The Power of Strategic Tech Partnerships for US Companies

With nearly a decade of experience in business development, Kristiyan Kazanliev builds partnerships with US-based organizations to accelerate digital transformation while managing risk, cost, and complexity. As a senior expert at Accedia, he helps clients align speed with strategic outcomes and long-term value. In this interview, Kristiyan shares what business leaders are prioritizing, where they’re getting stuck, and what they now expect from their technology partners. 

What are the challenges that come up in every conversation with business and tech leaders? 

One of the most consistent themes is the urgency to modernize without disruption. Leaders are under pressure to continue transforming digitally, adopt AI, and enhance customer experience - all while navigating legacy systems, expertise shortages, rising cost pressures, and growing cyber threats.  

Cybersecurity has become a priority, not just an IT concern, as digital initiatives continue to expose new vulnerabilities across hybrid environments. In response, more organizations are turning to proven AI solutions to strengthen resilience. Our AI Capability Center, for example, has helped reduce fraud-related losses by up to 30% through real-time detection. 

At the same time, cost optimization has moved to the boardroom, with organizations evaluating closely whether their tech investments are driving tangible, near-term business outcomes. Many share a concern about the speed-to-value gap - how quickly innovation efforts translate into measurable impact. 

AI adoption is high on the agenda, but why isn’t it scaling? 

The biggest problem right now is the shortage of real AI expertise. While many teams are eager to ride the AI wave and claim they have top-tier engineering talent, few have the depth required to build scalable, production-grade AI systems. It’s not just about writing models; it’s about understanding data ecosystems, operational maturity, and business relevance. 

We often see issues like data readiness gaps, unclear ownership structures, and misalignment between business and tech teams. Leaders often underestimate governance, change management, and cross-functional coordination to make AI stick. 

And now, a new layer is emerging. We are only beginning to understand the broader footprint of AI - from its ethical and societal impact to its environmental cost. ESG considerations are increasingly influencing executive decisions, as organizations seek to innovate in ways that are not just intelligent, but also transparent, responsible, and sustainable. 

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What common blind spots do you see when leaders embark on digital transformation? 

The blind spots today are more like illusions — like the belief that adopting AI will fix everything quickly, with minimal effort and no cost. That mindset often delays real transformation. 

Leaders underestimate what it takes to align people, processes, and governance. They assume teams are ready, but execution gaps appear fast. We’ve seen companies invest heavily in AI tools, only to realize they lack the internal structure or knowledge to use them effectively. 

It’s a reminder: transformation starts with building a future-proof strategy. 

Why do organizations hesitate to modernize legacy systems? 

At Accedia, we have supported legacy transformations across banking, financial services, insurance, manufacturing, and automotive, and we see a common pattern: enterprises delay modernization until the last possible moment. 

These delays are often driven by internal policies, complex hierarchies, and fear of disrupting long-running systems. But when the tipping point comes, organizations face pressure to transition quickly, minimize risk, and control costs — all while keeping operations running smoothly. 

That’s where real complexity lies. Once leaders start working with strategic tech partnerships for US companies, the path forward becomes clearer, and the focus shifts from hesitation to decisive action. 

What’s the real value of outsourcing today? 

Rising labor costs, shifting tariffs, and unpredictable hiring cycles are pushing many US companies to rethink how they scale. Teams are being asked to launch AI initiatives, meet compliance demands, and deliver customer-facing features faster, often with limited internal capacity. 

Outsourcing offers a way to stay on track without adding headcount or slowing down execution. It gives access to experienced engineers, compliance-aware delivery teams, and the ability to activate new capabilities quickly, without the delays of internal hiring. For companies facing execution pressure, outsourcing has become less about cost and more about continuity, speed, and strategic focus. 

What shifts are you seeing in how leaders think about governance, security, and AI risk? 

Leaders are starting to realize that governance and security can’t keep playing catch-up, as the rapid pace of AI makes the gap even harder to close. There’s a shift from treating these areas as checkboxes to viewing them as core enablers of trust and scalability. 

We’re hearing more questions like: 

• Can we audit this model? 
• What happens if the AI gets it wrong? 
• Who is responsible if there’s a failure? 

These reflect a growing awareness of accountability, bias, and operational risk. 

There’s also more focus on clarity and control knowing what data feeds AI, how models behave over time, and how to respond when things go off track. Simply put, leaders want AI that’s not just powerful, but also predictable, transparent, and safe. 

What makes Accedia a valuable partner in these conversations, especially for US businesses? 

Having a US entity allows us to contract locally, align with procurement and compliance requirements, and reduce the friction that often slows down vendor onboarding. It creates a sense of proximity and trust from day one. 

Our teams combine top Eastern European engineering talent with a strong expertise in business domains. We don’t just build what’s asked. We challenge assumptions, connect solutions to business outcomes, and stay involved long after go-live. Our clients value that level of ownership, consistency, and adaptability, which is why most of them stay with us for the long run. 

We’re also ISO-certified in quality, security, and sustainability, giving clients the confidence to move fast without compromising control. Our award-winning DevSecOps team brings deep expertise in cloud automation, cybersecurity, and CI/CD. With 12 years of experience and a 107% client retention rate, we help leading companies reduce risk and make smarter decisions around digital transformation and AI. 

When clients compare Accedia to other companies, what are the criteria they focus on? 

Clients tend to focus on a few core criteria: how quickly we can integrate, how clearly we communicate, and how smoothly we collaborate across time zones and cultures. They want partners who are easy to work with: not just technically capable, but operationally efficient. 

One thing we consistently hear is that clients appreciate our low-friction onboarding and stable team structures. They’ve often had poor experiences elsewhere with frequent talent rotation, slow responsiveness, or overly rigid processes. 

Transparency is another key factor, from scope alignment to delivery and risk management. We don’t just promise agility; we build it into how we engage, which makes a real difference as projects evolve. 

How is AI changing what clients expect from tech partners like Accedia? 

AI is no longer just a technical upgrade. It has become a strategic priority. Clients expect it to drive speed, productivity, and a clear competitive advantage. But implementation alone isn’t enough. What they want are partners who can identify where AI truly adds business value. 

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Speed and innovation are now the baseline. In the US, business leaders face a unique mix of investor pressure, emerging AI regulations, and increased litigation risk. The bar for AI adoption is higher. Solutions are expected to be ROI-driven, explainable, and aligned with both strategic goals and regulatory requirements. Clients are looking for partners who understand frameworks like the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, can navigate state-level data privacy laws, and provide clear guidance in a high-stakes, performance-driven environment. 

Why are more companies looking to automate compliance and what’s driving that urgency? 

Compliance automation is gaining urgency as companies push to move faster without increasing risk. Manual processes are slow, error-prone, and hard to scale across teams. 

We’ve seen this firsthand through our decade-long partnership with a leading US digital media and marketing company. To keep up with evolving compliance demands, we helped modernize their outdated analytics systems by enabling real-time data replication, automated alerts, and tighter access controls. 

As a result, compliance reporting time was cut by 60%, data inconsistencies dropped by 43%, and the team gained full visibility across business units. For companies scaling fast, automation like this is becoming a critical part of staying in control. 

Automation keeps companies audit-ready, reduces the burden of manual checks, and frees up teams to focus on higher-value work. For most, the question is no longer whether to automate, but how quickly they can make it happen. 

Wrapping up 

Kristiyan Kazanliev’s perspective reflects what business leaders are prioritizing right now: faster execution, stronger strategic tech partnerships, and smarter risk management. As conversations continue at the Gartner Summit in Las Vegas, one thing is clear: the companies that move with purpose will lead the next wave of transformation. For US-based organizations seeking to modernize, scale AI, and ensure compliance, aligning with the right technology partner is a necessary competitive advantage.