Insights

Most large financial services firms already have the data, CRM platforms, campaign tools and ambition. Yet hyper-personalization, the ability to reach the right client with the right offer, at the right time, through the right channel, still fails to scale quickly, safely and repeatably. Why? And what can AI agents do about it?

Eight trends are redefining how manufacturers apply AI in 2026, from engineering and operations to governance and workforce adoption. Together, they highlight where industrial AI is gaining practical traction across the manufacturing value chain.

Much of the current debate in automotive automation centers on two themes: virtual PLCs (software-based industrial controllers) and AI-enabled operations. Both are often presented as disruptive.

A practical capability map for IT leaders: what to build, and what to connect, to make change repeatable.

The energy sector will not be transformed by the loudest AI experiments, but by companies that operationalize AI at scale. The real differentiator is the ability to embed intelligence into forecasting, automation, and the orchestration of complex energy systems.

AI is becoming a defining force across the automotive industry, from vehicle architecture and manufacturing to after-sales and new business models. The shift toward AI-defined vehicles and AI-enabled operations is already changing how value is created across the entire automotive ecosystem.

In our work with manufacturers, we see this again and again: what looks like an improvised tool is often the clearest record of how production decisions are really made. It captures the constraints and planning logic the business depends on every day. That is why we see Excel not as the opposite of digitalization, but often as its most practical starting point.

Pilots are easy. Production is blocked by integration, data and controls. Even as the industry expands and demand strengthens, the harder thing to “grow” than premiums is the ability to change safely and stay auditable.

Data governance is now a manufacturing responsibility, because it determines whether digital initiatives scale or stall.

Large enterprises built strong in-house IT for control. Today, that model needs a new supplier operating model — and the details you set upfront matter more than ever.

AI is becoming infrastructure. The next shift is autonomous business: machine customers, agent-driven transactions, and programmable value exchange. Companies now need to adapt decision flows, channels, and products for an economy where software actively participates.

AI investment is rising while IT budgets stay flat, forcing tougher portfolio decisions. The real challenge is no longer experimentation, but scaling AI safely and proving business value. Leaders now need clear priorities, operational controls, and production-ready foundations.

Markets are more volatile. Customers are less predictable. Regulation is moving faster. What used to be an advantage is now table stakes. Across industries, from energy and telco to insurance, finance, manufacturing, and automotive, the same shift is playing out: technology is the baseline, and decision systems are the edge.

Heimstaden, one of the largest providers of rental housing in Europe, deployed the ZenID solution in cooperation with Trask. It helps Heimstaden securely identify people with whom it concludes rental agreements remotely.

AI is everywhere. We can automate routine tasks, make processes more efficient, and even support creativity with generative tools. But how do you boost marketing and sales directly? That’s where Salesforce comes in.

As manufacturing enters 2026, the AI and ongoing convergence of IT and OT is reshaping how factories operate, enabling advanced automation, real-time decision-making, and seamless integration across production, logistics, and supply chains.

Verification of Payee (VOP) – checking that the payee’s name matches the account number before a payment is sent – is more than a way to reduce fraud and avoid misdirected payments. It now directly influences how many payments are completed, how much customers trust you, and what it costs to run your payment operations.

Across industries, leaders report the same paradox. After years of digital investment – cloud, APIs, data platforms, microservices, connected devices – technology is modern, yet the organization still behaves like a collection of separate parts.

The Czech Insurance Association (ČKP) has launched the Bouračka web application, a solution that digitizes the process of recording minor traffic accidents. It presents a modern alternative to the paper form and allows drivers to resolve an accident quickly, securely, and fully digitally—directly at the scene. Today, it is already used for 20% of all traffic accidents. The solution runs in the secure Microsoft Azure cloud environment.

Smart meters, sensors, and apps generate massive streams of information. Energy now runs on data, but much of it stays locked in silos, blocking progress toward true smart grids and AI-driven energy. Each system operates as an isolated “island of information,” aware of its own data but blind to the rest. Without bridging these gaps, the promise of digital grids remains out of reach.

Insurance has always considered itself a data-driven business. And for a long time, that was true – the companies with the strongest internal data, actuarial expertise and modeling discipline had a meaningful advantage. But there’s a quiet shift underway. Insurers today have more internal data than ever, yet they still struggle with something fundamental: seeing what truly shapes risk and customer need in real life.

Digital manufacturing is no longer a “future initiative”. It’s a competitive filter. Volatile demand, inflation, talent shortages, and margin pressure force factories to operate with a new mindset: real-time situational awareness, connected systems, adaptive decisions, and measurable performance at every node of the value chain.

The largest betting company in Slovakia, Tipsport SK, is modernising the registration process for new players and moving it fully into the digital environment. For reliable online identity verification, it uses the Trask ZenID solution. In just the first two months, the system processed almost 40,000 uploaded IDs, confirming its reliability and high adoption rate among users.

Clients are no longer looking for suppliers. They’re looking for partners who understand their business and help them grow, says Maxim Vrána, the new Chief Growth Officer and Member of the Board at Trask. In his view, success is no longer defined by technology alone, but by the ability to turn it into measurable business value – and that’s exactly where Trask aims to lead.

Four megatrends are shaping this transformation: predictive maintenance, hyper-personalized customer care, data-driven pricing & inventory, and sustainability.

In a world where trust depends on data, the energy system we built for the twentieth century no longer fits the world we live in. Decarbonization, electrification, and the explosion of distributed energy resources (DERs) have made the grid faster growing more complex and far more volatile.

The future of mobility is built on trust – and trust begins with cybersecurity. The modern car has evolved into a sophisticated digital device. It is no longer merely a means of transport but a complex ecosystem of hundreds of control units, sensors, and software components.

New regulations like PSD3 and PSR are entering the scene: they bring greater accountability, stricter rules, mandatory controls, and tighter oversight. Banks that fail to shift from ad hoc checks to real-time decision-making risk not only financial losses but also reputational damage.

AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s embedded in business processes, decision-making, and customer interactions. But as organizations scale AI adoption, they face a critical challenge: how to ensure AI is trustworthy, explainable, and compliant.

Škoda Auto transformed its axle production by introducing a digital ecosystem that guides workers in real time, verifies every step, and delivers instant access to production data—eliminating paper, reducing inconsistencies, and creating the foundation for future innovation.

A leading European energy provider transforms tariff negotiations with Trask SmartQuote,PO delivering instant, personalized offers and securing faster deal closures. It highlights what’s possible when sales teams are equipped with real-time pricing and offer-generation tools.

In a sector where milliseconds matter and customer expectations evolve overnight, one thing can quietly erode your competitive edge: outdated technology.

More than 35,000 users visited the “Bouračka” web application in its first days of operation. The app was developed for the Czech Insurers’ Bureau by the technology company Trask.

Everyone’s talking about personalization, especially its impact in digital channels. More online activity means more data and client signals — and more opportunities to be relevant. That’s why personalization has become closely tied to digital journeys for web and mobile: more interactions, more data, more relevant offers.

Enter Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT) – an advanced methodology that emulates activities of real-world threat actors with surgical precision.

J&T Bank had a clear ambition: to launch new digital channels that matched its forward-looking strategy and high standards of client service. However, the existing technology stack made it difficult to turn that vision into reality at the required pace.

Energy providers can no longer afford to play the waiting game. As price wars intensify and customer patience runs thin, utilities face a simple choice: evolve or lose relevance. What if your greatest growth opportunity wasn’t in acquiring new customers—but in finally understanding the ones you already have?

According to Gartner’s Global Survey of 2024, AI and generative AI have emerged as top priorities for manufacturing organizations worldwide. The AI-powered use cases enabled by these platforms are among the highest priorities for manufacturers globally.

Digital platforms, AI-driven pricing, and certified pre-owned programs are becoming critical tools as OEMs, dealers, and fleet operators rethink how to connect with customers throughout the vehicle lifecycle.

Trask now brings its extensive experience with open banking and ready-to-use open banking solutions to North America.

Getting the balance right is no longer a tactical decision. It’s strategic.

The automotive industry has been undergoing a significant transformation impacting also its distribution strategies.

ŠKODA AUTO's logistics operations faced challenges in efficiently accessing and integrating critical Advanced Shipment Note (ASN) data from upstream logistics systems.

In today’s competitive market, improving ROI while reducing customer acquisition costs is more challenging than ever. Traditional marketing approaches are losing effectiveness as costs continue to rise. The answer lies in a new approach:

For businesses stuck in the past, modernization is no longer an option—it’s a necessity for survival and success in today’s digital world.

Leveraging AWS Managed Kafka and Flink, the bank now delivers personalized offers instantly, improving responsiveness and enhancing customer interactions.

The Industrial Metaverse is reshaping manufacturing, with digital twins playing a pivotal role in creating efficient, integrated digital ecosystems. To succeed, businesses must foster collaboration between IT experts, industry specialists, and AI professionals.

Get an insider's view on the key innovation trends shaping banking, telecommunications, and automotive – all through the perspectives of Czech business leaders.

Early applications focus on optimizing HR, finance, legal, and claims management, AI agents are now driving significant improvements in core manufacturing operations.

Digital twins enable organizations to simulate real-world scenarios and outcomes, ultimately supporting better decision-making. But is there more to explore? Are new dimensions emerging in the digitization of products, processes, and even entire environments?

How can companies stay competitive when customers expect instant lease approvals, fleet management is data-driven, and regulations are tightening?

AI development is moving so fast that even large corporations struggle to keep up. To maximize the benefits of AI, we recommend following these key steps.

AI agents have immense potential to automate complex processes, accelerate decision-making, increase process flexibility, simplify scaling of operations, and reduce operational costs.

Jan Burian speaks about the key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the sector—and how his expertise will support Trask’s clients in this journey.

AI agents are already driving measurable improvements by automating complex tasks and boosting efficiency. At Trask, we are developing these technologies to help businesses optimize processes, reduce manual intervention, and accelerate decision-making. As AI evolves, these agents will handle increasingly complex tasks, providing a competitive edge in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

The seventh annual of Trask Future Insight 2025 presented the key technological challenges businesses will need to navigate. "In a turbulent environment where long-term planning now means looking six months ahead, adaptability to innovation is absolutely essential," explains Jan Antoš, CTO of Trask.

Trask is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. As CEO, what are you most proud of?

Imagine building a digital bridge accessible to everyone—what if half of them couldn’t cross?

Could managing data really be as intuitive as organizing files?

The concept of accessibility means that every digital product should be designed so that it can be used by anyone, anywhere.

Effective monitoring strategies can provide a comprehensive overview, helping to manage these complex setups easily. How can one gain an overview and monitor a hybrid cloud environment?

How does AI affect our world today? What are the risks of postquantum cryptography? And who better to ask about AI fears than the Terminator himself? As the Gartner Symposium 2024 unfolded, Trask’s Jan Antoš captured the most exciting insights daily, revealing a future filled with both extraordinary potential and urgent challenges.

Imagine trying to have a meaningful conversation with a crowd of strangers, each with different interests and needs.

Discover how the Zilla API Gateway simplifies integration with Apache Kafka using multiple protocols, including MQTT, gRPC, WebSocket, and more.

Curious about the real-world challenges of implementing AI? Andrej Svitek unpacks what it takes to turn AI pilots into production-ready solutions.

Companies today often need their data to be constantly in motion to ensure quality of service and smooth running of online applications.

What if the latest headline about a major data breach involved your company?

This webinar will provide you with actionable insights and strategies to prevent security breaches, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance.What you will learn

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) offers a revolutionary approach to cybersecurity, ensuring that every interaction within your network is assessed and verified.

Legacy systems, originally developed in the 1990s or earlier, are not just technologically obsolete - they represent a strategic handicap in terms of efficiency, flexibility, and customer service.

If you're a big bank, you need to have a super overview of what is happening in your environment at all times. Along with that, you also need good analytics to help you choose the next steps in the right direction. And that's exactly what we delivered to Raiffeisenbank.

How are companies effectively applying AI in their operations? What strategies are they using to ensure AI benefits outweigh the risks? Find the answers in this interview.

What does a digital business strategy consist of and how can you tell which part of it to pursue?

Personalization is experiencing a boom, which is now moving to the next level, referred to as hyper-personalization. How do they differ?

What are the main tech and business trends for the near future?

Building digital channels has its challenges. The process is often expensive, slow, and in the worst case, the result may not fulfill its purpose, with a redesign possibly meaning starting over from scratch.

Companies are investing heavily into customer experience in their digital channels.

In an era where innovation is meeting customer needs and expectations across sectors, insights from the banking, insurance, and automotive sectors reveal a roadmap for navigating the future.

DDoS attacks are a globally popular method among hackers to harm large companies. What consequences can they have? And is there a way to defend against them?

The automotive sector has been an important keystone in our history since the 19th century. What should companies focus on now, when digital technology is in the spotlight?

Another of our iTea breakfasts was held in December 2023. This time, our experts took a look at Power Platform and picked out the most important recommendations and tips for your teams to use.

The next episode of our Trask Talks video series is here.

The Trask technology company, a significant European leader in IT and innovation, has entered into a strategic partnership with SAS, a global leader in artificial intelligence and analytics software.

Integration is a topic that can be elusive to grasp fully. However, companies have an inkling that they will need it, or at least that it is essential to pay attention to it.

Martin Citron has been at the forefront of transforming application integration, driving innovations from service-oriented architecture to pioneering API management platforms.

Trask CEO Pavel Riegger accepted an invitation for an interview with FocusOn – a online magazine about business and modern technologies.

Vienna Insurance Group, headquartered in Vienna and one of the largest insurance groups in Central and Eastern Europe.

ČSOB Leasing, part of the international KBC Group and one of the largest providers of leasing loans and related services in the Czech Republic.

Trask, long a leading provider of reliable technology innovation to the financial, insurance, telecommunications, energy and manufacturing industries, announced a strategic partnership with Incentage, a Swiss company specializing in software development for financial institutions.

Many companies today struggle with the cost of cloud services. Managers typically lack insight into the finances associated with their use and realize that more transparency and optimization is needed. FinOps can effectively help you do just that.

Almost everyone works with the cloud today. We quickly got used to having all data and services available instantly and without any issues.

Fast money transfers in a matter of seconds are slowly becoming the new standard—a clear benefit for both payers and those needing to get paid.