HIPA, the Hugarian Investment and Promotion Agency, in cooperation with AmCham Hungary and ABSL Hungary, hosted 200 guests at its 30 November annual conference. The event featured more than 25 speakers, and distinguished 3 BSCs for their leadership and innovation: TCS, Kostal Group, and ThermoFisher Scientific.
Also, the event unveiled the results of the 2023 Survey that showcases a remarkable growth of the sector: by now 100,000+ people are employed (up from 70,000 in 2021) in 201 centers. ️The very best BSCs were also recognized in three categories: ️KOSTAL Group (Investor of the Year) ️Tata Consultancy Services (Business Excellence and Innovation) ️Thermo Fisher Scientific (Best in Education Cooperation & Talent Development) Key takeaways: 💡the Education system must be improved to ensure a strong Talent pipeline. 💡one of CEE's ultimate edges is its quality of life. 💡81% of BSCs plan to bring more high added-value functions to Hungary in the next 3 years 💡economic growth will drive further development of the region. Although not yet officially announced, the City of Krakow will host ABSL Poland's annual conference, with the date set for 3-5 June.
Krakow was also the host for the 2023 event. Zedge, a prominent US technology company, has experienced substantial growth in recent years and is now poised to expand its footprint in Vilnius. Over the next three years, the company aims to add 20 highly skilled professionals to its workforce in the city, bolstering its existing team of specialists to a total of 50 individuals proficient in technology and mobile applications. In line with this expansion, Zedge has committed to collaborating with local universities exploring synergies, particularly in the realms of AI and data engineering.
Established in 2003 initially as a platform for ringtones, Zedge has evolved into a versatile mobile content platform, boasting over 40 million users and 620 million app downloads. The company’s recent growth trajectory includes strategic acquisitions such as Emojipedia in 2021 and GuruShots in 2022. Notably, in 2023, Zedge embraced AI technology, introducing innovative products like pAInt, an AI wallpaper maker, and AI Art Master, a generative AI game. The company has offices in the USA, Norway, Lithuania and Israel. Since its inception in 2018, Zedge’s Vilnius office has emerged as a pivotal center for developing new products, driving innovation, and optimizing the platform’s systems. Currently employing 32 highly skilled professionals, constituting approximately one-third of its global workforce, Zedge Lithuania remains integral to the company’s technological advancements. Looking ahead, Zedge plans to further strengthen its Vilnius team by hiring 20 additional software developers, product owners, monetization specialists, data engineers, and other professionals over the next three years. The recruitment focus will emphasize Senior-level expertise, complemented by a select group of Junior to Mid-level professionals. Source: Invest in Lithuania Primient a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources is pleased to announce the opening of its new Łódź-based Global Shared Service Center in the state-of-the-art Hi Piotrkowska Towers.The 620+ square meter office located in the heart of the community will be home to around 100 Primient employees. The office proudly blends the company’s 100+ year heritage with the form and function of modern, collaborative working, including offices, conferencing and collaboration spaces which feature the full spectrum connectivity today’s hybrid working demands.
Like Primient’s newly opened US-headquarters, the design evokes both an agricultural / industrial foundation with the spirit of a bright, plant-based future. Natural textiles, finishes, and photography help infuse the space with light, texture, and elegance. "We designed and built our new space for all – ensuring we created an office that was accessible, supportive, and welcoming for not only our teams, but also our customers, vendors, and community." - Magdalena Kowalska, Head of Finance Operations The new office is positioned to support Primient’s ongoing investment and growth strategy. The team in Łódź plays a critical role for Primient’s strategy according to CEO, Jim Stutelberg. “Łódź is an important piece of our global footprint. The investment we are making is a clear testament to our commitment.” - Jim Stutelberg, CEO Primient’s Łódź Office Space At-A-Glance: Location: Hi Piotrkowska Towers, Łódź, Poland Footprint: 620+ square meters Features: Open and collaboration forward space, supporting hybrid working. Full suite of offices and conference rooms. Adjustable workstations and chairs supporting accessibility and diversity in working styles and preferences. Café, wellness, and supportive spaces for networking and connection. Suvoda's global workforce is on track for double-digit growth
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Suvoda LLC, a global clinical trial technology company that specializes in complex studies in therapeutic areas like oncology, central nervous system (CNS), and rare disease, has expanded its presence in Romania with the opening of its newest office in Iași. This strategic move further enhances Suvoda's ability to meet increasing global demand following the company's successful launch of its clinical trial technology platform and powerful new eCOA solution earlier this year. Suvoda's Iași office, which officially opened in July, will house teams specializing in product development, software engineering, and professional services, with plans to expand into other areas as the company grows. "Our new Iași office is important because it is home to an enviable talent pool that will enable us to continue providing our customers the high-quality solutions and support that Suvoda is recognized for across the globe," said Marius Manole, co-founder and vice president of technical solutions, general manager of Suvoda Romania. Artificial Intelligence to change the profile of employees in the Business Services Industry
18/11/2023
The era of artificial intelligence is just beginning, and fully harnessing the benefits of this technology requires time and managing numerous challenges. Activities such as customer support, software testing/development, marketing, and financial-accounting services could represent over 70% of artificial intelligence use cases in the near future.
For this reason, the Business Service Leaders Association (ABSL) Romania organized the 11th edition of the national conference focusing on artificial intelligence and its impact on the business services industry and life in general. At the conference’s opening, ABSL released the annual report of the business services industry, providing an overview of the sector and its trends. According to the ABSL 2023 report, only 26% of companies in the industry currently use artificial intelligence and machine learning in their services, a percentage that is also reflected globally across different industries, while 74% of outsourcing companies in Romania use basic automation in customer service activities. It is estimated that artificial intelligence will work best for employees with higher education, potentially automating up to 60% of their current processes. This is expected to substantially increase labor productivity, with estimates suggesting that half of the current work processes could be automated between 2030 and 2045. “A hundred years ago, in the science fiction novels of Karel Capek (the inventor of the word ‘robot’), it was anticipated that robots would predominantly replace employees with intensive physical activity. Now, we see that in reality, they more often assist those with higher education and intellectual activity. It is somewhat counterintuitive but not necessarily bad news, as there is enormous potential for productivity growth. If we manage to integrate artificial intelligence into the development of products with the highest share in our industry (financial services, IT, and HR offered by over 65% of responding companies according to the latest ABSL study), we can keep Romania in a competitive position in the region, despite the salary increases induced by inflation,” says Cătălin Iorgulescu, Vice-President of ABSL. Global Cloud leader Genesys expands its Hungary-based Software Development Center substantially
18/11/2023
By investing EUR 50.1 million, Genesys, a global cloud leader in AI-powered experience orchestration, has opened a new research and development center in Budapest that represents the commitment of the company to the Hungarian market. The project will create 250 new jobs.
Genesys established its footprint in Hungary following the 2021 acquisition of the Bold360 product from LogMeIn. Since then, headcount of the Hungarian subsidiary has more than tripled to nearly 200 employees with additional growth expected in the future. This rapid expansion has led Genesys to move its R&D center to a larger facility of nearly 3,000 square meters in Budapest. Genesys Hungary is comprised of highly skilled talent qualified in a wide array of IT fields from data engineering to UX design. The work of the Hungarian team is key to enabling how Genesys is revolutionizing the way organizations engage with customers and employees through Genesys Cloud CX, an AI-powered experience orchestration platform. Aldi’s new IT service center is now up and running in Debrecen to hire fifty IT specialists. This is the third site of the German store chain that performs such duties in Hungary.
The German family business with over 100 years of tradition opened its first store in our country one and a half decades ago, and by now it serves Hungarians’ shopping habits in a network of 160+ units. The first Hungarian store that provided IT services for the European stores of the company was set up in the Biatorbágy logistics center. Then in 2018 another similar IT center opened, while the service was organised under an independent company, Aldi International IT Services Kft. Due to increasing workload, further expansion was needed; therefore, the German behemoth now opened its latest IT office, this time around in Agora Office Center, Debrecen. Up to 50 people will be hired, whereas the company plans to add even more workers to the payroll nationwide. Today, the company provides seamless operation of the IT systems of more than 4,000 European Aldi stores and 55 logistics centres and office buldings, and monitors some of the company’s IT systems – all that from Hungary. TDCX (NYSE: TDCX), an award-winning digital customer experience (CX) solutions provider for technology and blue-chip companies has deepened its presence in Europe through its move to a bigger campus in Romania. Located in the northern part of Bucharest in Green Court Campus, the heart of the most dynamic business district in the north of Bucharest, the campus boasts inviting meeting spaces, recreational areas, a cafeteria and a cinema room for employees to enjoy movie nights together.
The expansion of TDCX’s Romanian campus represents the company's growth in the region and underscores its commitment to help more clients tap Europe as an outsourcing destination. In just over two years, TDCX Romania has doubled its employee headcount, serving clients across diverse industries including automotive, e-sports, health-tech and software. Apart from serving existing clients and the new mandates, the expanded Romania campus is a strategic investment that will better equip TDCX to meet future client needs. TDCX’s Romanian campus already has the ability to provide support in 15 languages, thus enabling it to deliver the type of multilingual and personalized service that is needed to serve Europe’s linguistically and culturally diverse market. Ms. Sophie Chelmick, Executive Vice President, EMEA, TDCX, said, “Our campus in Bucharest is an important hub for our Europe operations. Romania is situated in the heart of Europe, making it easy to collaborate with clients and partners across the continent. Its business-friendly environment, cost-effectiveness and skilled workforce make it a favorable location for outsourcing, and we see strong potential in expanding our presence here. We hope that through our efforts to grow our Romanian campus, we will be able to attract interesting jobs that will lead to meaningful careers for our talents here.” Contributing to the growth of Europe’s CX industry The need for good CX is becoming increasingly important among European companies. Almost nine in 10 (89 per cent) of mid-sized and enterprise level companies in Europe acknowledge that CX innovation is required to protect their business from competitors1. This is echoed by a report2 that stated that there is room to provide European customers more personalized services. This includes enabling frictionless and conversational customer interactions on a single channel. Brands therefore must continually invest and deliver improved experiences to keep their customers. Mr. Daniel Mereuta, Country Director, TDCX said, "Today’s customers are better informed, better connected, and more demanding than before. Hence, it is getting increasingly tough for brands to navigate customer expectations, keep pace with technological innovations and hire the talent needed to drive customer satisfaction. “As a specialist CX provider, we have an intimate understanding of the elements that are needed to deliver exceptional service and have refined our approach through years of experience. Our ability to balance technological innovations with the human touch, combined with our focus and agility, enables us to help our clients set up CX teams in less than three months. This covers the entire process from establishing the delivery model and hiring and training the required talent, thus providing clients with the speed and efficiency that is required to start delivering on their goals quickly.” TDCX’s new Romanian campus is situated within a LEED Platinum-certified building, consistent with the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability in its choice of buildings. It is easily accessed by public transportation and is supported by various facilities, including a prominent shopping mall across the street. Mouser Electronics, a global distributor of semiconductors and electronic components, is opening a European Customer Service Center in Vilnius, Lithuania. The new office will provide customer support for the company’s clients in the Baltics and Finland.
Mouser, a subsidiary of TTI, a Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway, specialises in the introduction of the newest products and technologies, providing electronic components to design engineers and purchasers to power innovation. Headquartered in the US, the company offers 6.8 million products from over 1,200 manufacturer brands, shipping to over 650,000 customers in 223 countries and territories. Setting up a customer service centre in Vilnius is a step to support Mouser’s significant growth across the EMEA region. Key drivers including 5G, Internet of Things, and robotics, coupled with many applications across the industrial, transportation, and communications sectors, continue to accelerate overall consumption and demand for semiconductors and electronic components. Mouser Electronics has expanded its distribution and customer service operations in EMEA to support the innovation of technologies in these areas. “Our business across Europe continues to grow significantly – in 2022, we saw our European business surge by 30 percent,” says Mark Burr-Lonnon, Mouser’s Senior Vice President of Global Service and EMEA and APAC Business. “. Lithuania is home to a burgeoning tech sector and ecosystem with an increasing amount of electronics design and manufacturing activity. We are proud to deliver localised services globally and are excited to support European design engineers and buyers with their purchases of the newest semiconductors and electronic components.” Operating a truly global enterprise, Mouser provides specialised customer service in local language, currency and time zone. Vilnius joins the company’s network of 27 support locations worldwide, dedicated to answering the electronic component needs of buyers and design engineers. According to Elijus Čivilis, General Manager of Invest Lithuania, Mouser Electronics will benefit from the quality of local Lithuanian talent: “In Lithuania, Mouser will find not only a vibrant tech sector with an increasing level of electronics design and manufacturing activity, but also a pool of skilled and motivated specialists. They will undoubtedly power the excellent services that Mouser seeks to provide to its growing client base.” |
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