TLDR: EPAM Systems, in partnership with EBSCO Information Services, has successfully integrated Generative AI (GenAI) tooling into EBSCO’s software development lifecycle, leading to significant improvements in productivity, efficiency, and code quality. This strategic adoption, guided by EPAM’s AI/Run™ framework, resulted in a 5-10% increase in development velocity and an average daily time saving of 50 minutes for developers.
EPAM Systems, a leading digital transformation services and product engineering company, has detailed a successful collaboration with EBSCO Information Services, a global provider of research databases and digital resources, to revolutionize its software development processes through the strategic integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). This initiative, launched in November 2023, aimed to enhance productivity and reduce operational costs within EBSCO’s development teams.
The partnership saw EPAM guiding EBSCO through a phased and data-driven approach to AI adoption, starting with a pilot program and expanding across three subsequent waves, ultimately encompassing over 90 software development teams. EPAM’s critical role included providing AI guidance, establishing robust governance frameworks, and building an AI adoption dashboard to monitor real-time performance metrics such as velocity, cycle time, code review lead time, and overall productivity gains.
A cornerstone of this transformation was the EPAM AI/Run™ framework, designed to maximize business value and return on investment from AI-enabled development tools. This comprehensive framework integrated governance, education, integration, change management, and continuous improvement. Key aspects included the establishment of an official written policy for Safe Usage of AI in Development, which all technology department employees were required to read and accept. Performance tracking focused on KPIs like velocity, code acceptance rates, and developer engagement, reviewed in monthly ‘Community of Practice’ sessions.
To foster internal expertise and ensure long-term sustainability, EBSCO and EPAM introduced the AI Champions Program. Motivated individuals were selected and trained to champion AI initiatives internally, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem for sharing AI knowledge and best practices. Automated performance and AI adoption measurement tools were also introduced to provide real-time insights and drive informed decision-making.
The tangible results of the AI DevEx initiative have been significant. EBSCO’s development teams experienced a notable 5-10% increase in velocity, enabling them to deliver more features and enhancements with each development iteration. Software developers reported an average daily time saving of 50 minutes (equivalent to 10.4% of an 8-hour workday) when utilizing AI DevEx tooling. Furthermore, AI tools now contribute approximately 10% of the overall new code each month. The integration of AI also led to improvements in code quality and collaboration, evidenced by a doubling of the average number of accepted pull requests per month, indicating higher standards for initial code submissions and a more efficient review process.
Michael Gunning, Senior Vice President of Development at EBSCO Information Services, commented on the success, stating, “By embracing AI DevEx tooling, EBSCO is accelerating innovation across our software development lifecycle (SDLC) and empowering teams to deliver better, faster solutions. With EPAM’s collaborative expertise, we’re not just adopting AI — we’re transforming the developer experience and redefining how we build software together.”
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This successful implementation underscores EBSCO’s commitment to leveraging technology for business growth and operational excellence, providing a valuable blueprint for other organizations embarking on their AI adoption journeys.
