Episode 2: Export Controls for Intangible Technology and Data Transfers
Head of Export Control - Accenture
Ingrun Retzlaff is an export control professional based in Hamburg, Germany, with extensive experience in export compliance and international trade regulations. She currently serves as an Export Control Officer at Accenture, having previously held leadership roles at Bruker Daltonics and VINCORION/JENOPTIK Advanced Systems. Ingrun also works as a freelance lecturer at Hamburger Zollakademie, sharing her knowledge and expertise. Her professional background combines export control leadership, regulatory compliance, and education, supporting organizations in navigating complex international trade requirements.
Ingrun Retzlaff, who works in export control at Accenture in Hamburg, explains how a consulting firm controls something it cannot put in a box: technical data, screen shares and files moving between global teams. She walks through the funnel her team uses to screen projects, why clients often over-control their data, what can be outsourced, how documented decisions keep a company audit-ready, and the early sales mistake that taught her end use does not replace a license.
5 Key Findings
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Intangible exports start with awareness
Most people do not realize that data, drawings and a shared screen on a video call can be controlled exports. At Accenture the first job is making staff aware before any classification work begins.
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Data moves both ways
Export control is not a one-way ticket for global teams. Data sent abroad comes back, and the country it returns from may carry its own restrictions, along with questions about servers and who can access the files.
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A funnel catches risk without blocking business
Her team screens for high-risk industries first, then asks about data exchange, cross-border flows, server locations and tools. Non-controlled projects are released as early as possible, so attention goes to the sensitive ones.
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Over-controlling data costs time
Clients who cannot separate controlled from non-controlled data sometimes ask for the highest controls on everything. That creates unnecessary work. A clear picture of what is actually controlled saves effort on both sides.
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Document the non-critical cases too
Auditors will ask how you decided a project needed no license. Accenture records every assessment with an audit trail, groups repeat cases for bulk approval, and re-checks when the client, technology or team changes.
Advice to the Professional
From Ingrun Retzlaff
Keep the responsibility in-house even if you outsource classification. An outside expert can classify well only with good information, and decisions about end use need someone who knows the business. Sit close to the operational teams so you hear about new projects and clients early.
Make it easy for colleagues to ask questions, including ones they think are stupid. Keep training going, because attention fades after a long list of mandatory courses. Use AI for drafts and first passes, but keep a person making the final export control decision.
Conclusion
Controlling intangibles depends on people knowing what they share and on records that explain each decision. Ingrun’s view is that compliance works best as part of the team, helping the business say yes safely.