Spawning innovation: microservice hackathon
Real innovation is not created on paper – it arises from action! As a digital bank, we are often developing new digital products for which a future-proof IT architecture is vital. The key enablers of this are the cloud, microservices as well as modern and secure integration patterns. Max’s unit is a significant driver of this transition. He not only addresses the question of how the bank’s strategy and operational business can be best supported by the IT architecture, but also how to achieve the required transformation.
Modern IT architecture as enabler
In the past, it was common to develop inextricable units – referred to as monolithic systems. This was also the case at ING. Today, however, we rely on self-contained systems (SCS) in the cloud. They resemble microservices and can be deployed independently of each other. This massive change poses many challenges, but they are worth it. The advantages of SCS are significant: our interdisciplinary teams (Business & IT) work more independently so our 9 million customers can look forward to faster go-lives of new features. What’s necessary to bring about an innovative change in IT architecture? “First and foremost, our engineers need to be brought up to speed and familiarized with the latest technologies,” says Max. No sooner said than done!
The microservice hackathon
Max’s IT team organized a four-day hackathon in October 2021. The approx. 90 participants learned about new concepts, patterns and technologies. The highlight was that it was not purely a theoretical exercise, as the hackathon combined sessions on theory with practical coding. “It was about colleagues not only gaining theoretical knowledge, but also dealing with real problems. The hackathon had the overall goal of introducing engineers to the design, development, deployment and testing of microservices – to stir up enthusiasm for the subject matter through practical application.” An event true to the motto of our direct bank: do your thing.
How the hackathon went
Everything was possible! Creative, collaborative working sessions freed the hackathon from constraints or limiting ways of thinking. Participants didn’t have to follow any prescribed strategy. The journey was the destination – and the sense of community was very strong as a result. “Anyone interested in technology is happy to participate in a hackathon to learn or create something – and to share their own work in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere,” says Max. Keynotes at the beginning of each day gave engineers insights into ING’s strategy, the future of the bank and the philosophy of engineering. The speakers who kicked off the hackathon were Daniel (Head of Retail Banking, Germany), Bouke (CIO Retail), Heiko (Head of IT, Germany) and Amit (Chief Architect, Germany). All participants were then trained during in-depth sessions – in SCS design, development, deployment, Azure DevOps and testing. This was a chance to learn the basics step-by-step and then deepen knowledge through hands-on coding. After the foundation was laid, all engineers took part in a two-day “hack war” in which they built a mini banking app as a team. As it should be, there were various challenges to solve: good coordination between front-end and back-end engineers, connecting the APIs via the global API gateway, configuring the security certificates and more.
The fruits of the hackathon
The scale of the hackathon was enormous – both in terms of input and output. To evaluate the latter, an international jury met with our global executives on the fourth day. In helpful and intense discussions, they sifted through the results with the teams. The winning team stood out with a mature software and full compliance with Target Architecture Germany – ING Germany’s technical focus. It promotes the use of a microservice-oriented architecture as well as global components. In addition, the five best front-end and back-end engineers were identified across all teams. “We combined high time pressure with team spirit, networking and a desire for new things. These are crucial building blocks for a fun technological transformation,” concludes Max.
Before the hackathon is after the hackathon
When the next hackathon will take place is still written in the stars. But one thing is certain: it will take place. Because it’s not just us who benefit from the innovations developed, but above all the engineers who make them possible. Until then, Max’s IT team will work on the next generation of the IT landscape – with the latest cloud and microservice technologies and the findings of the hackathon.