On June 4th, a sold-out event titled “Transformational Digitalization in the Business Sector” was held in the conference hall of the StartUp HUB, a center for business development, adult education, and vocational training. The event, organized jointly by the Keleti Károly Faculty of Business and Management at Óbuda University, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania (EMTE), and StartUp HUB, was attended by local higher education leaders, IT industry representatives, and regional entrepreneurs. The event featured several valuable presentations exploring the current challenges and opportunities of digitalization.
Digitalization challenges for local startups
Karácsony Zsolt, head of the entrepreneurship development department at StartUp HUB, spoke about the digitalization challenges faced by local startups. He emphasized the importance of proper data and information collection and processing, as well as the necessity of an online corporate presence. Karácsony highlighted the opportunities provided by artificial intelligence (AI) and the significance of developing the digital competencies. He pointed out the noticeable shortage of skilled professionals in the region and the inadequate preparedness of young entrepreneurs in the rapidly evolving technological environment, stressing the need for continuous awareness of the opportunities within digitalization.
Digital readiness and openness
Ágnes Csiszárik-Kocsir, PhD, doctor habilitatus, Associate Professor and Deputy Dean for Research at Óbuda University, and János Varga, PhD, reported on the digital openness and preparedness of Hungarian and Romanian enterprises. According to their research findings, 60% of companies effectively use IT tools, with an additional 16% planning to implement them. About 20% of businesses are open to new technologies in AI and robotics, although many are still in the early stages of understanding these concepts. The spread of online payment and customer management systems is increasing, and having a digitalization strategy is crucial for business success.
Digital opportunities and challenges in tourism in Székely Land
Kinga-Katalin Székely, PhD, lecturer at Sapientia EMTE, presented the digitalization opportunities and challenges for tourism businesses in Szeklerland. She emphasized that although there are more and more good examples and tourism platforms supporting the industry representatives, acquiring digital competencies is essential. Through education, awareness, and showcasing good examples, local tourism companies can make significant advancements.
Virtual marketplaces and digital development
Júlia Boróka Bíró, PhD and Eszter Bíborka Bíró, PhD, lecturers at Sapientia EMTE, held presentations about the expansion of virtual marketplaces, providing concrete examples of the digitalization of restaurants and flower shops in Szeklerland. They demonstrated how a small town can build a regional or international online platform based on the B2B2C business model.
The presentations were followed by a fruitful discussion between the speakers and the participants. The importance of enhancing digital education, increasing the number of professionals in the IT industry, addressing the challenge of emigrated IT specialists, and the role of governmental intent in shaping digitalization strategies were all raised.
Following the successful conclusion of the event, all participants left enriched with new knowledge and inspiration on how to advance along the path of digitalization, thereby strengthening the region’s economic potential.
