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The Automation and Trust survey, carried out in summer 2025 among senior business leaders, highlights a gap between digital ambition and operational reality, as firms contend with regulatory uncertainty, limited automation in key workflows and modest preparedness for emerging challenges such as AI governance and ESG compliance.
The survey drew responses from executives across sectors, with 43% of participants identifying as CEOs or managing directors, and significant representation from finance, operations and manufacturing. It aimed to assess Hungarian companies’ preparedness for the digital economy, examining areas including business automation, internal controls, tax compliance and HR digitalization.
Findings show that while companies are advancing digital tools in familiar areas such as document management and reporting systems, more strategic automation—especially in tax processes and integration with external digital platforms—lags behind expectations. Most respondents reported only partial or fragmented adoption of these systems, limiting the potential for real-time data use and decision support.
According to the report, digital document management systems are widely used, with 59.4% of companies reporting dedicated software support and 25% fully leveraging these tools. However, integrated decision-support capabilities remain moderate, indicating that digital infrastructure improvements have yet to translate into broad strategic value.
Tax processes emerged as a key challenge area, with automation levels notably low and many companies still reliant on external tools rather than internal systems. Frequency of regulatory inspections—especially around VAT and transfer pricing—adds pressure, making reliable automation both a risk-mitigation priority and a compliance necessity.
The report underscores that manual reporting and declaration practices remain prevalent, exposing firms to error-related penalties and reputational risk. WTS Klient’s analysis suggests that robust automation could reduce administrative burdens and free specialists for higher-value strategic tasks.
As firms expand their use of advanced technologies, gaps in governance are emerging. While artificial intelligence tools are increasingly incorporated into financial and operational activities, 67.7% of surveyed companies lack internal AI policies, raising questions about data ethics, privacy and long-term risk management. Cybersecurity readiness is uneven, and the report highlights the need for formal frameworks to secure sensitive information.
In the area of internal controls, nearly 65% of respondents conduct annual reviews, and perceptions of fraud-related risk management score relatively high. Yet the effectiveness of controls still depends on the interaction between technology and human oversight.
The study also sheds light on non-technology digitalization areas. While ESG reporting and pay transparency are increasingly important—especially under evolving EU directives—many firms are unprepared for mandatory disclosures, potentially undermining competitiveness and access to financing.
Human resource processes show only moderate levels of digitalization, with half of companies using digital time-tracking and payroll systems. The research suggests that more comprehensive digital HR strategies could support employee retention and operational efficiency.
The Automation and Trust survey concludes that Hungarian companies face a dual obligation in the digital era: they must remain compliant with increasingly complex regulatory environments while accelerating their adoption of automation and digital tools. Digitalization is no longer just a productivity driver but a foundation for trust, transparency, and sustainable growth in an evolving business landscape.
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