In a post-communist environment, nine years after the Civil Revolution in Romania from December 1989, the young software engineers who were part of the initial team set up SOFTECH ltd. One of the first software development contracts was signed with one of the largest German technology companies. It turned out into a decade BoT (build-operate-transfer) project.

In parallel, the team started to diversify its project portfolio acquiring software development assignments in the field of professional media, architecture, building and construction and B2B Logistics.

Thus, by the end of 2008, the team reached a number of 50 full-time employees.

The winter of 2008/2009 was the moment when Governments and experts openly recognized the Global Financial Crisis that spread across the world in stages. With customers in Western Europe and the USA, SOFTECH was also hit hard by the economic phenomenon. In 2009, the owner had to take some dramatic measures to keep the team on board and make sure that wages were secured.

Consequently, it was in those times that the management acknowledged the need for a concrete marketing strategy and plan. One of the first steps was to actively promote its’ software development services for export, as an attractive outsourcing location. The initiative resulted in the establishment of a more diverse projects portfolio, including color industry, marketing services and mobile technologies. On the other hand, the growing need for skilled human resources led to the opening of a new office in Odorheiu Secuiesc (in 2010) and to the launch of the Codespring Mentoring Program. The latter was done in partnership with the elite university from Cluj-Napoca: Babeș-Bolyai Univeristy.

In the following years, the team focused on improving long-term customers’ satisfaction, on consolidating the technical lead roles, on fine-tuning the process of acquiring new customers with new projects and on securing a healthy retention rate. Therefore, the new verticals of this period were banking and finance, industrial devices, mobile technologies and the IoT projects. At this point, the results were showing up: a turnover of EURO 2 M, with a team of +75 people.

SOFTECH followed its organic growth strategy and beautifully embraced new sectors such as smart communications, energy management, home appliances. The business flourished, reaching a turnover of EURO 4.9 M and a team of +120 people. The international recognition was not late to appear: SOFTECH was included in the Financial Times 1000 – Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies list at the beginning of 2020.

On March 15, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Romanian Government to, officially, declare the state of emergency too. The company was prompt to adjust to the new situation with remote work possibility and a careful approach to the team’s well-being and state of mind.