“I could either watch it happen or be a part of it.” – Elon Musk.

To be an entrepreneur means to take courage and become part of something its future perhaps is unknown. This nurtures curiosity in people to take such action to recognize their limits.

This article summarizes changes in ICT sector since we started with Kutia, from its inception to the present day, working with clients abroad. The beginnings of Kutia in 2013 in the ICT sector in Kosovo were not easy, considering the fact that there were already well-established companies operating in the sector. However, the sector itself was not as attractive and developed, given that existing companies mostly worked with local clients, and the demand for talent was low. Institutions in particular were yet to grasp the potential that the ICT sector presents.

However, compared to 2013 when our company was established, the sector has undergone tremendous changes and we are now faced with a very different landscape. To start with, the number of businesses offering ICT services, as well as education and training centers has increased significantly. This has led to an increase on the readiness of young people to specialize in the ICT industry, considering the potential and employment opportunities it provides.

While the number of people working in the sector has increased in one hand, on the other companies operating in this sector has shifted their focus on the external market. While the concept of outsourcing is certainly not new to the world and many countries have been reaping the benefits this brings for many decades now, it has started to take off in Kosovo only in recent years. ICT services are relatively easy to outsource and more and more companies located in developed countries are seeking to gain cost advantages by outsourcing their ICT operations in countries like Kosovo, where labor costs are considerably lower.

Consequently, this has led to a situation of a growing demand for skills and talent in the industry. While finding a client or a partner in external markets has its difficulties, now the biggest challenge that ICT companies are beginning to face is to create teams that are able to respond to the growing workflow coming from outsourcing.

When talking about the ICT and innovation ecosystem, it is worth to note that one of the most important components is skills and talent development. Having a plan and structure in place to supply the market with much needed talent is crucial to the development of the sector going forward. As the self-awareness and passion for web designers, software engineers, web developers and similar profiles is growing, institutions and key stakeholders have to build and implement strategies so that this talent is channeled properly and gains from the industry are maximized.

Unfortunately, so far we have been slow to react to the demand for skills, given that investments in human resources has started later and with a slower pace. While the industry is equipped to respond to a portion of demands coming from external markets to a certain point, investments in human resources are crucial for Kosovo to build a competitive advantage over other countries seeking to benefit from outsourcing opportunities.

Creating a sustainable ecosystem implies that there should be a sincere engagement from different stakeholders such as government institutions, existing companies, startups, interest groups and non-governmental organizations that manage specific funds.

As a board member at STIKK and a member of the AmCham Technology Committee, I am privileged to be able to give my contribution to the developments which are currently taking place in this sector. ICT companies should necessarily provide input on setting priorities for human development plans, as well as infrastructure and legislative developments. However, some of these developments depend on local institutions and international lobbying.

Those who are part of this ecosystem have seen the establishment of the Ministry of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE) as a positive step and as a confirmation that institutions are committed to investing in the growth of the sector and digital development. The problem may be the fact that pushing these processes forward from all may not be at the same speed, and this sometimes causes delays, but with more accurate and sincere coordination from all involved parties, it can bring more rapid results.

In addition to this, another channel that should necessarily be utilized to establish and increase cooperation with companies abroad, are international business-to-business events, as well as trade and investment missions organized in developed countries. In addition to serving as excellent mechanisms for creating new business opportunities, such events also have a tremendous impact on the maturity of our businesses, not least due to the fact that we are exposed to new and advanced ways of doing business.

As a company, we are committed to the long-term development of our staff, by frequently organizing in-house trainings, which help in knowledge sharing between colleagues and help them in upgrading their skills. Participating in various conferences around the world also deepens our knowledge of the processes, the way of working and the quality offered there.

In conclusion, I think the ICT sector is bringing the country many benefits overall, and institutions must pledge to provide the sector with the proper and deserved attention and support, as the only means to guaranteeing that we are able to keep pace and build our brand internationally.

This article presents the road through which “Kutia” has passed from its inception to the present day. Specifically, working with costumers from various European countries. The beginnings of “Kutia” in 2013 in the ICT sector in Kosovo were not easy. Considering the fact that there were already companies operating and already established over the years in this sector.

The IT sector in Kosovo at that time was more focused on local projects. Meanwhile, projects for external clients were realized to a lesser extent.

If we take into consideration the time of our start up as a company, this sector has undergone tremendous changes. The number of businesses that provide ICT services has increased. And with this, the number of programmers has increased as well. Moreover, the readiness of young people to become part of the industry has grown. By changing the mentality of young entrepreneurs in general, including myself, developmental approach has also changed. Now, projects for international clients are our target. This has contributed to the growth of quality, final products, and the rapid growth of the industry.

Currently, “Kutia” provides services to long-term clients and partners in Europe as well as in several states in the US. These collaborations help us to learn new things every day. This definitely affects the quality of life and the passion for the profession.

Participation in international conferences, business delegations, and online platform communication help us find new clients. Any investment we have made so far in these kinds of activities has proved to be a positive one.

The first contact with businesses abroad is the presentation of the working environment in Kosovo. Industry specifics, success stories of large companies working with Kosovo companies, and the opportunity to provide services from here.

As in every beginning of new relations, the process of building trust on both sides is very important in order to proceed.

First, we have the initial conversation with the client and discus the requests. Next, other team members who contribute with ideas for the realization of the project, join the discussion.

We know that not all online meetings may be suitable for everyone. That’s why we have traveled several times to European countries to meet our customers. At these meetings, we discussed the requirements closely. This helped us create a better working relation.

First, we define people who will work on the project. We set communication channels, management tools, and what is of great importance; the designation of contact people on both sides – us and the client.

Our way of working does not differ from the companies we cooperate with. We use the framework standard such as Scrum, and tools such as Jira, Asana, Trello, and Slack. However, we are open to exchange methods in collaboration with the client. Depending on which one suits the client the most. Thus, our transparency is 100%. We pay attention to our responsibilities and how we are processing, since the meetings are held on a weekly basis.

We have partners in the EU and USA, with whom we have been cooperating for more than 3 years. I think that what makes us different from other companies in Europe is the flexibility and fast service delivery, especially in special circumstances.

We offer web development services such as web applications, databases and mobile applications for institutions and respected clients in their countries, from Pristina.

In the next two years, we will also focus on developing products that will solve various problems in certain industries.

I invite Tech industry companies to visit Kosovo during the KosICT conference. They will be able to get acquainted with ambitious, loving people, and above all hardworking people.

This article is written by Arianit Fazliu for Outsource2Kosovo, STIKK.
https://www.outsource2kosovo.net/en/news/66/finding-your-tech-partner-in-kosovo/