Introducing the New Delivery Chief and His Vision for ARTIN in a Changing Market

Libor Kovář brings 25 years of IT experience and a unique perspective "from the other side of the table". We discussed how customer needs are evolving, why companies need business partners rather than just developers, and how he believes ARTIN fits into this landscape.

a breath of fresh air with Customer Experience

You're starting as our Chief Delivery Officer—tell us something about yourself.

My journey began in the nineties. I've worked in various IT positions for over 25 years. I started as a network specialist and worked my way up to head of security and enterprise architecture. I've managed large teams within the Czech Army, ČEZ Group, and Home Credit. And now it’s you who’s headhunted me.

You have a diverse background—from the military to Škoda Group. What have these experiences given you?

From the military, I gained respect for structure, responsibility, and calmness in crises. From Škoda, a systematic perspective and the ability to function in a complex environment. And the word that comes to mind when I think of Home Credit is speed—incredible velocity of delivery. For ARTIN, these experiences taught me to listen, make decisions quickly yet thoughtfully, and always keep in mind our main goal, where we want to go, and why.

The Market is Changing, and So Are Business Needs

How would you characterize today's business environment?

It's true that the situation is changing right before our eyes. Companies today are forced to quickly respond to new customer needs and rapid technological developments.
Having worked in Asia and America, I notice that changes in Asia and the US are reflected in Europe with a slight delay.

AI will be used extensively to replace routine tasks. There's pressure on costs, with people being the most expensive resource. Contracts that were once negotiated for several years are now closed for one year, with an explicit option to terminate. Customers have become more concerned about who they outsource to and exactly what they're paying for. And that's where I see an opportunity—to be the partner who understands the technology as well as the customer's business as a whole.

Where do you think ARTIN excels?

ARTIN has strong know-how, excellent people, and a long history of high-quality deliveries. It's not a low-cost bodyshop. ARTIN continually tries to innovate and builds relationships on long-term quality, stability, and partnership. We have a reputation in the market as a reliable partner—that's an immensely valuable attribute and an excellent foundation to build upon.

Why and when do companies choose a software house as a partner?

When does the time come for a software company to use a software house's services? What's the added value?

It's when they need to advance their business and need a partner instead of just a supplier. Today, companies fear three things:

1.    That they won't know how to manage a project with a software house

2.    That the software house will try to rip them off

3.    That they'll become dependent on the software house

For us, it’s about what changes for the better in the customer's company as a result of our delivery. Clients need to know that hiring us means gaining control, not losing—working with us is an investment rather than an expense.

What concerns do companies that don't primarily deal with software development have?

Loss of control and high costs, primarily. Our role is to be an interpreter between the business world and IT—we need to explain things precisely. Being technically apt doesn't demonstrate quality. We prove our quality when the client understands us perfectly—we speak the customer's language in their field.
We are transparent and must always communicate clearly how the investment in digitalization benefits them.

How ARTIN Adapts to Specific Business Needs

We help customers in financial & insurance, energy, manufacturing, and telco sectors. What makes each unique in your view?

We take care of people and businesses differently in each vertical.
Energy sector is an environment that needs oversight, safety, and continuity.
Finance and insurance vertical is about speed and compliance: the environment is extremely fast-paced.
Telco companies seek efficiency: how to reduce transmission costs and ensure stability.
In the medical sector, GDPR is crucial, with the patient and their security at the center.
In all areas, having a good software house by your side provides tremendous added value.

AI as a Strategic Advantage, Not Just a Buzzword

We have 20+ years of experience implementing AI. How do you see its use in companies today and how do you see it developing in the coming years?

Right now, everyone is experimenting—looking for where it makes sense. But either they're technical nerds with in-depth understanding of AI who can't apply it in a business context. Or they're LinkedIn stars who tend to show enthusiastically how everything is possible, but lack broader context, like legal considerations. In a few years, though, AI will be like the Internet—an automatic component of all solutions. For us, it's crucial to be involved right now.

At ARTIN, we help utilize AI smartly, not fashionably. We don't shoot blinds; we have years of experience. We can essentially integrate AI into all solutions.

What are your priorities for your first 12 months at ARTIN?

Getting to know the people and culture. Every experienced manager discovers that culture eats strategy for breakfast. Strategy, therefore, must align with company culture.
Mapping ARTIN's strengths and weaknesses. Based on these, we'll jointly define where we want to be in 2–3 years, and adjust our delivery strategy to meet market and customer needs.

Intriqued? Find out how Libor builds teams that help customers succeed here.