Intesa Sanpaolo Automates HR Operations with AI, Elevating the Strategic Role of HR

Intesa Sanpaolo, one of Europe's major banking groups with a market capitalization of 89.9 billion euros (as of March 2026), serves approximately 13.9 million clients through a network of over 2,600 branches in Italy and international presence in over 12 countries. The group employs more than 90,000 people worldwide, of which about 69,000 in Italy as of December 2025. In recent years, Intesa Sanpaolo has undertaken a structured transformation of its HR function, aiming to evolve from a predominantly administrative model to an increasingly strategic role supporting the business. This journey began as early as 2017 and led to progressive digitalization of HR processes, initially in Italy and later extended internationally. Despite these advances, overall analysis of the operating model revealed opportunities for improvement in operational efficiency. The AI deployment targeted routine, repetitive HR processes that consumed significant administrative resources. By implementing automation through artificial intelligence and machine learning, the bank automated personnel administration tasks, compliance reporting, and employee query management. This freed HR professionals to focus on strategic activities including talent development, workforce planning, and business transformation support. The transformation touched multiple HR domains including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee relations, creating a data-driven HR function that can better anticipate business needs.