements inspirants par an à Liège, Namur et en Brabant Wallon, où des CIOs et des experts numériques francophones de premier plan partagent leurs perspectives et expériences sur des thèmes d'affaires et de IT actuels. Laissez-vous inspirer et apprenez des meilleurs du secteur lors de sessions captivantes conçues spécialement pour soutenir et enrichir votre rôle en tant que CIO pair. Ne manquez pas cette opportunité de faire partie d'un réseau exceptionnel d'innovateurs numériques !

Female Leadership Circle

CIONET is committed to highlighting and celebrating female role models in IT, Tech & Digital, creating a leadership programme that empowers and elevates women within the tech industry. This initiative is dedicated to showcasing the achievements and successes of leading women, fostering an environment where female role models are recognised, and their contributions can ignite progress and inspire the next generation of women in IT. Our mission is to shine the spotlight a little brighter on female role models in IT, Tech & Digital, and to empower each other through this inner network community.