Main points
- SoftServe is successfully operating in Colombia with offices where the majority of employees are Colombians.
- Customer focus and investment in employees are key factors in SoftServe's success in the international market.
Taras Kytsmey about SoftServe offices abroad and the value in people / Photo by Marcin Zielinski
Ukrainian businesses are able to gain trust despite competition in the international market. One example is SoftServe, which has opened many offices abroad, including in Colombia, and managed to establish itself there.
What is the secret of SoftServe's success in Colombia?
In an interview with Channel 24, the SoftServe co-founder said that 300-400 people already work in the offices in Colombia, and most of them are Colombians.
According to Kytsmey, one of the biggest surprises was that Colombian culture is similar to Ukrainian.
Taras Kytsmey
Co-founder of SoftServe
Interestingly, in Colombia, SoftServe, a Ukrainian company, is treated better than an American one. Because they feel that it is not just a business structure. We are a company with values. We invest in the development of people. And it is noticeable.
As Mr. Taras adds, although SoftServe is about technological services, at its core it is always people. In addition, the company has a highly developed customer orientation.
Since 1993, we have been selling our service through word of mouth. One satisfied customer brought another. Losing a customer was a disaster. They were literally idolized by us. I remember customers coming in and saying, “You treat us like kings.” And it's not because we declared customer-centricity. It grew out of experience, out of culture. Such things take years to form,
– Kitsmey notes.
The thing is that you can't have a happy customer without a successful employee, so the company invests in the success of its own people, and they, in turn, make customers successful.
Which companies from Ukraine are entering new markets?
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Just as IT company SoftServe is opening offices abroad, Saven is strengthening the position of Ukrainian manufacturing in the world. According to co-founder Andriy Berezdetsky for Channel 24 , the company is finding its niche thanks to thoughtful design and localization of products to the standards of each country.
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Interestingly, the highest profitability is observed in the markets of Poland, Germany and South Africa. In addition, last year Saven participated in the world fireplace heating exhibition Progetto Fuoco in Italy, where it established contact with Brazilian partners.
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However, there are many difficulties in the work, namely complex logistics to countries without direct connections and certification requirements that differ in each country.