The annual Comarch User Group event this year saw participants from 40 countries converge at the company’s campus in Krakow’s Czyżyny district. This gathering of the company’s partners has become a well-established tradition.
One organizer humorously remarked, “We only lack people from Antarctica,” when discussing the diverse representation from various continents.
Dr. Anna Pruska, CEO of Comarch, welcomed attendees in several languages during her opening speech, though she acknowledged it was impossible to use all the languages spoken by the guests in such a short address.
“Throughout this year, we will continue to strengthen our position in overseas markets and develop key solutions,” she declared. “My goal is to further shape Comarch’s market role as a global IT solutions provider and ensure that we remain the IT partner of choice in 2024 and beyond.”
She further encouraged the participants to engage in meaningful discussions in one of the most picturesque cities in Poland, stating, “Let’s celebrate the past and develop the future together.”
This speech kicked off two days filled with lectures, presentations, and compelling case studies from the industry. The conference addressed issues frequently covered by the media and discussed in everyday conversations, which are also focal points for the IT industry. While IT is often associated with coding, it fundamentally aims to solve user problems across all areas of life, including shopping, travel, banking applications, and healthcare. Presentations also explored topics like demographics, the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI), and Generation Z.
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The Comarch User Group event offers more than just networking and expert discussions; it provides guests with a chance to experience different facets of Kraków. On the first day, participants explored the industrial, yet green, Czyżyny district, home to Comarch’s headquarters. The campus tour included a visit to the company’s Innovation Space.
The second day’s events took place at Kraków’s historic center, with events held at notable venues like Pałac Pod Baranami (Palace Under the Rams), the International Cultural Center, and Grand Hotel Kraków.
The core value of the Comarch User Group lies in its pragmatism and the opportunity it offers to gain a global perspective on markets for loyalty systems, telecommunications, and finance. Attendees benefit from insights into how the latest technologies are used to meet real customer needs, contributing to the event’s strong attendance.
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Telecommunications: Embracing New-Era Technologies
The session on telecommunications kicked off with a speech by Marcin Kaleta, Vice President of Comarch. He outlined the current structure of the sector and discussed future development plans, with a particular focus on expanding business in foreign markets. These markets were well-represented at the Kraków event by Comarch customers and partners.
“The Era of New Technologies” was the topic of a speech presented by Toni Eid, Founder of one of the most well-known industry media platforms, Telecom Review, which covers North America, Asia Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
“5G technology has ushered in a new era of connectivity, bringing many real-world use cases that go far beyond faster download speeds. From the widespread deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices to the evolution of smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and advanced healthcare solutions, 5G is not only about speed but also about revolutionizing the way people live and work,” Eid notably explained.
A key presentation focused on the 16-year collaboration between Comarch and KPN. Edwin Beverdam, Domain Director Service and Billing at KPN, discussed the partnership’s origins in 2007 and highlighted Comarch’s strengths in the Dutch market. The cooperation, based on KPN defining goals and Comarch developing solutions, has evolved into a trusted, mutualistic partnership. This long-term relationship recently transitioned from a managed services contract to a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model.
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Successful Symbiotic Partnerships Highlighted
Rosen Tishevishki, Senior Engineer and Project Manager at Sunrise—part of the Liberty Global group—discussed their successful partnership with Comarch. Sunrise sought an IoT connectivity management solution and chose Comarch, resulting in a relationship that has since inspired and benefitted both parties. Tishevishki demonstrated the rapid evolution of their solution from 2020 to the present, showcasing how customer needs and market demands have changed. He highlighted the significant increase in analytics, now a dominant feature, and outlined future plans to introduce more artificial intelligence, enhance analytics, and adopt a standardized eSIM for IoT services using a network-as-a-service (NaaS) model.
Dr. Andrew Cwik, CTO of 450Connect, introduced a new type of telecommunications enterprise in his speech. 450Connect, a German company with four shareholders, aims to create networks with high availability and business continuity. Unlike traditional providers, 450Connect offers a limited number of services with low complexity, focusing on safety networks for emergency use. These networks serve priority state institutions and critical security providers like police departments, fire departments, the military, and utility suppliers. Dr. Cwik highlighted the need for partnerships with software providers that offer high efficiency, stability, and resilience, emphasizing Comarch’s four key advantages in this area:
- Experience in providing telecommunications network management software
- Simplicity, completeness, and complementarity of the offer with a clearly defined structure
- Uniform sourcing of solutions directly from the software vendor, and Comarch employees’ excellent competence and many years of experience
Furthermore, representatives from DTAG, KDDI, and PG&E shared their experiences collaborating with Comarch.
At the end of the session, Tymoteusz Wrona, Director of Comarch’s Telecommunications Consulting Department, discussed the industry’s evolution from telecommunications to technology-centric solutions. He highlighted that the focus extends beyond basic connectivity to developing products that integrate proprietary and partner solutions, along with advanced AI technologies such as machine learning (ML) and GenAI. Key advancements include shifting from closed telecom protocols to standardized IP standards and leveraging cloud-based virtualization for enhanced integration with solutions from sub-suppliers, partners, and competitors.
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