IT4BUSINESS 2019 – A NEW CHAPTER IN IT EDUCATION

The IT CLUSTER SUBOTICA organized the #it4business conference once again this year at the Great Terrace in Palić. A gathering of speakers from the IT and marketing industries brought innovation and real-world experience closer to the audience. SCENSO, as a member of the cluster, presented itself through its promotional materials.

A few weeks prior, we received an invitation to be part of this outstanding conference and, as a member of the cluster, to participate in a full-day program held at the Great Terrace in Palić—an iconic historic location that represents one of the highlights of the Palić panorama and its surroundings. We took this opportunity to promote our promotional materials, as well as SCENSO’s brands and web platforms:  PROMOSTAR and HTZ OPREMA SRBIJA.

INTRODUCTION TO THE CONFERENCE

At the beginning of the conference, all delegates received registration credentials featuring a branded lanyard printed on both sides, promoting our websites PROMOSTAR.RS and HTZOPREMASRBIJA.COM. Attached to the lanyard was an ID card containing the delegate’s name and company affiliation, making networking easier throughout the event. The ID card was matte-laminated, and its premium design attracted the attention of all participants.

In addition to registration and accreditation, all delegates also received a gift package containing a tote bag featuring the conference logo (branded using screen printing). Inside the bag were gifts from all conference sponsors. SCENSO contributed a product catalog, a pen, and a car air freshener—everything that a well-curated promotional package should include.

CONFERENCE FLOW

The conference was opened by the Subotica IT Cluster and its representative, who presented all cluster members, as well as the goals, mission, vision, and key achievements of the cluster over the past year. Following the opening remarks and a strong round of applause from more than 150 delegates, the second edition of the IT4BUSINESS conference was officially opened.

The first speaker was ZOLTAN KAŠAŠ from T-Systems Hungary. In his address, he emphasized the importance of the IT industry for overall global development, as well as the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI). He also presented Hungary’s achievements in the development of the IT sector, its application within the banking industry, and outlined opportunities and guidelines for digitalization within the Republic of Serbia. He concluded his presentation with the following words: "The right time is now. We have never been more equal. There have never been so many equal people and equal opportunities. Make use of it."

Zoltan Kašaš joined T-Systems Hungary in 2015 as Head of Information Solutions, and as of January 11, 2017, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the company. Under his leadership, T-Systems Hungary achieved outstanding results in digital transformation over the following years. Since 2017, he has been the Chairman of the Connected and Automated Mobility Cluster in Zala, as well as the head of the multinational chapter of the Hungarian Digital Economy Association (IVSZ). He has also been a board member of E2 Hungary Energy Trading and Services Ltd. since 2017, and since 2018 he has served as a board member of ETOSZ (Association of Healthcare Technology Suppliers and Medical Device Manufacturers).

In the continuation of the conference, the delegates were addressed by IVANA PETROVIĆ (Optimus Media), a marketing consultant, who provided guidance on developing e-commerce and building online stores, as well as strategies for increasing conversion rates and return on investment. One of the more interesting insights she shared was that everything starts with a plan. In this context, she referred to the well-known characters from the British sitcom “Only Fools and Horses” (“Mućke”) and pointed out: "If the Trotters had had a proper business plan, trust me, they would have become millionaires as they always claimed..."

Ivana Petrović is active in the development of e-commerce businesses. She is an entrepreneur and, together with her husband, runs Optimus Media, a consulting agency specialized in e-commerce. She also serves as Head of Marketing in an international e-commerce company.

Over the past two years, she has developed marketing strategies and sales funnels in niche segments on the U.S. market for six e-commerce businesses, scaling them from zero to six-figure revenues in less than a year, four of which were successfully sold. She lives in Serbia, operating across three time zones.

The guest from Sweden, Tobias Salahin, is an engineer and project manager. He began his career in IT at ORTEC BV, a Dutch company that develops and implements sophisticated optimization software and analytical tools in the logistics sector.Since then, he has worked as a consultant and project manager, with clients including major companies such as Walmart, Hoier GmbH, and others.The topic of his presentation was optimization—what it is and how it helps companies make data-driven decisions aligned with their business objectives. His lecture was illustrated through several practical case studies, demonstrating real-world applications of optimization in business environments.