Experts Explain: 5 Questions for the CEO of Erbis
This time, our CEO Anton Zimarev discusses running a business during the pandemic, new market demands, and industry trends for the upcoming years. 2020 was a transformative year for many industries, and IT & software development was no exception. Customer demands and behavior have changed in many ways, causing companies to quickly react and adjust to these shifts.
Aside from the unpleasant side of the pandemic, such a dynamic environment has led to new solutions and better business models. Get more insights from our mini-interview with Anton.
How has 2020 impacted your business?
Despite all the challenges 2020 brought us, it was a very successful year for Erbis. We gained a number of new clients and released several successful products for them onto the market. We underwent significant growth and uncovered a lot of valuable talents. One of the major challenges we had before the pandemic was finding the people with the right skills on the market. Since we have greatly expanded our geographical presence, we’re able to find skilled people more easily as most of our employees are working from home.
What are the 3 essential skills businesses need to master in order to succeed in this turbulent environment?
Adapting to an ever-changing environment, protecting and supporting people in all matters, and aiming for growth even in the hardest times.
Top employee qualities to look for in 2021?
Self-organization, motivation, and mental toughness.
Which industries will create more demand for software development solutions?
The healthcare industry is now facing a major breakthrough and we need software solutions to support this demand. The tools for remote work, online meetings, and collaboration saw a tremendous development surge due to the demand in 2020 across all industries.
How did the IT outsourcing market change during this past year?
Most of the big players fully embraced the remote work approach. This has opened new business opportunities and enabled companies to access broader markets. Since IT outsourcing is flexible and better prepared for the drastic shift that occurred, our industry has survived 2020 not only without crucial losses, but also with growth and expansion.
Is remote work becoming a new normal, and will it stay with us forever?
Yes, it will. The total madness of 2020 is coming to an end and the world will soon go back to normal, but remote work is here to stay. People have become used to working remotely and it’s hard to take that away, as many see it as a bonus.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, this year has impacted IT outsourcing in a positive way. Some things have changed; we have witnessed a switch to remote work, a massive demand for online platforms and cloud services, and tech breakthroughs for certain industries. Despite such tremendous transformations, outsourcing has proven to be a flexible and resilient industry, quickly adjusting to these shifts and continuing business growth.
While it’s complicated to predict what’s going to happen in 2021, overall market dynamics are moving in a few obvious directions. IT companies that stay receptive to industry changes, quickly adapt to new environments, and value their people will stay ahead of their competitors and obtain an industry advantage.
