IT Outsourcing in Poland: 7 Major Highlights You Need to Know in 2022

State of Software Development Outsourcing in the European Region

An acute shortage of skilled labor, tight deadlines, and the excessive cost of managing an in-house software development team force many Western companies to look for profitable offers offshore. What region do they find most suitable for delegating the development process to an outsourcing company? That's right — Europe!

Why so? It's simple: the secret to the prosperity of the IT outsourcing industry in Europe lies in the right mix of political, economic, and social factors. As the report by Kearney states, the software development sphere in this region is characterized by the following aspects:

• High educational level;
• English language proficiency;
• Reasonable price-quality ratio;
• Strong communication culture;
• Convenient time zones.

The ever-increasing collaboration between Western customers and European outsourcing companies shows that this trend will continue to grow. According to the latest data from Statista, the European offshoring market will expand by 8% annually to reach $186 billion by 2027, compared to $126 billion in 2022.

Costs to Outsource a Software Development Company in Europe

Europe is large, and there are several regions that differ in the cost of living and, accordingly, in the price of software development services. Which ones are the cheapest and which ones will require a significant financial investment?

As you can see, Central Europe is the most affordable place for outsourcing a software company. But countries in this region also differ in their offerings.

Top Countries in Central and Eastern Europe for Doing Business

Polish outsourcing companies are considered the most reliable, but they are not alone in attracting Western clients with their affordable prices and high-quality development services. The rest of Central and Eastern Europe is not left out. Let's find out what awaits us in other IT centers in this region.

1. Poland

2. Ukraine

3. Czech Republic

4. Romania

5. Bulgaria

Why Poland Is an Up-and-Coming Player in the Industry

Poland is a country often overlooked in the software development outsourcing industry. However, it is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the global business landscape. Just take a look at the table below, illustrating the prominent tech giants currently operating in this country.

What is it about Poland that attracts such high-profile enterprises?

Large Pool of IT Talents

Recently, Poland has made a name for itself as a country with a skilled and educated workforce. For example, in 2021, it had 430,000 qualified IT workers, compared to 200,000 in Ukraine and 100,000 in Romania. The country is still seeing a massive influx of tech companies and startups, which only contributes to the growing talent pool.

Poland invests heavily in education and training. In addition to vast technical knowledge, Polish developers usually speak several foreign languages. Most companies in the Polish market offer services in at least 5 widely used languages: English, Spanish, German, French, and Italian. This way, any foreign company that decides to cooperate with Poles can be sure the language barrier will not be an obstacle to fruitful work.

Hot Spot of Innovative Solutions

Thanks to its talented and skilled workforce, Poland has become a hub for IT innovation lately. Polish specialists are at the forefront of many exciting software developments. Most of them are related to such cutting-edge technologies as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, machine learning, and big data. Poles are also recognized for making significant contributions to open-source projects. Saleor, Leo Rover, Scramjet, Magnet Coop, and Vasco are the ones that are growing in popularity these days.

Fun fact: 3,000+ startups, 130+ VC firms, 10 unicorns (making Poland the leader in Central and Eastern Europe), 100+ accelerators & incubators, 255,000 software engineers call Poland their home.

Strong Work Ethic

In the IT field, having a high work ethic can be the difference between success and failure. Fortunately, this is not a problem in Poland. The country has one of the strongest work ethics in the world, and this is especially true in the IT sector.

It is part of the mentality in Poland to express one's opinion and be heard. Such individual input is highly valued in the IT environment. Polish professionals are also known for their dedication and hard work. They are always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. Another point worth mentioning is cohesive teamwork. In any Polish company, all team members are equally aware of the project, which helps work as a mutually respectful and efficient crew.

Upscale Cybersecurity

Internet and personal data security is another critical issue that falls away after the decision to outsource software development to Poland. Who provides this?

Since Poland is part of the European Union, all IT service providers in that country must comply with strict data protection policies and maintain a high level of cybersecurity. These measures, according to the Global Cybersecurity Exposure Index, make Poland a low-risk country for cybercrime.

Favorable Location

Another key advantage of working with Polish contractors is the country's convenient location. It is centrally located between East and West, which makes Poland a great base for companies that want to do business in both markets.

As for the time difference, it is not as significant as in the case of truly eastern countries — China, India, or other traditional offshoring destinations. Polish cities are 6–7 hours ahead of the East Coast. This time difference is acceptable enough for businesses located in the United States.

Supportive Government

The political situation is generally opportune for IT outsourcing in Poland. The country's leadership has created a promising environment for business, with a number of incentives and programs to encourage growth.

Over the past decade, the government has allocated funds to boost digitalization and invest in business development. As a result, Poland has managed to become the 8th largest economy in the EU. This serves as a major stimulus for more foreign investment, making Poland quickly become a key player in the global IT landscape.

Relatively Low Cost of Living

How often do you hear that someone has spent less money to create a product than it was initially planned? This is a common situation in Poland, compared to other Western European countries. Several factors contribute to this, including lower wages, taxes, and prices for goods and services. For businesses looking to save money, outsourcing IT to Poland is an ideal option.

Not only is the cost of living lower there, but the quality of life is quite high, with Warsaw considered one of the most livable cities in Europe. Poland is a safe and friendly country with a rapidly growing economy. It's also a great place to live and work, with ample opportunities for career advancement.

Top Polish Tech Companies to Outsource Your Project

When it comes to outsourcing software projects, you want to partner with a company that you can trust to deliver high-quality results on time and budget. To help you make the right choice, we've compiled a list of the top Polish tech companies that are sure to exceed your expectations.

1. Qulix

About:

Qulix was founded in 2000 with the goal of providing world-class software development services to businesses around the world. For more than 20 years we haven't stopped building innovative solutions in fintech, banking, insurtech, and adtech. With a team of 500+ IT experts, we have created tailor-made solutions for 200+ clients from 30 countries. Our successes have been recognized by the international tech community on many occasions. One of the latest examples is Clutch. In 2022, it listed Qulix as one of the Top Software Testing Companies in Poland. What’s more, you can find us among the companies included in the IAOP's 2022 Global Outsourcing 100 list.

Services:

• Custom software development;
• Back-end & front-end implementation;
• Cloud, mobile, web app development;
• Software integration;
• Software migration;
• DevOps services;
• QA & testing;
• R&D;
• IoT.

Top clients:

• Raiffeisen Bank;
• UNICEF;
• iHeart Radio;
• Alcatel-Lucent;
• Volkswagen;
• Scania;
• Corcoran Group;
• Société Générale.

2. The Software House

About:

The company’s history began in 2012, when its three founders — leading software developers — decided to start their own company to help other businesses harness the power of technology. Over 10 years of its existence, the Software House has successfully developed state-of-the-art products for customers in 24 countries and boasts a team of 220 skilled and passionate employees. If you visit Clutch, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the company’s rating — 4.8/5.0.

Services:

• UI/UX design;
• Custom software development;
• Cloud engineering & DevOps;
• Web & mobile development;
• Software architecture;
• Quality assurance;
• Technology audit & consulting.

Top clients:

• eSky.com;
• TVT;
• Pet Media Group;
• Prisma;
• Synerise;
• Smartum;
• Takamol.

3. N-iX

About:

N-iX is one of the leading software development and consulting companies in Poland. Since 2002 its huge team of more than 2,000 specialists has been providing software development, quality assurance, and DevOps services to corporate clients, including Fortune 500 companies. Today, N-iX boasts numerous prestigious recognitions, such as Inc. 5000 Europe, Clutch, and Software 500. It’s also ranked in the IAOP Global Outsourcing 100.

Services:

• Custom software development;
• Cloud services;
• Data analytics;
• IoT & embedded development;
• DevOps;
• UI/UX design;
• R&D;
• Technology consulting.

Top clients:

• Gogo;
• Office Depot;
• Deutsche Post;
• Orbus Software;
• Messer;
• TuneIn;
• Cleverbridge.

4. Software Mind

About:

Software Mind is another large company on our list with 20+ years of experience and 1000+ skilled employees. Since 1999, it has established 11 R&D centers around the world, completed 1000+ projects, and served 250 clients from 30+ countries. Software Mind specializes in financial and telecom software development and startup development acceleration.

Services:

• Product engineering;
• Custom software development;
• Cloud services & consulting;
• UI/UX design;
• Digital transformation services;
• Startup development acceleration.

Top clients:

• Dell;
• Syniverse;
• CitiBank;
• Corelogic;
• Backbase;
• Deposit Solutions.

5. Elinext

About:

Elinext is a trusted partner for companies of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. With 25 years of experience in the IT industry, they have earned a favorable reputation for delivering quality results and excellent service. The company's highly skilled software engineers have successfully served 300 clients worldwide and boast a low attrition rate of 9%. Elinext has 12 international offices, so any business can find a suitable one with a convenient location and time difference.  

Services:

• Custom software development;
• Business analysis;
• UI/UX design;
• Mobile & web development;
• QA & testing;
• DevOps;
• Maintenance & support;
• Software product engineering.

Top clients:

• Siemens;
• Broadcom;
• Parrot;
• Trumpf;
• AIG;
• TransPerfect.

How About Eating Pierogi with Polish Software Developers?

There's no doubt that IT outsourcing is a big industry. And it's only getting bigger as more and more companies seek to save costs and increase efficiency by delegating software development to a reliable outsourcing vendor. But where can you found one? If you're looking for quality and value, you can't go wrong with Poland.

This country has all the necessary ingredients to become a major player in the outsourcing industry. With a skilled workforce, favorable location, and a growing economy, Poland is poised to make a big impact on the entire technology field.

Need a head start in a Polish IT sector? Choose Qulix as your trustworthy outsourcing partner. Contact us today, and we'll handle all your IT needs, from website development to code audit.