Software Giants

Nasha Niva 2005-04

The magazine Managing Offshore (managingoffshore.com) published its rating of major export–oriented IT companies. Two large Belarusian computer firms, namely EPAM Systems (EPAM.by) and International Business Alliance (iba.by), are included in this list. In the category TOP 10 SPECIALTY APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT LEADERS, these companies are rated as number three and seven, respectively, while in the category TOP 5 TO WATCH IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, as number one and two.

Client data, operational capabilities, and human resource policies were assessed to assign a certain rank to a company. Although EPAM Systems is marked as a US company in the ranking, most of its more than 1000–strong team works in Minsk at Horuzhey Street, in Gomel or in Grodno.

Arkadiy Dobkin, EPAM President, is a graduate of the Belarusian National Technical University. After the disintegration of the USSR, he immigrated to the USA, where he founded EPAM Systems. Last year, EPAM was the only company from the Central or Eastern Europe to be included in the Software Magazine's top 500 (ranked 355th). The company's annual revenue served as a basic index for the ranking. EPAM clients include world leaders, such as SAP; Microsoft; Compaq; Reuters; the telecommunication giant British Telecom; Procter & Gamble; the London Stock Exchange, the Central Bank of Russia, EES Russia, and Rosenergoatom. EPAM partners in R&D are the Belarusian State University, the Belarusian National Technical University, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Manheim University of Germany.

IBA is a winner of the Belarusian Government's awards “Quality 1999” and “Quality 2002”. The company was founded in early 1993 as a joint venture between IBM Corp. and several Belarusian organizations. Initially, IBA employed about ten people, while now the number of specialists exceeds 1000. The Belarusians typically pride themselves on the giant plants decorated by the Order of Lenin or named after Party congresses. However, the most well known Belarusian enterprises are software companies. Our machine–building giants produce goods that are competitive only on the markets of the third world countries, including Russia. IT is the most advanced area, and the Belarusians keep pace with their competitors from India and Ireland.

IT firms closely collaborate with Belarusian higher education institutions and numerous IT specialists teach at universities, thus training highly qualified staff reserve. Beginning from the second year of studies, talented students are involved in real IT projects.

IT products have large added cost. The living standard of IT employees is among the highest in Belarus. In addition, low material and energy costs differentiate IT companies from the giants of Soviet times completely dependent on Russian steel and gas. The World Top 100 features not just good companies but the future of the Belarusian economy.

Ales Piatkevich.