PwC Central and Eastern Europe

The EU AI Act should not only be about compliance—albeit there are strict regulations and fines for breaches—as it offers tremendous opportunity for innovation. The legislation’s purpose is to ensure AI systems in the EU are safe, transparent, traceable, non-discriminatory and environmentally friendly. The Act also states that AI should be overseen by people rather than by automation—and aims to boost consumer trust and smarter, scalable innovations. At PwC CEE, our interdisciplinary risk and legal teams help organisations responsibly leverage the benefits of the AI across every part of their business, including: ▪️responsible AI strategies ▪️comprehensive governance frameworks ▪️workforce transformation ▪️scaling tax efficiencies. We can provide the tools to demystify AI and help your organisation turn compliance into a competitive advantage. Find out more about how you can use the EU AI Act to responsibly make AI an intrinsic part of your business.  https://lnkd.in/ddsj8Qi3 #FutureofCEE #EUAIact #AI #Transformation #Innovation Anda Rojanschi, Piotr Urban, Tomas Fiala, Marcin Makusak, Agnieszka Gajewska, Marcin Sidelnik, Aleksandra Bańkowska, Gabor Balazs, Patrik Meliš-Čuga, Elina Aleksieienko, Petr Kincl, Janno Hermanson, Antal Kerekes, Zoltan Varszegi, Mircea Bozga, Štefan Čupil, Michal Palisin, Mateusz Szajdak, Snezhana Ilieva, Angel Bangachev

Despite its growth, the consumer markets industry is lagging behind other industries in cloud adoption in EMEA. This is, however, expected to change in the near future as 72% aim to have all their operations in the cloud within two years. Planning to move to the cloud, consumer markets companies expect to enhance customer experiences, improve ESG management and boost productivity. Read the article to discover why these organisations lag in cloud adoption and how to close this gap by focusing on four key areas: https://lnkd.in/d4tf3RtW #Cloud #DigitalTransformation #ConsumerMarkets #Retail Mariusz Chudy, Christian Wulff, Stefano Spiniello, Marcus Messerschmidt, Sebastian Paas ☁ Mieczyslaw Gonta, Olena Volkova, Ruxandra Tarlescu, Anita Mekler, David Dobrovolný

To limit global warming to 1.5°C, we must now decarbonise at a rate 20 times faster. The recent Net Zero Economy Index has revealed that decarbonisation stalls and fossil fuels still dominate the energy mix. Although renewable energy capacity is growing, its pace should be accelerated. What can the private and public sectors do to help? 🔸Businesses can lead by implementing energy-efficient technologies, adopting circular business models and embracing advanced manufacturing processes. 🔸Governments can align public policy with private sector innovation to support a secure and sustainable energy future. Learn more about the actions to turn climate ambition into action and explore the full datasets for different countries here: https://pwc.to/4esbTIE #NetZero #Sustainability #Decarbonisation

CEOs shouldn’t overlook a powerful driver of reinvention—tax teams can lend critical momentum to business transformation. “By collaborating closely with the legal team, an empowered tax function can help drive value, manage risks and align business strategies with tax policies, potentially boosting profitability.” Jan Waclawek, PwC CEE Tax, Legal and People Leader Here are five key areas where the C-Suite can turn tax strategy into a growth engine: 🔸New regulations—anticipating regulatory changes eases compliance and can reveal new revenue opportunities. 🔸Operating model planning—addressing tax implications in real-time to maximise value and maintain momentum. 🔸Tax asset planning—optimising capital gains, credits, losses and legal entity structuring to support overall business transformation. 🔸Credits and incentives—considering tax benefits and incentives to reduce a company’s tax liability and operating cost, freeing up funding for reinvention. 🔸Indirect taxes—being alert to the landscape of value-added taxes, import tariffs, free trade agreements and other forms of indirect tax to maximise value and resources. Learn more here: https://pwc.to/4f07yx9 #Transformation #Tax #Strategy

What is our main conclusion after interviews with urban mobility stakeholders across 25 CEE cities from Baku to Prague? Cross-sectoral collaboration is key for smarter urban mobility—and there’s a strong appetite for it across the region. From transport operators to academic institutions and NGOs, diverse partnerships are already making a significant impact. Explore numerous case studies in the CEE Smart Cities Mobility Index and learn how your city can benefit from smart mobility partnerships: https://lnkd.in/dTqwDdSq #SmartMobility #Sustainability #FutureofCEE Jens Hörning, Piotr Michalczyk, Albena Markova, Jason Wardell, Jeffery McMillan, Ivo Cupak, Iveta Maliskova, Tony McLaughlin, Marta Laskowska, Tomasz Maj, Tessa McIver, Jan Brazda, CFA

Did you know that almost half (47%) of CEE workers have already used generative AI tools for work? According to our Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey, GenAI adoption in the region remains at early stages. CEE employees, however, recognise the potential of technology to boost performance. CEE workers who use GenAI believe it will enhance efficiencies and upskilling but also recognise risks of bias, misinformation and potentially negative impacts on the nature of their work. Learn more about how employers can support their workers in harnessing this technology for their business: https://lnkd.in/dJ3-He8f #workforce #FutureofCEE #GenAI #skills #transformation Oana Munteanu, Małgorzata Fiedorczuk, Katarzyna Komorowska (Tomalak), Márta Reguly, Andrea Palanova, Zhivka Petkova, Ph.D., Irēna Arbidāne, Nerijus Nedzinskas, Elena Kaeva, Dagmar Haklova, Rena Hajiyeva

As institutions rely more and more on AI-driven models, effective risk management has become essential. But what exactly is model risk—and how can businesses navigate the challenges ahead? Explore this article to learn more about: 🔸The fundamentals of model risk and its impact on businesses 🔸Emerging trends shaping the model risk management (MRM) landscape 🔸Practical strategies for financial institutions to navigate these challenges 🔸How PwC's Risk and Regulatory Managed Services can help. It is a brief guide for business leaders to explore currently evolving practices in MRM. Learn more about robust model risk management practices and read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dnxN6B9h #RiskManagement #EUAIact #AI Łukasz Żochowski, Ewa B., Dominik Cuber, Damian Kalinowski, Anda Rojanschi, Jakub Borowiec, Marcin Sidelnik, Mariusz Chudy, Barbera Kiefte, Xenofon Eleftheriadis, Elina Aleksieienko

The Innovation Fund, one of the world's largest funding programmes for net-zero technologies, is launching a new call. Whether you’re planning to submit a project application or simply want to understand this funding mechanism better, our upcoming webinar can help gain useful insights. During the webinar we will help you: ▪ Understand the key requirements to qualify for funding ▪ Get the latest updates on the 2024 call ▪ Have your questions answered by our seasoned professionals ▪ Learn more about practical tips on how to develop a compelling application Date: 11 December 2024 Time: 10:00 am CET Register for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/d8YkGxV2 #InnovationFund #NetZero #Sustainability #Funding Zuzana Palkechová, Nataša Mihoci, Anastasios I. Karameros, Theodoros Andriopoulos

Yesterday was International Volunteer Day and we are proud of how our PwC colleagues across the CEE region are making a difference by volunteering both their time and skills. Here are just a few examples of their recent activities: 🔸This school year PwC Armenia launched financial literacy classes for students in rural areas to provide them exposure to professional environments and career paths. 🔸PwC Bosnia and Herzegovina employees volunteered with the non-profit humanitarian organisation Pomozi. ba in the flooded area of Jablanica, sorting clothes and distributing water to aid those in need. 🔸In PwC North Macedonia, volunteers continued their tradition of cooking and donating pastries to the most vulnerable members of the community to foster teamwork and to make a meaningful impact and spread kindness. 🔸PwC Service Delivery Center in Poland furthered their long-term work with a Katowice care home. Employees engaged in creative and outdoor activities as well as simply spending quality time with older people. 🔸Our colleagues from PwC Slovakia supported Bratislava Zoo in their restoration and clean-up after September's floods. These acts of service, alongside more than 860,000 hours contributed by over 54,000 PwC people globally in FY24, are part of our commitment to building trust and solving important problems in our communities. #InternationalVolunteerDay #volunteering #community #FutureofCEE

The year 2025 marks a turning point for AI in business. Early adopters will pull ahead and AI will become increasingly crucial for everything from sustainability to product development. What should businesses expect from AI in 2025? 1️⃣ Strategic AI will be key Simply using AI isn’t enough. Companies need a focused strategy to fully benefit and outperform competitors. 2️⃣ AI agents will transform the workforce Digital workers (AI agents) will augment human teams by automating tasks and improving efficiency, and will require new management strategies. 3️⃣ Responsible AI will drive ROI As AI scales, ethical and transparent use, independent validation and comprehensive risk assessment will be vital for trust and sustainable success. 4️⃣ AI will be a value play for sustainability AI’s energy needs are high, but its strategic deployment will drive sustainability initiatives, optimise resource use and streamline compliance reporting. 5️⃣ AI will revolutionise product development AI-powered design, prototyping and testing will cut product development lifecycles in half, requiring upskilling and new talent acquisition strategies. This will also cut R&D time and costs drastically and lead to faster innovation cycles. 6️⃣ AI will reshape industry landscapes The impact of AI will vary across industries, with early adopters gaining a competitive edge. Read the full report and discover AI business predictions in more detail how to prepare to changes: https://lnkd.in/dtrpBPR #AI #Transformation #Innovation Anda Rojanschi, Jakub Borowiec, Marcin Sidelnik, Mariusz Chudy, Elina Aleksieienko, Mariusz Spiewak, Agnieszka Gajewska