RIKO has received the prestigious AI of the Year 2026 Award for the development and implementation of its advanced RikoAI system. Presented as part of Slovenia’s leading CIO of the Year event, the award recognises outstanding achievements in artificial intelligence. The expert jury acknowledged the solution’s innovative approach, technological sophistication and measurable business impact, further affirming RIKO’s commitment to innovation and strengthening its competitiveness in international markets.
At a ceremony held on 22 October 2026 at Brdo pri Kranju, RIKO was named a recipient of the AI of the Year 2026 Award, sharing this year’s distinction with the Slovenian Steel Group (SIJ). The award was presented as part of the CIO of the Year event, one of Slovenia’s most prominent professional gatherings dedicated to information technology, digital transformation and technological advancement.
The award’s prestige and professional credibility are underpinned by an independent selection process, with recipients chosen by an expert jury comprising distinguished representatives from the business community, the IT sector and academia. The jury is chaired by Marko Štefančič, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Competence Centre at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia. The award therefore represents significant professional recognition of the technological excellence, innovation and measurable business value delivered by the winning solutions.
With a tradition spanning more than two decades, CIO of the Year has established itself as a key meeting point for Slovenia’s IT and business communities. Introduced for the first time in 2026, the AI of the Year Award builds on the event’s longstanding tradition of recognising outstanding achievements in digital transformation, placing particular emphasis on artificial intelligence solutions that generate tangible business value.
RikoAI: Advanced Technology Delivering Measurable Business Results
RIKO impressed the expert jury with the development and implementation of RikoAI, an advanced multi-agent ecosystem designed for the cognitive automation of business processes. The system enables intelligent analysis of complex business documentation, detailed examination of international tenders, detection of inconsistencies, and identification of technical and legal requirements.
RikoAI provides employees with advanced support in their daily professional activities, enhancing the quality and reliability of business processes while reducing operational risks. Its benefits are also measurable: by deploying the system in its back-office operations, RIKO saves more than 500 working hours per month. By taking over routine and time-consuming tasks, artificial intelligence enables employees to focus on more complex professional responsibilities and higher-value activities.
The AI of the Year 2026 Award represents an important endorsement of RIKO’s strategic commitment to developing and deploying its own artificial intelligence solutions, combining technological excellence, information security and real-world business needs.
It also demonstrates that the thoughtful and strategic adoption of artificial intelligence can deliver significant opportunities for growth and competitive advantage, even in companies whose core business lies outside the information technology sector.
