Access the PDF version of the 2025 agenda here.
Unlock the full potential of shared services with our must-have essentials for leading practice organizations. From crafting a clear strategy and compelling business case to implementing with finesse and mastering change management, we'll guide you to success. Stay ahead of the curve and navigate uncertainties with confidence.
Stagnation is the enemy of shared services value creation. You’ve been operating in your shared services model for some time and are now wondering what you should do next. How do you ensure your shared services continue to add value to the organization in the face of new services, disruptions, and changes in the environment? Attend this workshop and learn tactics for improving what you have and leveraging what is new. This session will review ways to advance your current model and incorporate next-gen concepts to take your SSO to the next level. Learn about:
HR Shared Services agents often require a deep understanding of specific areas like benefits or payroll. However, relying solely on specialization can create bottlenecks and limit the team's overall agility. By strategically implementing cross-training, you can cultivate a versatile and adaptable HRSS team that can effectively address workforce needs, navigate changing demands, and contribute to a future-proof HR function. Equip yourself with the necessary insight to develop a cross-trained HRSS team that balances depth of expertise with the flexibility to adapt to ever-evolving needs.
Action Items:
Effective leadership within HR Shared Services is crucial for organizational success. Get equipped with essential soft skills to lead and motivate their teams effectively. Participants will learn practical strategies to enhance collaboration, communication, and problem-solving.
Action Items:
Sharing Best Practices from the “End to End” Process & GPO Playbook with interactive discussions and exercises, this workshop will challenge and inform GBS leadership, current or aspiring Global Process Owners (GPOs) and Service Delivery leaders with practical models and tools to elevate end-to-end process alignment and innovation across the organization.
The workshop will cover:
Explore the intersection of data management and process excellence within shared services. Dive into the critical relationship between IT and analytics teams and how to address challenges when strategy is lacking. Discussions will cover effective models for integrating Master Data Management (MDM) and data governance as foundational elements for success. Examine power dynamics in data creation, inherent biases, and their impact on analytical accuracy. While AI tools draw attention, this conversation emphasizes that robust data practices remain the backbone of successful automation and operational efficiency, ensuring reliable, bias-free analysis.
Key Takeaways:
Intercompany is a team sport, and it takes a solid gameplan to effectively manage it. Processes can only take you so far – you need a key technology play to win.
Join us for this engaging workshop, where we will focus on intercompany and the impact it has across Shared Services, which are often underestimated but impact efficiency and KPI. We'll show how obstacles in intercompany go beyond what traditional ERPs can handle and discuss a winning strategy, supported by technology, that can break down silos, streamline operations, and give your team the edge it needs to stay competitive.
Learning Objectives
Explore the role of Global Business Services (GBS) in Invoice-to-Cash (I2C) digital transformation. Uncover trends, strategies, and practical insights to navigate the complexities of this evolution. Industry experts will share best practices, case studies, and actionable techniques, providing participants with the tools to optimize finance processes for sustained success.
This workshop provides strategy and tactics needed to ensure your company is building the core capabilities necessary to be successful with AI into the future.
Transformation that includes AI readiness requirements is broader than even the “typical” transformations. It creates new departments, new jobs, new roles, new functions, and new processes. Functional leaders, GBS leaders, Global Process Owners, IT and Risk all have a part to play in this brave new AI enabled world.
Workshop Objectives
This workshop will arm you with real world advice that you can bring back to either start the conversation about AI readiness, begin to map your own journey or accelerate your existing plans!
As the boundaries between human and machine intelligence blur, the potential of generative AI (GenAI) to revolutionize shared services is becoming increasingly evident. From automating routine tasks to enhancing decision-making and fostering innovation, GenAI is reshaping the landscape of shared services organizations. However, the successful integration of GenAI requires a strategic approach that addresses both its opportunities and challenges. This workshop will explore practical applications of GenAI within shared services, providing attendees with actionable insights and strategies to harness its power and drive transformation.
Actionable Takeaways:
This workshop will equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to leverage GenAI as a strategic asset, driving efficiency, improving customer satisfaction, and positioning their shared services organizations for long-term success.
Join us at Redwood’s premier workshop to discover how the Touchless Close can transform your Record-to-Report (R2R) process.
This event will help you reimagine your approach to financial reporting by showcasing solutions optimized for SAP environments, leading to significant cost savings, enhanced accuracy, and faster financial reporting.
Why Attend:
TBD
In this session, SSON Research & Analytics will present the key trends from our 2025 Global State of the Industry report. We'll delve into critical topics such as the role of Global Business Services (GBS) as a talent hub, balancing the cost-value equation, and the impact of automation and analytics. Additionally, we'll explore strategic location choices and the overall state of business services. Join us as we provide insights into these pivotal areas and discuss how we can elevate the industry to the next level.
This session will guide you through a transformative journey from a single-function shared services model into a high-performing GBS organization. Our practitioner will impart practical steps that helped them expand their service portfolio, enhance operational efficiency, and drive strategic value to their business. Steps they took include:
Have you ever dreamt of leading a multi-billion-dollar company? Many exceptional leaders begin their careers in the core engine of a business – the shared services organization. In this inspiring keynote, Steve Bandrowczak, current CEO of Xerox ana champion for the power of Shared Services and Global Business Services, will share his remarkable journey and how Shared Servies has played a key role in his executive strategies. He’ll address:
Don’t miss this empowering session that will challenge your perspective on Shared Services and ignite your leadership potential. Learn the secrets to take your career from the back office to the boardroom!
Despite significant investments in transformation initiatives, studies show that 70-85% of these efforts fail to deliver their intended results and could cost the organization millions. Leaders from F500 SSOs and GBSOs will explore the common reasons why transformation initiatives so often fall short and provide practical guidance on how shared services leaders can help their organizations avoid these costly pitfalls, including:
Few companies have experienced rise, fall and business transformation quite like Nokia. How is the spirit of value reinvention and resilience reflected in their GBS transformation? With all the focus on technology, AI, ML and Digitalization, what is needed for fundamental value creation? Join this inspirational and insightful keynote session to learn about the remarkable GBS transformation journey from Nokia:
• Nokia’s journey of business reinvention and GBS transformation
• Why is GBS/SSO in a pivotal position with the current market and corporate dynamics?
• How is technology development and implementation speed impacting our environments and our mindsets on new skillsets?
• Sharing good examples of value creation using technology-leading projects and mindset paradigm changes
• How do you know you are still in the right job? Sharing the conclusions from three decades of transformation
Embark on a journey to streamline HR processes, redefine roles and handoffs, and turn challenges into opportunities for an improved end-to-end experience.
Bosch's HR shared services have successfully automated processes using RPA and low-code tools, leading to significant productivity gains, often 10-20% year-over-year, and in some cases doubling or tripling productivity. We'll discuss how they democratized automation and are exploring generative AI. Learn how Bosch balances tech with personalized HR service.
Action Items:
Discover how Mars is evolving their GPO roles from operational oversight to strategic leadership, driving measurable savings across the organization. This session delves into a transformative program focused on preventing cash leakage within the Invoice to Cash cycle. Through hands-on initiatives within Global Business Services, dedicated project teams analyze end-to-end processes, uncovering front-end business issues and identifying policy and procedural gaps that impact cash flow. Leveraging insights from tools process mining tools, this team continuously feeds improvements back into the GPO framework. Join this session to gain insights from their journey and learn how a proactive, data-driven approach can enhance your company’s financial resilience.
Key Takeaways:
In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, achieving seamless integration across all facets of an organization is more critical than ever. In fact, according to SSON R&A research, 83% of leading Global Business Services (GBS) organizations recognize that end-to-end (E2E) process integration is vital for driving significant organizational transformation. This session provides a comprehensive exploration of strategies designed to align and optimize end-to-end processes, enhancing overall efficiency, agility, and performance. Key takeaways include:
The GBS model has been a cornerstone of operational efficiency for decades. However, forces like new C-Suite leadership, talent retention challenges and lack of quantifiable sustainable ROI have caused some companies to opt to dismantle their GBS structures. Not to mention the bulldozer that is Generative AI convincing some in the C-Suite that it can replace a GBSO.
Attendees will debate current marketing challenges causing the most stress and what they’re doing to survive and thrive in this dynamic environment such as:
Service Experience Management (SX Management) has emerged as a transformative approach to elevate GBS into a more strategic business partner. With only 57% of GBSOs having this capability according to SSON Research and Analytics, there is clearly room for more widespread adoption. What are the roadblocks? This discussion will delve into key contributions SX Management can make within a GBSO including:
The potential of AI in transforming finance functions is undeniable. However, not all AI solutions are created equal. This session will demystify the concept of "smart AI" and highlight its critical role in driving value and measurable impact for shared services and GBS organizations. We will explore the key characteristics of smart AI, contrasting it with the limitations of "dumb AI" often found in the market. Attendees will gain insights into how to identify and select AI solutions that can effectively address the unique challenges faced by finance teams.
Key takeaways: