Why is hiring Polish software developers a good idea?

In recent years, more and more companies have found Poland an enticing outsourcing destination, and not without reason. It is especially popular in the IT industry - Poland has almost 280,000 developers and 78,000 students graduate from science majors every year. The country has tremendous experience in development and finding great professionals to work on your project is no hassle - the talent pool in our country is huge. According to the statistics released by the official website of International Olympiad in Informatics, Polish students rank 5th in the competition, with three Poles in the top ten!??

It is not a surprise that Poland places in top of the software development rankings every year (it’s true – just google “best programmers by country” and see for yourself!), as the country puts substantial effort into IT education and technological growth.?

Of course, one of the top reasons for choosing Polish companies for outsourcing is the fact that Polish labour costs are significantly lower than in countries west of it, and the quality of the developer's work is high. We also have quite a large market for IT services here – according to IBISWorld, the size of it is over 8 billion euro in 2022 only.?

However, there are more benefits to consider when hiring devs from that area that I would like to suggest.?

Why choose Polish software engineers?

Poland has an excellent geographical location

First of all, consider the location itself - Poland is quite a big country right in the middle of Europe. Its central location allows for easier cooperation, as it is located in the GMT+1 time zone. It enables effective communication between all the parties involved in a project and allows the team members to meet in person if needed. It is easier to set up a video conference or a call than it would be with a team located on the opposite side of the world.?

It is also just a few hours away by car from many of the biggest EU cities. With 12 international airports in various parts of the country, an even quicker option for air travel is possible - a flight from Warsaw to Berlin, Paris or London takes only around 2 hours. Distance will not be an issue in building relationships with the outsourced team, as well as effectively having control over the commissioned project.??

Hiring a team located in a country closer to your own, you minimise the risk of unwanted delays and the negative impact of time difference on the project schedule.??

Most Poles speak English

Another important thing to consider is the potential cultural mismatches and culture shock. According to the EF English Proficiency English, Polish people have the best English skills in Central-Eastern Europe, which means communicating in that language will be easy. English is taught at Polish schools and universities, meaning that most people speak and understand it without issue. The software industry relies a lot on communication, especially during the earliest stages of work, so it is crucial to work with people who can communicate with your company easily and express their ideas freely. Even though we function as a global society, cultural incompatibility can cost a business way too much.?

It is easier to avoid cultural clashes?

Poland is also decidedly leaning more towards western culture than eastern one, so there is no surprise that American or British companies often choose that country's specialists for outsourcing.?

Even things such as body language or usage of signs and symbols can be different and, if interpreted incorrectly, can escalate a simple misunderstanding to an argument. Avoiding cultural clashes is very important, as smooth cooperation and mutual understanding of all people involved in the business ensure the seamlessness of work.?

Is working with developers from your cultural circle a good idea?

While I believe that diversity and international openness are great things to aim for, common culture makes misunderstandings and conflicts less likely to happen. Outsourcing works better when there is more in common between the parties.??

An outsourcing partner is, in general, an extension of your company, meaning that working with someone from a similar cultural background helps to unify the group working on a project. It is especially important when the outsourced team and your in-house staff work together on the project.