<![CDATA[EUROPEAN BUSINESS SERVICES ASSOCIATION - News]]>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:09:37 +0200Weebly<![CDATA[Romania's ABSL Gala awards top GBS centres: Michelin, Unicredit, HPE, WNS, Euromaster, Societe Generale, Wipro, Accenture, Concentrix]]>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 06:28:34 GMThttp://www.europeanbusinessservices.com/news/romanias-absl-gala-awards-top-gbs-centres-michelin-unicredit-hpe-wns-euromaster-societe-generale-wipro-accenture-concentrixThe annual Awards Gala of ABSL Romania was held on 9 June, and awarded top GBS executives and their teams in these categories:
  • Colleague of the Year Award - Winner: Liviu Dragusin, Accenture
  • Advocate of Sustainability & ESG - Winner: Wipro Romania - Have a Heart
  • Leader in Talent Growth & Education - Winner: Concentrix Romania
  • Champion of Customer Experience - Winner: Societe Generale GSC - CX360 (End-to-End Customer Centricity).
  • Promoter in AI - Winner: Euromaster Business Services - Euromaster "Sonny"
  • Innovator in Business Transformation- Winner: WNS Global Services (CapGemini) - AI-Driven Decision Centric Enterprise Transformation.
  • Promoter of Vibrant Work Culture - Winner: Unicredit Romania
  • Excellence in Business Leadership - Winner: HPE
  • The Most-Active ABSL Member- Winner: Michelin Romania

Diamond Partners were BAT and Engie.

]]><![CDATA[Phoenix, Cencora, and Citco win Vilnius Volleyball Tournament!]]>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 06:25:21 GMThttp://www.europeanbusinessservices.com/news/phoenix-cencora-and-citco-win-vilnius-volleyball-tournamentThe 3rd annual Vilnius Business Services Charity Beach Volleyball Tournament took place 11 June 2026 at Delfi Sports Center in Vilnius.

1st place went to Phoenix Business Services, 2nd place Cencora, and 3rd place to Citco.  Viktorija Sukackaitė from Phoenix won the “Top Female Player” Trophy; Christian Chibuike Okereke (from Dexcom) won “Best Attitude Player” Trophy; and Dexcom won the “Top Cheerleading” Trophy.

Phoenix's chosen charity – „Jaunimo linija" - wins the cash-prize donation as the Winning-Team's charity.

The Vilnius tournament was the 1st of our 5 summer Tournaments (Budapest, Vilnius, Krakow, and Warsaw). The Business Services Volleyball Tournaments are organized each summer by European Business Services Association.

Thanks to our various partners, including: InvestLithuania, Delfi Sports Center, and the wonderful participating Teams!

Photos from Vilnius are here on Facebook and here a select 100 on EBSA Website.
]]><![CDATA[Fully-operational GBS team available for hire, after re-org, in Lodz]]>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 06:15:55 GMThttp://www.europeanbusinessservices.com/news/fully-operational-gbs-team-available-for-hire-after-re-org-in-lodzFrom LinkedIn post ( Joanna Milczewska).

If you’re planning to build an SSC in Europe, you’ve just been handed a shortcut most companies never get.
In Łódź, a fully operational, high-performing SSC team is about to hit the market.
Not because it failed.
Not because it underperformed.
Because of a global post-merger corporate decision to move operations elsewhere.

What’s becoming available is not a “talent pool”.
It’s a ready-to-go engine:
→ Finance, accounting, analytics
→ Proven SSC setup & scaling experience
→ People who already know how to work together
→ A culture that doesn’t need to be designed on slides

And here’s the part most strategies ignore:
You can spend 12–18 months building a team like this.
Or you can start with one.
If CoE / SSC / transformation is anywhere on your roadmap – this is a rare entry point.
Also, in the spirit of “six degrees of separation”: if it’s not for you, it’s probably for someone in your network.

Joanna Milczewska
]]><![CDATA[Venue announced: GBS AI & Automation Workshop, 8 September, Warsaw]]>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 03:46:32 GMThttp://www.europeanbusinessservices.com/news/venue-announced-gbs-ai-automation-workshop-8-september-warsawVarso46, the tallest skyscraper in Poland, and indeed the whole EU, will be the location for GBS AI & Automation Workshop, set for 8 September,  Warsaw.

Featuring 21 speakers from GBS Directors on GBS AI Case-studies, the focus is on granular insights into which AI tools, applications, and processes are delivering results. This peer-to-peer Workshop is designed for GBS Directors, Global Process Owners, Transformation Directors, and executives leading AI-initiatives inside GBSs.

We'll discuss the role of vendors and advisors - and swap insights into pricing.

Registration details are here - and GBS execs who choose to share their own experiences receive 300euro discount on the day.

The event is followed by evening Dinner and 1st annual European Enterprise AI Awards - and all GBS Presentations are automatically submitted for the Awards.


Picture
]]><![CDATA[Rolls-Royce GCC – Kraków expansion phase]]>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:34:43 GMThttp://www.europeanbusinessservices.com/news/rolls-royce-gcc-krakow-expansion-phaseThe recently launched Rolls-Royce Global Capability Centre in Kraków continues recruiting across finance, procurement, HR and analytics functions, indicating the centre is still in active scale-up mode during Q2 2026.

]]><![CDATA[Canary in the AI coalmine? Uber cuts 23% in HR and workplace division]]>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:18:52 GMThttp://www.europeanbusinessservices.com/news/canary-in-the-coalmine-uber-layoffs-hr-and-workplace-division-cut-23Uber is cutting 23% of jobs in its People and Places division, which covers human resources, recruitment, workplace facilities, and culture, according to Bloomberg.
A company spokesperson confirmed the affected headcount falls well below 1% of Uber's global workforce of 34,000, though the company declined to provide a specific figure. Senior-level positions account for a large share of the roles being eliminated.

The restructuring comes three weeks after Jill Hazelbaker was promoted to president and chief corporate affairs officer, a role that added Uber's safety operations and the People and Places organization to her responsibilities. Writing to employees whose roles were affected, Hazelbaker described the structural problems she intends to fix, saying the organization had become "too complex and fragmented, with overlapping responsibilities, unclear ownership, and teams operating too far from the businesses and partners they support." Her stated goal, per CNBC, is to arrive at a "more connected, modern, operationally excellent organization."
In his own internal communication directed at company leadership, Dara Khosrowshahi offered his rationale, writing that "changes are necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the People team and the enormous potential ahead of us," CNBC reported.

Despite the broader industry trend of linking headcount reductions to artificial intelligence investment, Bloomberg reports that Uber's spokesperson explicitly ruled out AI as a factor in these particular cuts. Rather than sweeping reductions, the company has favored a narrower approach to cost management, and job listings remain active for over 800 positions, among them roles supporting the commercialization of robotaxi services.

Source: Yahoo Finance

]]><![CDATA[Bulgaria in the digital economy: Turning advantages into leadership]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:14:19 GMThttp://www.europeanbusinessservices.com/news/bulgaria-in-the-digital-economy-turning-advantages-into-leadershipThe Association for Innovation, Business Services and Technology (AIBEST) is an independent industry organisation dedicated to positioning Bulgaria as a leader in knowledge-intensive products, services and solutions, as well as a global destination for highly educated talent. The association unites companies across all areas of the modern business services industry – BPO, ITO, R&D centres and SSCs (shared service centres).

Yordan Ginev is the Chairman of AIBEST and Managing Director of DIGITALL Bulgaria. With more than 15 years of experience in the technology sector, he is a leading advocate for education reform, innovation and sustainable growth in Bulgaria and the wider region.



What role does AIBEST play in building a future-ready digital economy?
Our role is to be the voice and partner of the industry in its dialogue with the government and the education system. Оver the past fifteen years, Bulgaria has transformed into a hub for high-tech solutions with global reach. In 2023, 817 companies in the BPO, ITO, and R&D sectors operated in Bulgaria, employing more than 104,000 people. This makes the industry one of the strategic drivers of the national economy. AIBEST’s mission is to ensure the sector continues to grow sustainably —with higher added value, more innovation, and a stable contribution to GDP.

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Which digital advantages give Bulgaria competitiveness, and which areas still lag behind?

Our greatest strength lies in people — highly skilled professionals with both linguistic and technological expertise. Bulgaria is increasingly recognised for quality rather than low cost. We are a proven technology destination with a successful track record of more than 20 years. Our geographic location, along with numerous examples of successful international and Bulgarian companies, provides a strong foundation. Bulgaria’s Euro-Atlantic orientation, reinforced by its recent achievements — full membership in Schengen and entry into the Eurozone in 2026 — further strengthens this position.

Yet we face critical weaknesses: the talent shortage is deepened by demographic decline and by the fact that only 2% of adults take part in lifelong learning programmes, compared with an EU average of 11%. Investment in R&D stands at just 0.28% of GDP (vs. the EU average of 0.72%), while support for the private sector amounts to only 0.011% of GDP, compared with 0.204% across the EU. These gaps restrict our potential for innovation and technology transfer.

Has the surge in digitalisation been a short-term effect of the pandemic, or is it now a long-term priority?

The pandemic was a catalyst, but digitalisation has now become a structural priority. Operational revenues grew by 10.8% in 2023 — slower than the record 16.9% growth in 2022, yet still a double-digit increase. This highlights the sector’s resilience. Companies are shifting from efficiency-driven outsourcing to innovation-driven solutions. Digital transformation is no longer optional — it is essential for every industry.

Is local supply sufficient to meet the demand? Are services aimed more at domestic or international markets?

The majority of the sector’s capacity is still export-oriented, serving international clients. However, we are seeing growing domestic demand – particularly in banking, telecommunications and retail. This is a positive sign, as digitalising Bulgarian businesses and institutions creates internal momentum and accelerates economic transformation.

Is digitalisation still constrained by a shortage of talent, and which skills will be most important?

Yes, this remains the most serious challenge. The skills in greatest demand are artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud technologies and cyber security. At DIGITALL, for example, we invested more than EUR 1 million in 2024 into AI development and staff training. Other AIBEST members also operate internal academies and education partnerships. Yet without a national strategy and comprehensive education reform, the talent shortage will remain a systemic risk.

Which policy changes and investments are most critical to further Bulgaria’s digital growth?

Firstly, a predictable tax and regulatory environment. Secondly, investments in infrastructure – 5G, cloud services and green energy to secure the sector’s capacity. Thirdly, regional development. Currently, 70% of companies are concentrated in Sofia, while cities such as Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Ruse have talent and universities but lack targeted incentives for technological investment. With the right policies, we can establish regional hubs and broaden the industry beyond the capital.

ConclusionBulgaria has all the prerequisites to become a leader in Southeast Europe. Yet to remain firmly on the technological map, decisive steps are required – greater investment in education, incentives for R&D and a clear national vision. Digitalisation 4.0 is not simply a trend: it is an opportunity to build an economy with high added value and global recognition.

]]><![CDATA[Albania's Ikons expands its IT recruitment services to Hungary]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:12:16 GMThttp://www.europeanbusinessservices.com/news/albanias-ikons-expands-its-it-recruitment-services-to-hungaryAlbania-based IT talent, services, and solutions provider Ikons said it is expanding its European presence to Hungary.The Hungarian unit will offer specialised recruitment in IT, contractor and staffing solutions, and outsourcing, Ikons said last week (27 May 2026).

The company, which is mainly owned by Albanian energy-to-consultancy group Blessed Investment, is already present in 11 markets in Europe and the U.S., according to its website. In Southeast Europe, Ikons has offices in Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia.


]]><![CDATA[Romanian digital-automation group IT Genetics in next acquistion]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:08:04 GMThttp://www.europeanbusinessservices.com/news/romanian-digital-automation-group-it-genetics-in-next-acquistion
The recently listed tech group specializing in digital automation and operational efficiency solutions for businesses, IT Genetics (BVB: ITG), announced on Thursday, May 28, the full acquisition of Scale Expert, a Romanian company active in weighing solutions and systems dedicated to the retail, logistics, and distribution segments.
The transaction marks the first acquisition completed by IT Genetics following its listing on the AeRO market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The company aims to accelerate the development of its weighing solutions division and expand its presence in this segment both in Romania and across the international markets where the Group is already active. 

“Scale Expert brings solid expertise in a specialized segment, as well as a client portfolio that complements our commercial directions very well. We see significant potential for integrating these solutions into the projects developed by the Group for clients in retail, logistics, and industry, as well as opportunities for expansion into the international markets where IT Genetics is already present,” stated Liviu Sima, co-founder of IT Genetics.

Scale Expert has been operating on the Romanian market for more than 20 years and serves more than 4,000 clients. The team develops solutions and services dedicated to the weighing and commercial automation segment, addressing the needs of companies operating in retail, logistics, distribution, and other industries with complex operations.

“We are thrilled to become part of the IT Genetics ecosystem and contribute to the development of a company with a long-term vision. The complementary experience of the two companies and the expertise of our teams will enable the development of higher value-added projects for our clients,” stated Judit Dobrescu, General Manager of Scale Expert.
In 2025, Scale Expert generated revenues of approximately RON 8 million. Scale Expert will continue to operate under its current management team, according to the company press release.

]]><![CDATA[Tesco Technology expands in Krakow, will hire 500.]]>Thu, 28 May 2026 10:39:08 GMThttp://www.europeanbusinessservices.com/news/tesco-technology-rozwija-sie-w-krakowie-i-planuje-zwiekszyc-zatrudnienie-do-500-specjalistowTesco Technology, a part of the Tesco Group that creates technological solutions for international markets, is expanding in Krakow.

The company has moved to a new headquarters in the Unity Center complex, where it occupies five floors and announces an increase in employment to 500 specialists.

The strategic strengthening of the branch is also supported by the decision of the Tesco Group's Booker brand, which is building its engineering expertise in Krakow.

The Tesco Technology Krakow hub has been developing systematically since 2018. In recent years, the company has steadily increased its workforce, and currently 350 specialists are working here.

"Our growth in Krakow and plans to expand our team confirm the strategic role that Polish engineers play for Tesco. "The opening of the new office is a clear signal that we have long-term plans for Krakow, and the Tesco Group's leading position offers candidates what is most valuable today: stability and career development prospects," said Guus Dekker, CTO of Tesco Technology.

Tesco Technology in Krakow is also implementing projects utilizing AI solutions on a large scale. An example is the introduction of the clothing brand F&F to e-commerce. Using advanced algorithms to automatically describe and categorize products, engineers efficiently digitized thousands of items. This implementation significantly improved internal processes and generated £4.2 million in online sales. Such a large scale of operations in the dynamically growing retail tech sector means enormous career opportunities. For specialists, it offers the opportunity to work on solutions that impact the Tesco Group's operations and the everyday lives of consumers.

"Specialists at the Krakow center are implementing projects of critical importance, including logistics and customer service. One of these innovative areas is warehouse robotics. Engineers are creating control systems for robots that transport products between individual warehouse zones. These proprietary solutions enable process automation and a significant reduction in order completion time, which directly translates into operational efficiency for the entire network. At the same time, we are developing advanced AI-based solutions, which, for example, allow us to shorten the time it takes to introduce new products to online sales from several days to just a few seconds," adds Roland Płaszowski, Head of Software Development & Site Lead at the Tesco Technology hub in Krakow.

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