Why Russia and Ukraine are Hot Sports for Financial Technology Outsourcing

During the last decade, the Central and Eastern European region has been steadily gaining momentum as a hot spot for IT services and software outsourcing. Such leading high-tech firms as Intel, Sun, IBM, and most recently Google have long recognized the region as a lucrative destination. What makes CEE attractive and why companies should put it on the list of preferred outsourcing hubs? In our today’s post we’ll try to analyze two countries which are particularly strong in software development – Eastern Europe’s Russia and Ukraine – in terms of financial technology outsourcing.

The basic criteria that both high-tech and financial firms look at when evaluating an outsourcing destination are largely the same: labor market, infrastructure, legal/IP protection, local risks and cultural/work ethics flavor. Although one important, but often overlooked, detail that make outsourcing for financial companies more difficult is industry-specific knowledge – in today’s fast-paced world, even outstanding technology skills are often not enough.

Industry-specific Knowledge. Russia’s profile as a financial center steadily rises. Many popular products, including portfolio systems, FIX engines, and analytical and risk management packages have been and continue to be developed in the region. While Russia does not yet have big-hit stories like i-flex, there is a surprising number of leading financial technology firms who do development in Russia, which is a positive trend showing the region’s vast potential. Ukraine is also changing its image attracting more and more global financial leaders like Barclays Capital as the latest example.

Labor Pool and Costs in Russia and Ukraine. CEE’s advantage is in its cost-effectiveness coupled at the same time with high standards of delivery. The main source for qualified IT labor is universities with 50-70% of the labor pool composed of computer science and math graduates. The best technical universities are based in cities that participated in the state-sponsored Soviet programs of cybernetics studies: in Russia such key centers are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, and Tomsk; in Ukraine the key centers are Kiev, Kharkov, and Lvov. Moscow tops the chart for labor costs, St. Petersburg follows closely with 10-20% lower rates. In more rural areas, average engineer salaries may drop as much as 50%. Ukrainian IT salaries are slightly lower than in Russia but vary by region.

Security and Intellectual Property Risks. Contrary to popular belief, Intellectual Property is highly respected among IT providers both in Russia and Ukraine. Both countries have recently upgraded their IP laws making them compatible with the Western tradition.

All in all, Russia and Ukraine are known as excellent R&D destinations for a good reason – superior technical talent and a can-do attitude for the most complicated tasks. Basic operational commodities, such as reasonable costs, reliable infrastructure, telecommunications and a legal system are now widely available throughout the region and attract more global financial firms.

Source: ITO News

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Russia Information Technology Report Q2 2010: Russian IT market is on the Rise

According to a new Information Technology Research report from Business Monitor International (BMI), the leading, independent provider of proprietary data, analysis, ratings, rankings and forecasts, covering the global market of IT services outsourcing and offshore software development, Russia is expected to start to recover in 2010 from a significant contraction in spending on IT products and services in 2009.

In 2010, the Russian IT market is forecast to grow to US$15bn, up substantially on 2009. Growing computer penetration, government ICT projects and rich potential for IT spending by Russia’s traditional industries could drive an increase in IT spending per capita from around US$107 in 2010 to US$190 by 2014, the report says.

As for the domestic software market it is projected at around US$3.1bn in 2010 and by 2014 it will grow at a CAGR of 15% to US$5.3bn, making Russia potentially one of the most significant global software market opportunities.

BMI projects an IT services market value of US$3.8bn in 2010. The IT services opportunity is forecast to grow to around US$7.2bn by 2014. The broader use of ICT in government and other sectors will ensure an upward market trajectory in the medium term. Systems integration is the largest IT services component, with as much as one-third of segment revenues and, together with implementation of hardware and software, probably account for about half of all IT services. However, more value-added services such as consulting and applications development are growing fast. Outsourcing is also on the rise.

Source: Fast Market Research

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The Economist Intelligence Unit Reveals IT industry Competitiveness Index

According to a new study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the business information arm of The Economist Group, and sponsored by the Business Software Alliance (BSA), the United States continues to rank first in the annual global IT industry competitiveness index. However its score has gone down a bit compared to the previous year as many other countries are nipping at its heels.

The study assessed and compared the information technology industry environments of 66 economies to determine the extent to which they enable IT sector competitiveness. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, six factors combine to create a sound environment for the IT sector, including: overall business environment, IT infrastructure, human capital, legal environment, research and development environment, and support for IT industry development.

Interesting to notice is that in this study Russia goes right after India and ranks higher than China.

Source: BSA

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Russian IT reports brilliant half-year

Last fall, a study was conducted by Linex analysts that helped formulate the assumption that there will be a change of trend in the IT market: the IT market, which was experiencing a slow rate of growth, is hypothesized to undergo a period of rapid growth.

The results of monitoring the first quarter validated the forecast that the market will be experiencing a faster rate of growth. The services that were most in demand on the Russian IT market were network and system integration, IT consulting - including consulting and custom application development, and maintenance and support of software and hardware.

Comparing characteristics of IT business from the first half year in 2008 with its analogous period last year showed that network and system integration, despite all forecasting and predictions, will not give up its place as the leader in Russia’s IT.

According to Linex’ “Real IT Market - Q2 2008” report, the results of the second quarter, and first half-year as a whole, allow the following conclusions to be made:

• The forecast that the IT market will experience a change in growth rate was accurate. The rates of growth during the first half-year increased by 55%, resulting in a 23.6% increase in profit compared to the 15.3% increase of last year.

• The growth rate of the Russian IT market for 2008 will be closer to the rate of market growth in the second quarter (20.8%), than to its anomalous high growth temps in the first quarter (27.3%). The irregular first quarter growth can be attributed to a marked increase in spending by the government sector on IT.

• The highest rates of growth in the first half-year were from the IT Services segment - 34.7% (in the second quarter, 27.7%). IT Services have become the engine driving the whole Russian IT market.

The full report is available in Russian at http://www.linex.ru.

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Russian Technical Power

At present in Russia and other CEE countries the growth of IT is quite impressive. According to some estimates the volume of Russian IT market in 2007 was between 11,9 and 17,6 billion dollars (source: CNews). And there are still opportunities for further growth as together with the government support Russia has a chance to become Global leader in the sphere of innovative hi-tech. That was forecast at the forum devoted to the Technological cooperation between USA and rapidly growing markets of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) – "Russia, India and China – Our Partners in the New Global Economy" which took place in Boston.

Implementation of the government program of Technoparks development, the “Innovative Code of Laws" which is aimed at stimulating innovations, as well as creation of laws on copyright protection are some of the initiatives of the Russian legislative and executive branches which were highlighted at the forum. Besides, during the meetings with the representatives of the Massachusetts business community the start of Russian-American cooperation upon creating a new Technology University in Russia was discussed.

If at least 30% of the planned initiatives were implemented, Russia would have undisputable chances to become a global technology leader.

Source: Outsourcing-Russia

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IT outsourcing Klondike in Europe

Every December is a high time for top management to gather and make serious decisions: drafting budget for the coming year and devising the company’s strategy. And IT outsourcing buyers are no exception. Board Directors gather in conference rooms and discuss plans for future company growth plans and new market expansions. And the question “where” they should outsource various IT services comes up in the first line.

A recent survey showed that Europe became the world’s largest outsourcing consumer. Given the evident nearshoring benefits – time-zone compatibility, cultural and geographical proximity leading to better communication and fewer costs on travel – which are coupled with an enormous pool of highly skilled  professionals in software engineering, Eastern Europe and Russia are likely to take place as chosen outsourcing destinations.

What’s more Russian IT outsourcing companies are highly lucrative for European customers if compared to new EU members in terms of quality of complex software engineering work, project management eхpertise, available skill set, and general credibility and maturity. Add to this the exceptional track record of Russian software development companies like EPAM Systems: SAP, Reuters, London Stock Exchange and many others. All of them are more than satisfied with the level of service they met in Russia, and keep returning there with new projects to outsource.

Another strong side of companies like EPAM Systems is the distributed delivery model. Numerous offices across Europe, US, and CIS and allow both the provider and its customers literally speak the same language.

The above being said, the market may see a surge of mutually beneficial Europe-Russia outsourcing relationships.

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Russian Software Exports to see 7% amplification by 2010

One of the world’s largest nations Russia keeps showing signs of full recovery from 1990-s financial crisis with impressive GDP growth rates in the last couple of years. This is to be accounted to Russia’s mature traditional industries, as well as innovative ones like software development for export (IT outsourcing). A recent report by market researchers at RNCOS entitled “Russia IT and Outsourcing Industry Forecast to 2011” states Russia is to maintain its leading position in the ITO market by surging its market share.

The scrupulous analysis provides all-round overview of the Russian ITO industry, its past and present day, IT spending, custom software development and box software solutions markets, perspectives and challenges for the country’s IT industry.

According to the report Russia has deservedly earned its spot among the most popular ITO destinations. Most important for IT outsourcing are its deep human resource pool and advantageous tax regime. These factors coupled with Russia’s far-famed intellectual potential support ITO industry health.

The Russians renowned globally for their creativity, autonomy, analytical thinking, and ability to solve complex tasks are valuable human capital for such industries as ITO which require huge intellectual investments. Russia in this respect scores high on the international arena and is a favorable offshore location. It attracts both foreign investors and buyers of software development outsourcing services who set up their offshore development centers in the country in cooperation with the local IT services vendors. Consequently, it fuels Russia’s IT industry’s further growth and fosters IT exports increase.

Geographical proximity to both European and Asian countries contribute to Russia’s attractiveness. With such geographic reach, time zones compatibilities resulting in easier communication and better services quality, Russian software vendors are more flexible and convenient partners than many of their competitors.

Stepping aside from oil industry, Russian governments have realized the bright perspectives of the domestic IT industry and have already taken measures to facilitate its growth. Their initiatives in legislation, taxation, and promotion of local companies abroad are fruitful for all parties and will drive to tangible results in the near future.

Forecast from RNCOS: the share of the Russian software exports will reach 10% of the global software outsourcing market by the end of 2010, which is a 7% increase from 2006, cementing the country’s place in the leading ITO trinity.


Source: RNCOS

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