Forward 2026 by Flip: Transforming the Employee Experience
On June 17, 2026, Flip, the leading provider of an AI-native Employee Experience Platform for frontline workers, will host the conference Forward 2026 – Transforming the Employee Experience in Frankfurt. The event at SPARK Europe will bring together around 400 decision-makers from Internal Communications, HR, and IT/Digital Transformation to shape the future of work for the approximately 2.7 billion frontline workers worldwide. Leading minds from research, industry, and practice will take the stage – including representatives from REWE Group, HELLA, toom Baumarkt, CSL, British Heart Foundation, Greif, and the Fraunhofer IAO. The event will be bilingual (German/English with subtitles) and will feature both an international track and a DACH track.
Program Highlights
Opening Keynote – “Reimagining Work and the Workforce in the Age of AI” Marcus Berret (Roland Berger) opens with a look at how organizations need to be reimagined for an AI-enabled world of work.
REWE Group on Stage – “Employee Experience. At Scale.” Julia Herrmann and Mareike Heidemann-Jarosch demonstrate how digital enablers are transforming work at one of Europe’s largest decentralized organizations.
Science Meets Practice – “Rethinking the Human Side of AI at Work” Prof. Dr. Katharina Hölzle (Fraunhofer IAO / University of Stuttgart) on the human side of AI in the workplace.
Panel – “HR Transformation & Psychological Safety in the Age of AI” With Bala Sathyanarayanan (Greif, formerly Schindler), Prof. Dr. Katharina Hölzle, Khaled Thaler (Managing Director Hirschtec) and Sebastian Ullrich.
Customer Stories from the Frontline
Real-world case studies from HELLA (Operational Excellence in Manufacturing), toom Baumarkt (Retail Transformation), CSL (wired & unwired united on one platform).
Product Premieres from Flip
Flip CPTO Luke Talbot and team reveal what’s coming next.
Flip Awards 2026 In the grand finale, the Employee Experience Awards for Frontline Teams will be presented for the second time – recognizing outstanding transformation projects from industry, retail, and services.
Why Forward 2026 Matters for the Press
1. AI on the frontline is THE HR topic of the year. While Generative AI in the office is widely covered, the bigger question remains unanswered: How does AI reach the 80% of workers who don’t sit at a desk? Forward 2026 is one of the first conferences in Europe to answer this question concretely – with live demos, case studies, and research insights.
2. Real numbers, real brands, real results. Instead of buzzwords, leaders from REWE, HELLA, toom Baumarkt, CSL and other major organizations share how they digitized their frontline – including measurable impact on productivity, employee retention, and operational processes.
3. Scientifically grounded. With Prof. Dr. Katharina Hölzle (Fraunhofer IAO) and Marcus Berret (Roland Berger), Flip brings together top academic and strategic voices on the topic of “work in transition” – a relevant crossover between research, consulting, and practice for business editors.
4. Product news with market relevance. Flip will announce the next step in its platform strategy from the stage: from a pure communications tool to a System of Action for the frontline.
5. A stage for award-winning best practices. The Flip Awards 2026 make visible successes that often fly under the radar in public debate: concrete examples of how German and European companies are improving the work of their operational and frontline teams.
Key Facts at a Glance
What: Forward 2026 – Transforming the Employee Experience
When: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Where: SPARK Europe, Junghofstraße 16, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
Language: German & English (with subtitles)
Audience: HR, Internal Communications, IT / Digital Transformation
Website: getflip.com/events/forward-by-flip-2026-en