In the fast-paced landscape of global trade, the Port of Rotterdam stands as a beacon of efficiency and innovation. As Europe's largest seaport (handling close to 9 million containers annually), it serves as a vital gateway for the movement of goods between continents. Behind its towering cranes and bustling terminals lies a meticulously designed framework known as Enterprise Architecture.

Digital Transformation is a strategic endeavor. It involves a major change in the organizational culture, in its goals and objectives, its capabilities and business processes. And yes, at the very end of the road also a change in the supporting IT systems. Digital Transformation is not just about IT.

In the grand orchestration of an enterprise, there is an unseen maestro quietly pulling the strings, creating the harmony that transforms strategic vision into operational reality. That maestro is the Enterprise Architect. A behind-the-scenes virtuoso who navigates the complex landscape of technology, business processes, and organizational structure.

Today we cannot avoid AI. We see it mushrooming everywhere. Various applications are being experimented with, and every marginal result is eagerly shared on social media. This is also true for generative AI applications in architecture. So how great would it be if we could use AI to make our lives as architects easier? We can, thanks to AI-driven architecture.

The role of the Enterprise Architect is misplaced in many organizations. In nine out of ten cases, the Enterprise Architect is portrayed as an IT Architect. This misalignment has significant consequences for an organization. The primary role of the Enterprise Architect is to help an organization achieve its goals.

We are probably all familiar with the TOGAF® Standard. Or just TOGAF, for friends and foes. An Enterprise Architecture framework pur sang and a very complete one if you ask me. The framework covers all aspects of Enterprise Architecture and allows for all kinds of tailoring. This makes it an excellent framework for any architecture implementation. In other words, the TOGAF Standard is awesome!