It was not a lost year – the BSS sector in Bydgoszcz is still on the path of dynamic growth
How did the time of the pandemic affect the implementation of investment projects on the Bydgoszcz BSS market? What attracts new investments from the BPO/SSC sector to Bydgoszcz and what support from the City can the investor count on? We are discussing these and other topics in an interview with Edyta Wiwatowska – the President of the Management Board of the Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency (BARR).
FOCUS ON Business: We are approaching the end of another year marked by the pandemic, the economic effects of the “corona crisis” and further changes in the field of business organisation. What was that time like from the perspective of BARR operations on the BPO/SSC market in Bydgoszcz?
Edyta Wiwatowska, Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency: Efficient introduction of changes, new work organisation, or providing online services has become everyday reality. These trends, accompanying us for the second year in a row, also included the activities of the Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency. Despite the pandemic, we have actively supported investors and local entrepreneurship, and promoted the economic potential of Bydgoszcz and the region. Since last spring, almost all BARR activity in the field of communication with investors and economic promotion of Bydgoszcz has been moved to virtual space. Despite the difficulties related to epidemic restrictions, representatives of our agency were the initiators or participants of many industry videoconferences and chats with investors. We have fully used these communication opportunities to promote the investment potential of Bydgoszcz among managers of Polish and foreign corporations. We have also participated in numerous online meetings and discussion panels, and from September this year, already face-to-face, we have been sharing insights and experiences from the Bydgoszcz real estate market and modern business services.
We also hosted another online meeting as part of “Bydgoszcz BPO/SSC RoundTable”, attended by local technology, financial and customer service companies. The partner of the event was Baker McKenzie law firm, whose representative discussed key issues regarding the currently developed legal solutions in the field of remote work. The participants of the meeting had the opportunity to consult issues important for their operations and share news on the development of the Bydgoszcz market of modern business services. These are valuable, substantive talks, which is why we plan to continue these type of meetings in the future. Entrepreneurs and those planning to start a business could use the online support offer, including free webinars, video-consultations, or the possibility of posting job offers on our website as part of the #JestPraca campaign. Remote service for investors has been improved by the use of a modern, online database of investment offers from Bydgoszcz and the entire Bydgoszcz Metropolis association, available at www.invest.barr.pl.
The BPO/SSC sector in Bydgoszcz continues to grow intensively, and the City offers friendly conditions, such as modern office infrastructure, competent human resources and good work-life balance. Which new investors have shown interest in the City’s offer recently?
For ten years, our City has been successively building its position as one of the leading locations for the business services sector. This year, Bydgoszcz, once again, was among the most dynamically developing cities in Poland, according to the European Business Services Association. The presence of our City on the so-called short list of nominees in the CEE Business Services Awards 2021 competition, in the Most “Dynamically Developing” City – Poland category, emphasizes the importance of Bydgoszcz for building the modern business services sector in Poland. The constant development of existing investors in combination with successful new entries allows Bydgoszcz to compete boldly for even the most advanced projects, and our specialisation in the IT industry confirms the reliability of this location and allows for further expansion of the sector, despite the pandemic.
The Bydgoszcz offer attracted, among others, a new investor from the IT industry – BORG5. The company deals with the design, implementation and migration of telecommunications networks essential for rail safety, mainly on the British market. In recent months it has located its competence centre in one of the most modern office buildings in Bydgoszcz, Immobile K3, located in the very centre of the City. The Bydgoszcz location was chosen, among others, because of the availability of highly qualified staff, as well as a highly developed telecommunications sector, and the technical profile of the local universities.
In addition to the IT specialisation dominating in the BPO/SSC sector in Bydgoszcz, F&A services are developingmore and more dynamically in the City, which is additionally supported by the fact that the largest numer of students and graduates in Bydgoszcz can be attributed to finance andaccounting. This is confirmed by, among others, the latest investment of the Ciech Group. The investor decided to centralise the support functions within the newCiech Services company, which will act as a shared services centre and provide selected services from Bydgoszcz, such as accounting and financial services. This is another company of the Ciech Group, whose office is located in the City– the first was Ciech Pianki, which is one of the leading domestic producers of PUR polyurethane foams and high-class FFP2 and FFP3 protective masks. At the beginning of June 2021, Ciech Services opened its office in the Arkada Business Park building. It is a technologically advanced office building that meets the highest market standards, where data security, user comfort, and ecology are the most important aspects, and a perfect location in the centre is a great convenience for the employees.
Chillispaces.com – one of the leaders in flex office spaces in Poland – has decided to invest in Bydgoszcz as well. This year, the operator has made flexible offices available in a designer space of 1,500 sq m, located in the new Preludium office building, in the city centre. The company chose Bydgoszcz due to its high business potential and low market saturation with serviced offices, seeing here also a further perspective forexpanding its business. The offer from Chillispaces.com is a significant enrichment to the office offer in Bydgoszcz. We are glad that it was in our City and in our offices that Chillispaces.com saw the potential to develop its operations in Poland. The solutions that bring the creation of a modern, comfortable and attractive flex office space in the city centre provide an excellent alternative when choosing a place of business for both new investors considering this location, as well as entrepreneurs already present in our City or start-ups.
In addition, during the pandemic, when the world has adapted to changes and has dynamically moved towards new forms of communication and remote or hybrid work, Bydgoszcz is increasingly attracting companies traditionally concentrated in the largest agglomerations. The idea of “work from anywhere” is now being adapted by the City to the concept of „work from Bydgoszcz”, offering corporations resources of a highly quali- fied and motivated pool of Bydgoszcz talents. This also influences the dynamics of the growth of Bydgoszcz. Our City aims to become even more recognisable among corporations that do not have their branches here. Many of our residents continuously provide services to focal points in larger cities, thereby building confidence in local opportunities. We hope that in the long run it will bring benefits in the form of further branches of companies from Poland and abroad opened in Bydgoszcz.
The strongest side of the Bydgoszcz sector of modern business services is definitely the IT industry. What is the prospect of its further development in the City?
The prospect of further development of the IT industry in Bydgoszcz is currently related to, among others, the dynamic growth of the e-commerce market, development of 5G technology, cloud tools, industry 4.0, smart city solutions, automation, or the possibility of cooperation with various sectors and industries. The newest solutions provided by IT companies present in the City are eagerly used, for example, by the strong manufacturing sector which has a rich tradition here. Such sustainable development, based on the synergy of competences, is often the reason why international entities decide to conduct key business operations in Bydgoszcz.
Companies located in Bydgoszcz develop their activities based on innovative technologies, invest in the development of their R&D departments, develop innovative solutions, and offer attractive jobs in the implementation of global projects. Such activities include, for example, advanced work on 5G network solutions carried out by the Nokia Technology Center in Bydgoszcz, the development of an autonomous traffic system by the Bydgoszcz branch of GlobalLogic or electric vehicle charging stations manufactured by Kolejowe Zakłady Łączności. More and more companies from the IT industry, including those of domestic origin, win international awards for the highest level of products and services provided. Atos has been also intensively developing its activity in Bydgoszcz for years. It has become the largest entity from the BSS sector on the local market, and in 2019 it moved its headquarters here. Specialists from Bydgoszcz carry out strategic projects for global clients and participate in work on such prestigious projects as, for example, IT services for the Olympic Games or the office of the Prime Minister of Belgium. The company is dynamically developing research and development activities. Atos Poland R&D, established last year, received in September this year the official status of the Research and Development Centre from the Ministry of Development and Technology.
The IT industry in Bydgoszcz currently has seen many interesting, challenging and international projects, and recent years have been the time of intensive growth and building a local specialisation proved by international successes. This is our specialty in Bydgoszcz, which is undoubtedly a unique element of the City’s investment offer and has great potential for further growth. It is also a magnet for qualified specialists from various IT areas, who can successfully develop their careers here, and at the same time – using the friendly space to live and the advantages of a city with a „boutique” atmosphere – in the spirit of work-life balance realise their passions and aspirations.
Thank you for interview.
