Human-centric, powered by AI: what that means at BDO

Most companies talk about AI as a technology-first story. At BDO, we are making the deliberate choice to put people first and support them in making their careers count with the help of AI. Human-centric, powered by AI. That is our way forward, and this is what it means in practice.

We are growing, and that takes people

BDO is not using AI as a reason to hire fewer people. In fact, we are doing quite the opposite. Our growth ambitions are clear and expanding, in terms of clients, expertise, as well as colleagues. At a time when companies are pulling back on recruitment, we are moving forward.

Everything we gain through technology, we reinvest in our people. That is the logic behind every choice we make about how AI is brought into our business.

"AI drives efficiency. People create meaning. Our differentiator lies in how we use technology to build trust."

Peter Van Laer - CEO BDO Belgium

Powered by AI: what that looks like in practice

With our own Chief AI Officer, Ignace Robberechts, we want to send out a clear signal: our approach to AI is strategic and built on a clear position about what technology should add and most of all, what it should not replace. Technology is a tool. The decisions about how it is used and what it should never touch remain entirely with our people.

"We track what is happening with the technology, but we also track the sentiment of our people and how they feel about all this change."

Ignace Robberechts - Chief AI Officer BDO Belgium

Even though strategic changes are carried out by our leadership, the approach itself is built from the ground up. Around thirty AI ambassadors across our departments work at team level: they identify real use cases and share what they have learned with other colleagues. They get room to experiment and optimise day-to-day processes. Internal training also guides our colleagues in managing the strengths and pitfalls of AI. No one is left to figure it out alone.

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"Around 80% of what we invest in AI goes into change management: bringing people along, not just rolling out tools. Technology matters, but without the people, it goes nowhere. "

Ignace Robberechts - Chief AI Officer BDO Belgium

Human-centric: what the freed-up time is for

When AI takes on more of the routine tasks, time opens up. At BDO, we are deliberate about where that time goes. The hours freed up by technology are redirected into tasks that empower people.

• Client relationships go deeper: the kind of trust that takes time and presence to build, and that no tool can replicate.
• Expertise develops further: more room to go further into the work and form the kind of judgement that defines a strong consultant.
• Advice gets sharper: more time to understand what a client needs, to challenge assumptions, to bring something original rather than just processing what has been asked for.
• Soft skills level up: a greater focus on your communication, leadership and problem-solving skills... boosting your personal development.

Less time on low-value tasks also means less of the work that drains without giving anything back. This way, people have more energy for what matters and more control over how they structure their time.

What this means for your career growth

Growth at BDO has always been personal rather than prescribed. No fixed paths, not one definition of what getting ahead looks like. Your development is shaped by what you are good at and where you want to go, with your People Manager and your team alongside you.

AI makes that more achievable. When the generic parts of a role take less time, there is more space for the development that is specific to you: at your own pace, in the direction you choose. Whether that means going deeper into your expertise or stepping into more client responsibility, the room is there.

What sets us apart as a company cannot be AI-generated. The long-lasting personal relationships with clients, the way a people manager makes time for a difficult conversation: none of that comes from a prompt. These are the reasons we are doing this in the first place. And that’s what we continue to focus on as AI becomes a bigger part of how we work.