IT Nearshoring: 3 Great Reasons to Choose Ukraine [Updated]

IT Nearshoring Ukraine

Explore why Ukraine is a top choice for IT nearshoring. Discover 3 compelling reasons, updated with recent market insights, that make this Eurasian country a tech outsourcing haven.

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    Modern business is all about engaging world-class talent to create outstanding products and customer experiences – while managing to do so at a reasonable cost. Luckily, now is the best time for ambitious companies to do just that. How exactly? For businesses across the globe, nearshore outsourcing is proving to be a winning strategy.

    In a modern economy, it rarely pays off to implement all your business processes in your home country. In fact, it so happens that the right talent and resources are often located elsewhere. This is particularly true for the IT sector, and that’s where a nearshore model comes into play.

    What is Nearshoring?

    Nearshoring, or nearshore outsourcing, is a practice of transferring business operations to a neighboring country. This strategy makes sense when a company needs to hire great talent or optimize costs, but still thinks proximity is an important factor. Today, a nearshore outsourcing model is particularly popular.

    Benefits of engaging a nearshore team

    • Access to the specialized talent that might not be available or is too expensive at home;
    • lower overhead and travel costs;
    • convenient time zones. Oftentimes, the time difference could be as little as an hour or two;
    • shared mentality and culture;
    • no language barriers;
    • protecting the company’s intellectual property rights is easier now that your near sourcing team is physically accessible at all times.

    Nearshore vs. Offshore

    It might be confusing to navigate the key terms around outsourcing so here’s a quick explanation for you.

    • Outsourcing nearshore – outsourcing to neighboring countries.
    • Outsourcing offshore – outsourcing overseas, often to a country across the globe.

    Finding a nearshore software development partner

    So where exactly can a business start looking for a reliable nearshore team? For many European businesses, it might just be across the border. With its 2,000+ first-class IT companies, Ukraine is at the forefront of nearshore IT services in Europe. Let’s take a closer look at why exactly.

    IT nearshoring: why Ukraine?

    1. The proximity of nearshore services

    Ukraine is conveniently located in the heart of EuropeUkraine is conveniently located in the heart of Europe, offering quick and convenient routes to any European capital or business destination. In fact, the geographical midpoint of Europe is located near the town of Rakhiv in western Ukraine.

    As one of the largest countries on the European continent, Ukraine is home to several vibrant IT hubs which also happen to be its biggest urban destinations. Kyiv, Lviv and Kharkiv stand out as the most dynamic and thriving IT nearshoring communities in the country. You can fly to any of these cities from any European capital in a matter of a few hours.

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    Ukraine’s unique geographic location on the continent also means that its nearshore partners can benefit from a convenient time zone. When you only have an hour-long time difference, organizing productive collaboration with your nearshore development team couldn’t be easier.

    2. World-class software developers

    – Exceptional technical expertise and skills

    IT Nearshoring: 3 Great Reasons to Choose Ukraine [Updated]According to the data provided by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the number of software engineers in the country reached 154,000 in 2018. Ukraine’s IT industry grew at a rate of 27% in 2018. Each year, a well-developed network of universities helps thousands of Ukrainian students obtain their bachelor and master degrees in software development. Global brands were quick to appreciate the engineering excellence of Ukrainian software developers. Samsung, Microsoft, Siemens and Magento to name a few run nearshore software development centers in Ukraine. More companies are to join them in the coming years.

    Moreover, as much as 18 Ukrainian IT companies are featured in The Global Outsourcing 100 list. The Global Sourcing Association named Ukraine the UK’s best delivery destination of the year.

    – Shared culture and mentality

    As a member of a larger family of European nations, Ukraine is a perfect nearshore partner in terms of cultural compatibility. Ukrainian developers share the same values and celebrate traditions that their clients from neighboring countries are well familiar with. At the same time, any Ukrainian nearshore company prioritizes productivity and cost optimization to deliver nearshore solutions that meet their clients’ definition of excellence.

    As well as that, Ukrainian developers often travel across Europe and the US, which makes communication with clients from all over the world seamless.

    – Hourly rates of Ukrainian developers

    Ukraine’s amazing pool of world-class nearshore programming talent is available at a competitive cost. Now is definitely the time to find a nearshore software outsourcing partner in this country before the market further changes. The average hourly rate of Ukrainian developers is some $25-$49, though rates may vary depending on the required programming language and skillset. This is lower than in most other European countries, where hourly rates start at $50 and could reach $100 and more.

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    All in all, if you’re looking for a talented and dedicated nearshore development services at a business-friendly cost, Ukraine is the destination to go for.

    3. Robust IT infrastructure

    IT Nearshoring: 3 Great Reasons to Choose Ukraine [Updated]Ukraine rightfully claims its place among the continent’s best nearshore software development destinations. Sometimes called Silicon Valley of Europe, it invests heavily in building powerful IT infrastructure and dedicated communities.

    Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Odesa all have thriving IT clusters. These creative spaces engage and educate talented youth and offer career opportunities and advice for IT specialists. Ukrainian IT companies join clusters to foster sustainable urban development and engage the best talent the country has to offer.

    Ukrainian technical universities provide IT companies with thousands of IT graduates every year. Some of the best universities with IT specialties are:

    • Kyiv Polytechnic Institute
    • Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute;
    • Lviv Polytechnic National University.

    At the same time, Ukrainian IT companies invest heavily in training their engineers. This is true for both hard and soft skills. Those seeking networking opportunities can attend international IT events, for example:

    • Outsource People Kyiv;
    • IT Arena;
    • iForum;
    • IT Weekend Ukraine;
    • Dev Challenge 12;
    • Mobile Beach Conference;
    • GDG DevFest and more.

    Wrapping up

    Ukraine should definitely be on your list of potential nearshore development outsourcing destinations. Ukrainian developers stand out thanks to their remarkable skills and shared values. At the same time, their hourly rates are much more affordable for businesses of all sizes.

    If you think the time has come for you to embrace a nearshore business model, you have 2,000+ Ukrainian IT companies to choose from. Need some help? Check out this handy guide on how to hire remote software developers in Ukraine

    Or contact us right now to discuss your nearshore needs with Echo experts – we’re really just one message or phone call away.

    Tags: advantages, cost-effective, development, it, location.

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    I am a freelance writer and marketing enthusiast with a keen interest in emerging technologies, IT landscape and software products that make our world a better place.
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    li profile Ira Chopovska

    Digital Marketer

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    Jack
    Jack
    9 years ago

    I think the IT industry of Ukraine has a big future. Our company had some projects with ukrainaian developers, everything was done at highest quality and the prices vere compareably low. Ukraine has the biggest IT potencial in eastern Europe and all post-soviet region. Efficent goverment policy and foreign investments will help it become the IT centre of Eastern Europe. Peace to your county!

    Lou
    Admin
    Lou
    9 years ago
    Reply to  Jack

    Jack, thanks for such pleasant feedback! If you have any interesting ideas in terms of future cooperation let us know.

    Jerry Notpit
    Jerry Notpit
    9 years ago

    One of the companies I do business with has set up their own office in the Ukraine and it has been a very positive experience. Since I have been considering do the same I am glad I came across this blog while doing a Google search. It has a great deal of useful information.

    shaun wright
    shaun wright
    9 years ago

    I had heard that the Ukraine is the next Silicone Valley and the idea of it has sparked my curiosity. I would like to speak to you or one of your freelancers about some work. I notice you have a contact form on your site but I figured I would throw the request in here. πŸ™‚

    Lou
    Admin
    Lou
    9 years ago
    Reply to  shaun wright

    Sure! My skype ID is echoradar7. We can have a chat/talk whenever it’s convenient for you.

    Emma
    Emma
    5 years ago

    Your article makes a strong case for Ukraine being a great location for IT nearshoring, although I did notice that this post is several years old. Is the industry still growing now like Stanislav Sheliakin predicted, or has it lost steam in the last year or so? It’d be fantastic if it’s still improving.

    Quick question: Is it better to find small IT companies for outsourcing, or are the bigger companies better for reliability and results?

    Lou
    Admin
    Lou
    4 years ago
    Reply to  Emma

    Hi Emma. That’s right. The information in the blog post was a bit out of date and we have updated it now. In regards to your question, there are many other factors which might have a strong influence on your final decision so there is no simple answer. Personally, I would stick to smaller IT companies.

    Abhishek
    Abhishek
    5 years ago

    Dear Team,
    I’m Abhishek from Germany, responsible for nearshoring and offshoring activities for our company. It would be helpful if we are able to schedule a Skype call, so that I am able to clarify some queries and understand more about your company.

    Sam
    Sam
    4 years ago

    Ukraine looks to be a promising hub for IT nearshoring given its proximity to nearshore services, word-class software developers, and general societal culture and its compatibility with other EU countries. With a combination of skills and shared values, there is no reason why it should not be on your list as a potential nearshore development outsourcing destination. Do we expect this positive outlook to continue?

    Lou
    Admin
    Lou
    4 years ago
    Reply to  Sam

    @Sam, thanks for your comment. Ukrainian IT outsourcing industry is booming now and I hope it will be growing at the same pace at least till 2025.

    Ready to discuss your challenges?