By Barbara Lesiak, head of sales at GS Services
GS Services pole 2024

 

In today’s world, digitalisation is proceeding at a rapid pace. The adaptation of modern technological solutions is an element that provides organisations not only with operational and cost optimisation, but most importantly with business advantage. This requires specialised knowledge, modern tools and infrastructure, as well as the ability to adapt quickly to change. To fill the gaps in these areas, companies are increasingly relying on outsourcing as a strategy for gaining competitive advantage.

The UK is among the leading European countries in terms of digitisation sophistication, with digitisation trends and directions focusing on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cyber security, automation and sustainability, among others. Increasingly, however, UK companies are facing a number of challenges associated with digitisation, including skills shortages, high costs, regulatory complexity, systems integration, data security, and the need to adapt organisational culture.

The remedy to these challenges turns out to be nearshoring services, which the UK is benefiting from more and more. A particularly attractive centre for these services is Poland, which has a rich technological and human resources base, and Polish IT companies are seen as attractive partners thanks to the high quality of their services and competitive prices. Increased interest in this model of cooperation is evident, which may lead to further development of partnerships between British and Polish IT companies.

Geographical and cultural proximity

Poland, as a country relatively close to the UK, provides convenient geographic proximity; programmers can work remotely without hindrance, and can travel between the British Isles and Poland when necessary. In many cases, they boast experience gained in international teams, and their English language skills are at a high level, ensuring fluent communication in daily project work. Cultural similarities are also important, as they foster effective communication and relationship building, important factors in projects that require close coordination.

Access to qualified IT talent

Poland has a large and growing talent base of IT professionals, estimated at around 400,000 programmers. This is influenced by the high level of education in ICT fields, as well as significant investment in the country by major technology companies. Thanks to a thriving start-up ecosystem, more and more companies are emerging where ambitious and creative entrepreneurs are developing innovative businesses. They are taking them beyond Poland’s borders, seeking interesting collaborations, including in the UK.

Meanwhile, according to various sources, there is a persistent shortage of programmers in the UK, with as many as 93% of UK companies saying there is a significant IT skills gap in the UK labour market (Forbes Advisor and OnePoll, August 2023).

On top of that, as companies introduce new technologies, the need for highly skilled programmers is becoming more acute. Nearshoring therefore allows UK companies to access the talent pool, allowing them to fill staffing gaps and attract professionals with the desired skills.

Flexibility and scalability

Nearshoring allows flexibility in adjusting resources to meet the changing needs of digitisation projects. Companies can quickly scale software teams from Poland up or down in response to fluctuations in demand. This is crucial in the context of digital transformation, which often requires an agile approach. The company gets a specialist vetted for the required skills, prepared to work in a given environment, and equipped with the right tools and infrastructure, such as reliable internet connections. As a result, they can smoothly enter the team ensuring that project activities run smoothly and deadlines are met.

Cost reduction

Labour costs for IT specialists in Poland are competitive compared to the UK. On top of that, expenses for office maintenance, training, benefits are gone – everything is included in one service. Nearshoring allows British companies to reduce expenses on software development, while ensuring high quality of service. The released funds can be reinvested in other digitisation initiatives.

Access to the latest technologies and accelerated digital transformation

Polish IT companies are investing in the latest technologies, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and Big Data. They are taking care to upgrade the skills of their developers, who are eager to build their competencies in a bid to keep pace with evolving technology. Nearshore teams often bring expertise and experience in strategic areas, enabling UK companies to implement cutting-edge solutions faster and more efficiently.

Reducing risk

Nearshoring can also help mitigate the risks associated with digital transformation. The country’s stable economic situation is important, especially for long-term projects. By diversifying their IT operations across regions, companies can reduce their dependence on local resources and minimise the impact of potential disruptions such as economic downturns or geopolitical issues.

Best practices

To ensure successful implementation of outsourcing services from another country and to reap the maximum benefits of this cooperation model, it is necessary to adopt several best practices.

Start by properly evaluating potential partners based on their knowledge, business maturity, cultural fit and communication capabilities, rather than solely on cost savings. The supplier should demonstrate a deep understanding of the digitisation processes taking place in the client’s region and industry, and understand the specifics of the project and business environment.

Additionally, it is also important to:

  • Set clear expectations and communication channels
  • Select the right engagement model and team composition
  • Conduct a thorough vetting of consultants and deploying them appropriately
  • Ensure appropriate security factors for collaboration
  • Apply best practices for remote work and measuring the results of the work

In summary, nearshoring from Poland offers UK companies flexible access to talent, cost reduction, geographic and cultural proximity, economic stability, modern infrastructure and a friendly business environment. Correctly adopting this cooperation model allows outsourcing companies to realise their best potential. This allows better planning for growth and process continuity, and can thus significantly support companies’ digitisation efforts and accelerate digital transformation.

GS Services excels in providing IT professionals and technology services to bolster in-house teams. Our clients are organisations from different regions of the world, of all sizes and profiles that face a shortage of specialised IT teams or recruiting forces. We align our IT services to our clients’ business objectives and strategies to deliver value for money.