Centric Innovation: Pioneering tomorrow’s solutions today

The Centric Innovation department is where creativity, technical expertise, and strategic thinking meet to drive meaningful change. Operating with a human-centered approach, the team goes through stages of empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing, ensuring that every product they develop not only functions well but also meets the real needs of its users. They collaborate closely with various departments across Centric, such as Social Domain and Finance, working on diverse projects like onboarding applications for immigrants and integrating GPT-powered support functions into e-services.

#ActAsOne and #KeepImproving

The team’s structure is designed for flexibility, divided into two base groups that manage multiple projects simultaneously. This dynamic setup allows the team to quickly adapt to shifting priorities and project demands. Collaboration is at the core of their success, with frequent peer programming and knowledge-sharing sessions keeping everyone up-to-date with the latest technological advancements, but also workshops and design thinking sessions meant to spark their creativity. The best ideas from these sessions often progress into research and development phases, highlighting the team’s dedication to tackling real-world problems with innovative solutions.

Centric's Innovation department is committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. They leverage artificial intelligence, including large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, and incorporate advanced vector search technology to enhance their ability to extract relevant information and improve decision-making. Cloud computing plays a crucial role in their operations, offering the flexibility and scalability necessary to manage complex, data-intensive projects.

From urban design to digital currencies

Among the department's most exciting current projects is Furban, an interactive platform designed to engage communities in urban redesign. Another initiative, Resource, focuses on sustainability by enabling the trading of second-hand public resources like benches and pavements.

Perhaps the most groundbreaking project is Local4Local, a digital platform that helps cities deploy local a regional currency to bolster local economies. This project uses cutting-edge cryptographic technologies to create an anonymous, taxable payment system that benefits both customers and merchants.

Overcoming Challenges and #CreatingImpact

Innovation comes with its challenges, but the team excels keeps a steady balance between exploring new technologies and delivering timely solutions. They prioritize technology that addresses real problems rather than experimenting for the sake of it. For example, when a client needed to reduce support costs, the team successfully integrated a smart search function with GPT, tailored specifically to the client's needs.

A notable success story is the Metahumans project, where the team developed components that integrate GPT support into Centric's e-services. This project exemplifies the department’s ability to use advanced technologies to enhance digital interactions and boost customer satisfaction.

Looking to the future

The Innovation department is always on the lookout for the next big thing. They anticipate that artificial intelligence and blockchain will continue to shape their work, particularly in areas requiring high security and transparency. Sustainability is another key focus, as global priorities shift towards greener technologies.

Their goals are ambitious: improving existing products, launching new apps, and expanding Centric’s customer base. What drives them forward is a passion for technology and problem-solving, transforming small ideas into significant projects that make a real difference.