We recently had the privilege of participating in the 9th Annual Business Service Centers (BSC) conference, a dynamic gathering organized by AmCham. The event united over 200 professionals from the BSC community, offering a fantastic platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
Understanding BSCs:
But first, let's clarify what Business Service Centers are all about. In essence, BSCs encompass Shared Service Centers (SSCs), Centers of Excellence, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) providers operating in Slovakia. These centers play a pivotal role by handling specific tasks such as Finance and accounting, IT support, HR services, and more, which support the core activities of companies. BPO, on the other hand, involves outsourcing specific business processes to third-party service providers.
In the year 2023, AmCham Slovakia conducted a survey involving 39 business centers (comprising SSCs and BPOs) supporting the AmCham BSC Forum at that time. The data from this survey paints an intriguing picture of the business center industry in Slovakia.
Key Highlights:
Steady Growth: The surveyed sample of service centers employs nearly 38,000 professionals, with a growth rate of 0.93% since the previous year. Remarkably, 85% of member companies anticipate further headcount growth in the coming 12 months.
Skilled Workforce: The average age of employees is 36.16 years and has been steadily increasing since 2015. A significant two-thirds hold university degrees, reflecting a highly educated workforce.
Lean Management: Service centers maintain lean management structures, with only 9% of staff holding people management positions.
Diverse Workforce: BSCs predominantly employ Slovak citizens, with only 11% being foreigners, primarily from EU member states. Gender diversity is also noteworthy, with women comprising 50.47% of the workforce.
Regional Expansion: While most BSCs are clustered in Bratislava and Košice, there is a growing recognition of the advantages of regional hubs in various cities, including Nitra, Žilina, Prešov, and more.
Value-Add Services: A significant achievement is the maturity of BSCs in Slovakia, primarily providing value-added services for global or regional operations. Nearly 80% of all services fall within advanced Customer Operations, Financial Services, or IT Services.
Slovakia's Business Service Centers: A Growing Hub of Excellence
The business service industry in Slovakia boasts more than 65 centers and employs almost 38,000 professionals.
A notable highlight is the maturity of BSCs in Slovakia, primarily providing value-added services for global or regional operations. Remarkably, nearly 80% of all services encompass advanced Customer Operations, Financial Services, and IT Services.
61% of the BSC Forum members are considering or planning to centralize ESG reporting activities in the upcoming year, reflecting a proactive approach towards sustainability and governance.
A critical concern shared was the lack of skilled resources, with 95% of the companies indicating this challenge as pivotal to their strategic development. This underscores the need for talent acquisition and development in this sector.
As an international executive search firm, we're eager to bridge the talent gap and support this booming industry. We're excited to collaborate with candidates and partners enthusiastic about BSC excellence.
Stay tuned for further insights, updates, and opportunities about Business Service Centers topics. Follow us on LinkedIn or Subscribe to our newsletter to receive industry trends, exclusive insights, and expert advice directly.
To access further details about the conference, please visit here.