As leading Global Business Services (GBS) organisations set their strategies for 2025 and beyond, developing advanced capabilities in new spaces has become a top priority - and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are emerging as an additional mechanism to enable this journey. But are these centres merely a rebranding of GBS, or are they truly game-changers in the way organisations build and scale capabilities? Join this panel discussion to hear from GCC leaders as they share their strategies and insights:
· What truly distinguishes Global Capability Centres from GBS models - and what are the advantages?
· How do you determine if the GCC model aligns with your business goals?
· How to best leverage GCCs to build deep, transformative capabilities across functions
· Why might Global Capability Centres be your key to unlocking value from digital transformation?
· How do you sell this concept within your GBS organisation and to stakeholders across your business?
The structure and responsibilities of GPO models are set up differently in different organisations to meet their business goals and maturity levels. Over the years there have been many debates around if there’s a perfect model, which eventually boils down to what a GPO should own and how GPOs and operations teams come together to drive maximum business value. Join this GPO debate where we invite GPO leaders with different models to share the advantages and the challenges with each set up.
· Pro: Sharing the benefits and business cases where GPOs have operational responsibilities
· Con: Why should we have clear roles, responsibilities and ownership between GPOs and operations?
· How can GPOs and Operations team work together in each scenario to drive maximum business value?
SSON R&A studies report that more than 51% of GBS-enabled organisations are looking at location changes and additions. With the ongoing geopolitical tension in different parts of the globe and facing an uncertain economic outlook, location again becomes a contentious area for discussion. In addition to looking at optimising delivery models, risk exposure is becoming an increasingly important factor. This session will look to share the leaders view on the following:
· How are organisations reshaping their location strategy with their delivery models? Should companies centralise operations in a single location, establish a hub-and-spoke model, or decentralise globally?
· How well are we doing in balancing proximity, talent pool and cost effectiveness with a cohesive onshore, offshore and nearshore strategy? Sharing stories and models that have worked well for us
· How are we mitigating delivery exposure taking into consideration the rising geopolitical risks
Justine's on-stage interview will cover plenty of inspiring topics including the mental and physical demands of delivering 5-years of back-to-back Grand Slams as well as the decision to retire, not when her form was dipping, but at the top of the global women's game.
GBS was formed in 2019 as part of Rolls-Royce’s business restructure with primary objectives to drive cost, simplification and standardisation. Since then, GBS has seen successful in driving down global costs but still remains significantly under-leveraged. This case study will outline their reset strategy to address gaps, review activities and grow new services to ensure GBS achieves its full potential in delivering business value.
· Outlining the GBS journey and the business driver for a GBS reset
· What does the clean sheet strategy look like for Rolls-Royce GBS reset?
· What are the key lessons we have learned so far?
After consolidating from ten locations to two and expanding to eight core functions, more than doubling the workforce at the same time, it is time now for Kerry GBS to step into the next phase of their global transformation. Focused on delivering tangible benefits through data and digital transformation, join this session to hear from Vanessa on the following key areas:
· Sharing the Kerry Group GBS transformation journey focusing on moving up the value chain in value creation
· Developing distinctive approaches to employee development as a critical component in driving rapid and profound transformation
· Driving employee experiences and customer experiences by simplifying processes and making things easier
· Outlining the business impact on both top and bottom-line performances
· What’s next? Building towards our digitalisation roadmap
This case study will share Mundipharma’s transformative journey moving away from their onshore captive model towards a BPO model. This transformation has not only delivered efficiency and agility but also shifted perceptions, driving a more profound business and operating model change. Join us for key learnings from this journey, including:
· Redefining the future operating model and enabling new ways of thinking through shared services transformation. How did we drive this at Mundipharma?
· Sharing the innovative “Lift and Align” transition approach to drastically reduce transition cycles
· Building a template of process and ensuring alignment with a robust governance framework
· Exploring innovation to develop and improve the ways of working around the engagement and interaction model
· What are the key lessons from working with BPO providers
· Leveraging FSSC as a launchpad to extend new ways of working to the wider business
Managing productivity and performance management methods in practical and measurable ways sets a solid foundation for GBS and shared services organisations. This session will dive deep into the key methods and metrics DHL Global Forwarding are using to manage and govern performance, how they are engaging with their stakeholders and the proven tools they are utilising to manage capacity and productivity.
· Managing and measuring capacity and productivity with an outcome focus
· Sharing Insights into the specific tools and techniques that are helping to drive productivity and performance
· Finding a fine balance on key metrics around Service Request/FTE, Turn Around Time & Accuracy
· Sharing real-world examples of successful performance management strategies in GBS, highlighting lessons learned and best practices
Workforce dynamics are shifting faster than ever, with talent shortages, rising turnover, and evolving skill requirements putting pressure on GBS organisations. Companies are challenged to meet employee expectations, adapt to hybrid and remote work models, and accelerate digital capabilities. This panel discussion brings together experts to share practical strategies for addressing these issues, focusing on building resilient talent pipelines, driving career growth, and creating compelling employee experiences that improve retention and future readiness.
· Minimise attrition by fostering career growth opportunities and deeper employee engagement
· Build tomorrow’s workforce by aligning upskilling with evolving business priorities
· Improve retention through stronger leadership development and mentorship programs
· Attract high-performing talent with a sharper employer brand and differentiated value proposition
The playbook for GBS delivery locations is being rewritten. Rising costs, shrinking talent pools, and geopolitical volatility are pushing leaders to question long-held assumptions about where services should sit. Offshoring may still deliver savings, but for how much longer with the emergence of Agentic AI? Nearshore hubs, hybrid networks, and managed service partnerships are emerging as powerful alternatives for organisations seeking agility and resilience. Join this interactive discussion to share the latest thinking on location strategies to stay competitive in a turbulent global environment.
· Optimise costs by evaluating the real trade-offs between offshore, nearshore, and hybrid approaches
· Strengthen resilience through distributed delivery models that mitigate regional and geopolitical risks
· Unlock high-value talent pools by leveraging nearshore hubs with strong digital and innovation capabilities
At its core, HR focuses on the employee journey and experience. So, how do we maintain the focus on people when implementing AI? This session will explore how to leverage AI tools to enhance talent acquisition and improve employee retention, while emphasising the critical need for human interaction. The session will also delve into insights gained from recent research on the interplay between innovative technologies and employee engagement, highlighting the importance of addressing the psychological impacts of automation.
· Find the right balance between efficiency and empathy in the constantly changing landscape of HR to ensure that the employee experience is always met
· Improve employee retention rates by implementing practices that prioritise human connection, even in automated workflows
· Create a culture of continuous improvement by applying tools that encourage open communication between employees and management
AI, globalisation, regulatory changes, data security and privacy, changing working patterns; all are contributing to the latest payroll transformation. The big question, though, is how can you prepare for the future of your payroll operations? This session will explore the latest payroll transformation, the importance of accurate data and what the next 3 - 5 years will look like for payroll at Boston Scientific.
· Enhance employee engagement and buy-in by implementing transparent communication strategies that outline the benefits of the payroll transformation
· Reduce compliance risks by adopting best practices for monitoring regulatory changes and ensuring that your payroll system stays up-to-date
· Increase operational efficiency by leveraging automation tools and understanding how to incorporate them into your existing processes effectively
· Understand the importance of data processing and the need for accurate data in payroll transformation
The 2026 award winners will take the stage to share their journey which has led them to succeed in their categories. This is a unique opportunity to ask them what they have done differently and really gain crucial insights into what it takes for successful business transformation.
What a week! As we wave goodbye with new ideas, insights and relationships we have built throughout the week, we look forward to hearing great stories on how you’ve carried out these strategies for the rest of the year. See you again next year!