A jövő mérnöki munkája a cseh biztosítási IT területén

European Business: Mr. Hudec, as part of VIG, AIS Servis closely cooperates with the Czech insurers Kooperativa and ČPP. What role does your company play in day-to-day operations? 

Tomáš Hudec: Our primary mission is to provide software solutions for these insurers. Our main product is Golem, which functions as their core business system. Organizationally, we function through five divisions, each targeting a specific business area. One division develops software to support insurance sales and account management – essentially creating a CRM-like environment. Another division focuses on aiding the development of life insurance products, critical for Kooperativa. A third division offers solutions for managing claims. These specialist teams are supported by two cross-functional shared-service units: one focuses on testing and quality assurance, and another on R&D and platform development. Collectively, these teams enable us to support the insurers' complete operational lifecycle. 

European Business: What is the biggest project AIS Servis is currently working on? 

Tomáš Hudec: We are currently focusing on developing Neuron, a new core business platform intended to be the next-generation successor to Golem within a few years. Already, three releases are operational. Given its magnitude, Neuron could be one of the largest ongoing software projects in the Central European insurance sector. We anticipate that the development will need three to four more years. The challenges are formidable – not only technological but also organizational and in delivery. This new platform will be significantly more adaptable and ready for cloud integration. It will utilize agile microservices to facilitate smoother operations and quicker adjustments. At the same time, its integration is highly complex. One of our greatest challenges remains that business needs and technological opportunities are rapidly evolving. Our clients cannot afford to wait several years for a system to be completed. Hence, while developing Neuron, we must also continue improving and enhancing Golem – although we plan its eventual retirement. At times, this dual effort may seem almost schizophrenic operationally, but it is crucial for maintaining smooth business operations. 

European Business: In this context, how transformative is artificial intelligence for AIS Servis? 

Tomáš Hudec: It is absolutely clear for us: without the intelligent application of AI, we cannot remain leaders in our industry – even with a modern core platform. In particular, my colleague Petr Cacka has shown visionary leadership in this area. We are fortunate to have a highly skilled and motivated R&D team that is already incorporating advanced AI capabilities into both our products and our internal processes. In the near future, agent-based systems will play a significantly larger role both for our clients and in our operations – particularly in testing and DevOps support. As a result, the profile of software engineers will evolve. An in-depth understanding of system design and architectural patterns will become increasingly important, while the translation of business requirements into Java or other programming languages will more frequently be handled by AI. This change will substantially speed up the creation of new features and enhancements, while also making our developers much more productive. 

European Business: Companies throughout the industry are pressured to increase their agility. How is AIS Servis addressing this challenge? 

Tomáš Hudec: For us, agility extends beyond transitioning from traditional waterfall methodologies to sprint-based development. It also includes enhancing our cooperation with teams at Kooperativa and ČPP and ensuring transparency in all processes. AIS Servis has demonstrated our ability to respond swiftly whenever and wherever our clients need us. As the rate of change accelerates, maintaining such responsiveness becomes essential. Meanwhile, agility does not imply the abandonment of structure. Stable rules remain critical for maintaining efficient operations. Without them, operations would quickly descend into chaos. 

European Business: You joined AIS Servis nearly three years ago after almost two decades in the banking and insurance sectors. What drove you to accept this position? 

Tomáš Hudec: A significant portion of my career has been at the confluence of IT architecture and the financial services and insurance industries. After many years in technical and executive positions, I believed my experience could offer a valuable perspective to AIS Servis. What truly inspires me is our team. Every day, our people are on the cutting edge of technology, and working with them is motivating. We also benefit from a supervisory board that makes strategic decisions with remarkable foresight. Together, we are enthusiastic about playing a significant role in shaping the future of the Czech insurance industry.