A Goldmine of Tech Talent: Ukrainian Software Developers

Skill gap is shaking up the technology world

The technology talent gap in IT is a major concern in today’s world. According to a CIO Survey, around 65% of world technology leaders are facing hiring difficulties when attempting  to fill their IT roles. The report indicates that data analytics experts are one role that is particularly hard to fill, followed by cybersecurity specialists, project managers and business analysts. Some employers are trying to solve the problem, independently cultivating the specific talent they need. However, it takes a lot of resources and time. 

• The digital skills gap is a general lack of highly skilled professionals who know how to code, or even more – who are not only able to code, but able to recommend solutions. That means that tech job seekers are uniquely in demand both within the tech industry and without: as per Korn Ferry´s research, the deficit may reach 4.3 million skilled workers globally by 2030 and will cost the technology industries $449.7 billion in unrealized revenue. Skills shortages will be the worst in the U.S.
• According to a recent report by recruiting firm Michael Page, the demand for technology jobs in Singapore has grown by 20 percent in the last 12 months.  
• Taking into consideration European countries, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK will be among the most affected by IT expert shortages. 
• In Germany the lack of IT specialists reached a new record of 82,000 vacancies in 2018, almost double compared to the previous year, according to the German information technology association Bitkom.
• In 2018, 46% of all software developer vacancies in the Netherlands were hard to fill, 42% higher than in 2017 and the highest percentage in Europe. In 2017, 87% of businesses in the Netherlands experienced difficulties finding software development specialists. It is expected that in 2020 that number will further increase, with over 54,000 IT vacancies that cannot be filled in the Netherlands alone. 
• In the UK the technology industry is one of the fastest-growing, and as a result, demand for IT experts is extremely high. Qualified tech specialists are sought after to support new startups and SMEs. 
• According to the latest research, over 70% of technology employers are experiencing skills shortages this year. The most demanded skills this year are: Cyber Security (56%), BI & Data Management (41%) and Software Development (35%). 

Ukrainian tech talent pool

Do you experience difficulties in finding the appropriate tech talent to fill out your software development and data science team? Consider outsourcing experience. If you are looking for a balance between price and quality, Ukraine is a great choice.

Ukraine has one of the largest and fastest-growing pools of IT professionals in Eastern Europe. The country is becoming a preferred location for pursuing the tech waves of tomorrow, such as the Internet of Things, autonomous driving, virtual and augmented reality, robotics, and digital banking. 

In recent years, the Ukrainian software development market has grown rapidly, making the country second by number of IT professionals in Eastern Europe, predicted to reach 200,000 by 2020. Global Sourcing Association (GSA) named Ukraine the “Outsourcing Destination of the Year” in 2017. Gartner featured the country in its list of 30 top countries for offshore services seven years in a row, and the country has garnered many other honorable mentions across industry rankings.

Speaking of technologies, Ukrainian software developers grow and advance together with the market by exploring the latest technologies in demand (e.g. Erlang, Apex, Groovy, Objective-C, Scala, Kotlin, Node.js, Angular.js, React.js, Vue.js). Among the back-end technologies, Java remains the most popular programming language in Ukraine, constituting almost 18% of the Ukrainian IT market, followed by JavaScript and C#, 17% and 14% respectively, PHP at 12%, Python at 11%, and C++ at 7%. The number of projects using the latter increased considerably in 2019, which can be explained by the continued proliferation of Internet of Things. Other popular technologies are TypeScript, Swift, Ruby, Kotlin and Golang. 

Front-end developers usually work with the following frameworks: React, Angular, Vue.js. 

Apart from web development, Ukrainian IT specialists gained expertise in providing mobile application development for startups and enterprises. The areas of expertise include native and hybrid mobile apps for games, logistics, healthcare, e-commerce, fintech, education, and entertainment industries. 

At Unicsoft, depending on your business needs, we will analyze and select the best delivery approach for you, choosing from multiple technologies we work with: Java EE, Python, PHP, Ruby, C#, JavaScript, Golang (Google Go), etc. In mobile development we deliver full-cycle mobile applications development, mostly for iOS and Android devices, using the technologies in which we have strong expertise: React Native, Kotlin, Swift, Java, Objective-C etc. Our developers combine professionalism, a desire to broaden their tech stack and a flexible approach to work.

Another demand which is continuously increasing around the world is the need for embedded software engineers. The Internet of Things (IoT) technology has actively expanded its hold over a worldwide market. Billions of embedded software enabled systems are delivered annually. According to the Zion Market Research forecast, the global market of embedded systems will reach the $225.34 billion mark by 2021. This huge demand for embedded solutions has also caused a demand for embedded systems developers within the marketplace. For embedded development, you need to count on a Java developer, C++ developer or any other high-end computer programmer who has a deep knowledge of electronic devices, operating systems and the latest embedded technology tools. In order to stay abreast of the latest updates on the market and meet ever-growing customer needs, companies operating in such industries like consumer electronics, industrial automation, automotive, healthcare, and telecommunication look for the best and most affordable embedded software outsourcing providers.

When companies from all over the world search for engineering resources in order to extend their in-house teams, they often consider Ukraine as one of the best destinations for IT outsourcing. This Eastern European country is known for its strong technical education and a great number of developers who have immense expertise in embedded software development.  Ukrainian IT experts can demonstrate valuable experience in creating innovative embedded solutions which meet the most specific technological requirements. 

Why outsource software development?

Outsourcing software development and working with a skilled multidisciplinary team can help you execute your projects, reducing your labor costs, and improving your development execution speed.

The benefits of outsourcing your development needs include:

• Access to a larger talent pool and the latest technology
  As mentioned earlier, it is difficult to find the right IT talent in today’s marketplace. Outsourcing your software development gives you access to a wide pool of talents. By choosing an external IT partner who already has the required know-how and talented IT professionals, you don’t have to worry about mastering the newest technologies. Moreover, an outsourced team usually provides more accurate task estimations and is thus more likely to deliver your project on time.

• Cost & time effectiveness
  Most outsourcing software development companies offer quality services at affordable rates. Particularly when you consider outsourcing to developing countries. Medicare, taxes and other employee social services aren’t subjects of conversation when we talk about employment outside the country, so you can reduce the cost of hiring and in-house training of your software developers. Outsourcing can save you up to 60% of costs. In addition to that, a dedicated software development team with experience in agile methodology and high-quality project management have the ability to provide the best solution on time.

• Focus on your core business
  By delegating the technological components of your business, you free not only resources, time, and funds for other needs but also help your business become more effective, giving you the possibility to concentrate on strengthening other core processes.

• Risk management
  Nowadays, any outsourcing team consists of high-level professionals who care about their reputation in the IT world and are committed to continuous cooperation with the client. This means that they not only take certain responsibilities for the final product, but also manage your risks better

• Continuous support available
  Software requires regular maintenance and support. So, you need a dedicated team to deal with the ongoing bugs and modifications. If you have an inhouse team, it means that you have to pay a full salary in addition to different social packages. But if you outsource these tasks, you can adjust the workload to the maintenance needs, thus obtaining the flexibility in managing costs and occupation of the outsourced team. Also, in many cases, there is a significant time-zone difference between you and your software outsourcing vendor. This is an advantage as it enables your business to get the benefit of round-the-clock business operations.

To sum up, outsourcing software development is a great option for businesses to achieve their digital transformation goals and growth through innovation while reducing risks and increasing profit simultaneously. It also helps businesses obtain a competitive advantage without losing focus on their core processes and efficiency.

Nowadays, Ukraine is known as a source for highly talented, English-speaking developers who can augment your existing team or even handle a completely independent project which you wish to build from the ground up. Quality, variety, pricing and proximity are the main strengths of the Ukrainian IT outsourcing and software development industry. The country has an extensive pool of experts (scientists, software engineers, managers, etc.) with diverse expertise and admirable work ethics to boast of.

This opinion is confirmed by the founder of Canadian company SOSsitter,  Paulina Podgorska:

Ukrainian IT outsourcing vendors are saturating the market with next-generation embedded solutions which benefit businesses worldwide. When the customer requires a complex product, it’s a win-win solution to choose an IT partner with a wide range of competencies which allows the customer to cover all types of development and save costs, as well as avoiding additional efforts required to coordinate and align several vendors within one project. 

Unicsoft areas of expertise include Internet of Things, Machine Learning, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Web & Mobile app development, UI/UX design, Big Data and Business Intelligence. We provide end-to-end software development including maintenance, integration with third-party technologies, testing, and technical support. 

Unicsoft is among the top 200+ Developers as Global Leaders for 2018 according to Clutch.co, an independent research company from Washington. Adding to that, our company is also cited as being among the most reliable blockchain developers in 2019 according to TopDevelopers and GoodFirms; and in the list of Top 30 Artificial Intelligence Companies in 2019 according to Techreviewer. We are most proud of being an IBM registered business partner and Cloudera bronze partner. 

Proven success of outsourcing to Unicsoft 

Recently we helped one of our customers extend his software developer team for the Smart mobility embedded system for e-bikes project. Within a couple of weeks, we found a senior embedded developer with experience in smart mobility projects at very reasonable rates, compared to the European market. This kind of work in the EU would cost at least 30%  more. And it’s also worth taking into account additional cost-cutting on training, recruitment, workplace, events, and operational costs. 

Partender

Unicsoft provided developers for iOS, Android and web applications for bar inventory management. Today it’s a running business with clients like Hilton, Marriott, and Gerber Group. 

Adellica

Developed by Unicsoft developers, a native iOS and Android application for radio control by our client Adellica has raised £4 million investment.  

Read other success stories of cooperation with Unicsoft here. 

With Unicsoft’s team of caring and passionate technology professionals, you will save costs, increase technology expertise, deliver your software solution in the market quicker, and win your customers faster as you focus on core business goals. Access the most talented technology pool and get a high level of service, personal approach to business, care for your success and a life-long partner. Expand your options with nearshoring. Contact us!