Case Study: Nelnet achieves 31% productivity gains with EPAM's agentic AI approach

Nelnet boosts PDLC productivity 31% with EPAM Systems

Nelnet, a multifaceted service company specializing in consumer finance and education, sought to understand the practical impact of generative AI on its product development lifecycle (PDLC). They partnered with EPAM Systems to move beyond experimentation and prove the value of AI tools in enhancing delivery efficiency, speed, and quality.

EPAM implemented a 12-week pilot program, integrating a suite of GenAI tools into Nelnet's environment and providing hands-on coaching and support. The solution included a custom metrics framework to measure performance against a traditional team. EPAM's work resulted in a 31% cumulative increase in productivity, a 1.9X backend acceleration, a 1.6X frontend acceleration, and a faster time to market, proving the business case for broader AI adoption.

Nelnet