WCC commits to the European Union AI Pact
Utrecht – NL, November 14, 2024. WCC Group, a leading provider of advanced solutions for Public Employment Services and Staffing Agencies and ID/Security government agencies, is delighted to announce that we have committed to the European Union’s AI Pact. WCC is proud to be one of the first companies to join the EU’s AI Pact. This initiative promotes the creation and early adoption of best practices around a responsible and ethical use of AI to comply with the AI Act.
At WCC, responsible AI is more than a buzzword – it has been one of our foundational principles for nearly 3 decades, deeply embedded in solutions that impact the lives of 500 million people around the world on a daily basis. Operating in high-risk domains like employment and border security, we have long prioritized transparency and controllability of the underlying AI. This dedication has established WCC as a frontrunner in responsible AI, a position we are excited to advance further through our participation in the EU AI Pact.
What does signing the AI Pact mean for WCC?
By signing the AI Pact, WCC commits to:
- Adopting an AI governance strategy to foster the uptake of AI in the organization and work towards future compliance with the AI Act;
- Identifying and mapping AI systems likely to be categorized as high-risk under the AI Act;
- Promoting AI awareness and literacy among staff, ensuring ethical and responsible AI development;
- Putting in place processes to identify possible known and reasonably foreseeable risks to health, safety, and fundamental rights that could follow from the use of relevant AI systems throughout their lifecycle;
- Implementing concrete measures to ensure human oversight over the operation of high-risk AI systems as defined by the AI Act;
- Informing deployers about how to appropriately use relevant AI systems, their capabilities, limitations, and potential risks.
Our commitment to Responsible AI
We look forward to reinforcing our role as a frontrunner in responsible AI by joining the AI Pact, and we are convinced that this will allow for our continued positive impact on the lives of millions of people – not just in the EU, but around the world.
“This is not just about checking boxes – it is a meaningful step toward fostering AI governance practices that ensure that we do the right thing, and that we do it right.
By joining the AI Pact, we double down on our commitment to being a frontrunner in a responsible and ethical use of AI. Adopting strong AI practices today allows us to build trustworthy, impactful solutions that benefit people around the world.
While some may view governance as an obstacle to innovation, I believe it is essential for true, impactful progress. If we leave the door open to unchecked risks in high-risk domains such as employment and border security, are we truly building something meaningful, or are we setting ourselves up for unintended consequences?
At WCC, we choose to lead with responsibility, creating a future where AI serves and safeguards people around the world.“
Alexander Hogenboom – Head of Data Science at WCC
Earlier this year, WCC has also joined the Netherlands AI Coalition, further strengthening our commitment to a responsible use of AI. Through these collaborations, WCC aims to continue bringing the latest advancements in responsible AI into practice through software that matters.
About Software Combined
Software Combined is an international group that invests in successful B2B tech companies with a long-term vision. The company, originally Australian, was founded by three Dutch entrepreneurs (Niek Hoogenhout, Evert den Hollander, and Stefan Jansen) and manages its European operations from Amsterdam.
Software Combined's approach differs fundamentally from traditional investors. Preserving culture and autonomy is central: acquired companies retain their own brand, management team, and daily operational independence.
Software Combined acts as a strategic partner, providing resources that support sustainable growth. These resources include capital for growth, shared expertise in international expansion, refining go-to-market strategies, and professionalizing processes.
This "buy-and-hold" strategy allows companies to focus on long-term value creation without the pressure of a forced exit. Software Combined is building a community of like-minded tech companies that want to grow.
About Avedon Capital Partners
Avedon Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm with offices in Amsterdam and Düsseldorf. Avedon supports growth companies in the Benelux and DACH regions and works closely with entrepreneurial management teams to accelerate organic growth, international expansion, and buy-and-build strategies. The investments are focussed in four core sectors: business services, software & technology, smart industry, and consumer & health.
About WCC Group
Since its founding in 1996, WCC Group has been a pioneer for nearly three decades, providing intelligent workforce solutions that fundamentally transform the way organizations connect people and jobs. From its headquarters in Utrecht (Netherlands) and a strategic offce in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), WCC Group serves public employment services, staffng agencies, and large enterprises globally.
The company offers two solutions: Employment Solutions support public employment services and staffng agencies in matching candidates with jobs or training, while its HR Solutions simplify talent retention and internal talent management for large enterprises to reduce external recruitment and onboarding costs.
At the core of these solutions is the cloud-native ELISE Search & Match Platform, delivering meaningful, ranked results within a second. WCC Group's software impacts half a billion people daily and powers large-scale labor market initiatives worldwide, including MyFutureJobs in Malaysia (300,000+ job seekers, 30,000+ employers) and the recruitment activities of Robert Half in the United States, where it has established the company's reputation for innovation and effciency.