ABSL 2025: How Czech business services are shaping the future of work and resilience

As geopolitical tensions rise and technology reshapes the global business landscape, the definition of security has evolved. Cyberattacks, disinformation, and supply-chain disruptions no longer target only governments; they now challenge the stability of companies worldwide.

To stay competitive, both public and private sectors have had to rethink how they operate and prepare for risk. In Europe—and particularly in Czechia—this has made resilience a defining skill. 

“In the current uncertain environment, the business services sector plays a vital role in helping companies maintain resilience, agility, and sustainable growth,” says Jonathan Appleton, founder and managing director of Czechia’s Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL). With more than 200,000 professionals across over 500 centers serving global corporations, the sector contributes about 10 percent to Czech GDP and continues to attract investment, talent, and innovation to Czech cities. 

That momentum will take center stage at the ABSL Annual Conference 2025, held Nov. 4–5 in Brno, which will bring together Czech and international experts to explore how business services can harness AI, innovation, and security to strengthen resilience across industries.

For international professionals, Czechia offers something rare: the opportunity to work at the crossroads of global innovation and European stability. Business services roles are not routine back-office jobs; they are strategic positions shaping how companies respond to new realities in AI, sustainability, and digital governance.

Technology sits at the center of this transformation. Czech-based service centers lead global clients in automation, data analytics, and the responsible adoption of AI. “Using our Infosys Topaz platform, we’ve helped major banks and manufacturers automate thousands of processes and cut analytics costs while improving accuracy,” says Jan Skoták, head of Infosys in Czechia. “It’s a clear example of how Czech teams deliver high-value innovation for global businesses.”

Cybersecurity remains a parallel priority. Michal Wojnar, director of Cyber Security at PwC, notes that “deepfake-related risks demand more than securing technology” and that “companies should secure their payment and communication channels, while training employees to spot and report suspicious content.”

“We believe AI can bring great value to the organisation as long as principles for responsible AI are followed,” says Roman Pavloušek, general manager of Atlas Copco’s Finance Service Center. With the EU’s new AI law taking effect earlier this year, he highlights key priorities: “Transparency in decision-making, human oversight for critical applications, data privacy and security as non-negotiable pillars.” At Atlas Copco’s Brno hub, these principles guide AI projects that enhance forecasting, coding accuracy, and expense audits, while empowering employees to create and test their own tools.

Czechia’s business services workforce has proven to be adaptable, forward-thinking, and essential to global business continuity—a foundation that the ABSL Annual Conference 2025 will showcase in full.

Once an industrial city, Brno now stands out as a center of innovation and global collaboration. As the second-largest hub for business Services centers in the Czech Republic, it has the highest density of people employed in the sector, with a large number of expats living and working in diverse, English-speaking environments that offer strong career pathways and a balanced lifestyle. 

Its Vlněna innovation district brings together some of Czechia’s most advanced technology and service operations, where international teams drive progress in AI, automation, cybersecurity, and process excellence—all while benefiting from life in one of Europe’s most secure and affordable countries.

This spirit of innovation will be on full display at the upcoming ABSL Annual Conference, and is one of the reasons the city was chosen to host this year’s event. Under the theme Next Horizons: Connecting Czech & Global Business, the conference will gather more than 450 leaders and 100 expert speakers to discuss digital transformation, ESG strategies, reskilling, and the evolution of the workplace. 

A special Start-up Spotlight will showcase new ventures in AI, cybersecurity, and automation, bringing innovation to life on the conference floor. Participants can also join guided site visits to Brno’s innovation ecosystem and see how global business services connect technology with human talent.

Appleton adds that the sector’s role will continue to expand. “Over the next three to five years, we expect Czech business services centers to lead even more strongly in data analytics, automation, AI adoption, and cybersecurity—all essential for companies to stay competitive in a complex global landscape.”

As the voice of Czechia’s business services sector, ABSL continues to lead a stable industry, constantly growing, and essential to global progress. The Brno conference will highlight how companies, and the people who power them, can build resilience, protect their operations, and innovate in a world defined by uncertainty.