Allianz SE's assistance and travel insurance subsidiary, Allianz Partners, is engaged in discussions regarding potential job reductions. The cuts, expected to impact call center positions, are part of the company's strategy to enhance the use of artificial intelligence. While a spokesperson for Allianz Partners declined to comment directly on job cuts, the company issued a statement acknowledging that leveraging AI could create new opportunities while also affecting roles heavily dependent on manual processes.
German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung initially reported on the possible job cuts, indicating that 1,500 to 1,800 roles could be eliminated within the next 12 to 18 months. This figure represents up to 8% of Allianz Partners' approximately 22,600 employees. Sources suggest that these reductions would primarily occur in call centers across Germany, France, Spain, and Britain.
The move aligns with a broader trend among large companies to adopt AI for service acceleration and cost reduction. For example, Deutsche Lufthansa AG announced plans in September to cut 4,000 administrative positions by the end of the decade, partly due to increased AI use. Similarly, Dutch bank ING Groep NV has cited digitalization, AI, and evolving customer needs as reasons for putting nearly 1,000 positions at risk. Allianz Partners receives around 200,000 calls globally each day, with many simple inquiries, such as claims status checks, expected to be handled by automated AI responses in the future.
