How AI4Health.Cro supported digital planning for 132 branch organisations
The Croatian Red Cross plays a critical role in humanitarian protection and care across Croatia. Its scale is also a major digitalisation challenge. The organisation operates through 132 branch organisations nationwide, which creates a strong need for coordination, interoperability and reliable digital systems.
Before engaging with AI4Health.Cro, the Croatian Red Cross faced several digitalisation barriers. Its branches relied on manual processes and isolated systems, which created inefficiencies in coordinating national humanitarian responses. The organisation lacked a digital roadmap and needed a modular platform serving many different users, including staff, volunteers, rescue coordinators, refugee case managers and beneficiaries. As a public authority, it also needed professionally prepared technical specifications and tender documentation for transparent procurement.
AI4Health.Cro supported the Croatian Red Cross through a structured evaluation using the EU Digital Maturity Assessment Tool. This helped define priority areas for improvement and establish a baseline for future digital transformation.
The first phase focused on system architecture and technical specifications. This included a central interoperable service bus designed to enable communication across all 132 branches, as well as four core applications: membership management, volunteer coordination, rescue services and refugee assistance systems.
The next phase supported preparation of a public procurement package, including technical requirements, vendor evaluation criteria, contract terms and risk management guidance. The aim was to focus on the organisation’s real needs and avoid specifications tailored to individual providers.
Croatian Red Cross staff actively participated in workshops and reviews, ensuring that the planned solutions matched operational reality. This also helped staff develop a more mature understanding of the institution’s digitalisation needs.
There are several strategic benefits, including reduced implementation risk and readiness to launch a transparent, competitive tender process.
The planned direction includes phased implementation, scaling digital capabilities across all 132 branches and strengthening coordination and efficiency in support of the organisation’s humanitarian mission.