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Jasmina Vukačević
Episode · #664

PSIHOLOGIJA USPJEHA Jasmina Lukačević

Guest Jasmina VukačevićHosted by Tanja PuretaMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

The sheer volume of employee data—contracts, payroll, performance, and training—can quickly become a management challenge, even for well-run organizations. Jasmina Lukačević, CEO of SD Works Croatia, has spent years at the forefront of this complexity, first building HR Pro into a regional leader and now guiding its integration into the larger European HR powerhouse, SD Works. She explains how their HRnet software helps companies manage this data, but more importantly, how it facilitates a deeper change than just putting old processes online. Lukačević shares the strategic decisions behind HR Pro's acquisition, the significant investment that followed, and the critical distinction between simply digitizing existing workflows and truly transforming how an organization handles its people.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
HR Pro operated successfully for over two decades before its acquisition by SD Works. This move wasn't just a sale; it was a strategic integration, where the larger European entity recognized the value of a proven local software and its team to expand its regional footprint.
02
The acquisition brought a ~2 million Euro investment into HRnet's development over two years, enabling the software to evolve from an on-premise solution requiring client servers to a fully-featured cloud-based platform. A larger parent company can provide the capital to make a product leap that might otherwise be out of reach.
03
Some companies implementing HRnet ask to simply "copy old processes into digital form," expecting easier management and search. Real digital transformation, however, means reorganizing workflows to fully exploit the software's capabilities, not just replicating previous inefficiencies in a new medium.
04
When implementing HR tools, some departments dismiss them as "HR's process," rather than a shared business function. For a system like HRnet to work, it requires integrating all stakeholders—from managers to employees to specialized functions—ensuring a unified data source and coherent processes across the entire organization.
05
SD Works' approach to growth involves acquiring successful local software providers like HR Pro, which already have market recognition and regional adaptation. This strategy acknowledges that for international expansion, integrating proven local solutions can be more effective than attempting to build a standardized product from the ground up.
06
"Software as a service" means the product and its supporting services are inseparable. The success of HRnet relies not just on its code and features, but on the continuous support, training, and strategic guidance SD Works provides to ensure clients fully utilize its capabilities.
07
The continuity of most key employees from HR Pro into SD Works underscores a crucial aspect of successful acquisitions. The value isn't just in the software or client list; it's in retaining the institutional knowledge, expertise, and established relationships that ensure ongoing success and growth.
08
Achieving over 40% growth in client numbers, revenue, and personnel within two years of the acquisition demonstrates the power of combining a specialized local solution with the expanded resources of an international group. Such a merger can significantly accelerate market reach and operational scale.
09
A successful software product demands investment in both its visible modules and processes (the "exterior") and its underlying technical architecture and security (the "engine"). Just as a car needs a good motor beneath its appealing design, HRnet's functionality relies on continuous development of both its user-facing features and its secure, high-performance infrastructure.
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