The impact of COVID has long become a challenge to the whole world. Even though the IT industry is one of the most flexible to rely upon innovation, IT companies also felt the impact of the coronavirus crisis. Nevertheless, the IT industry has shown remarkable flexibility and speed in adapting to changes and has not lost its strong position.
This article uncovers the consequences of the pandemic on the Ukrainian IT market, the measures taken by Ukrainian IT companies in response to Covid-19 and post-pandemic workplace trends of the IT industry.
The Consequences of the Pandemic on the Ukrainian IT Market
A decrease in the number of vacancies. According to the biggest IT job board in Ukraine, there was a decrease in the number of vacancies. There were only 210 advertised vacancies in April 2020. At the time of writing, this number increased to 958 offers and continues to grow on a daily basis.
A reduction in profits. During the first quarter of 2020, some IT companies faced a reduction in revenue compared to the same period in previous years including the second quarter of 2020. Now, as the situation stabilizes, the dynamics of revenues are improving.
Restrictions for IT events. Events for IT professionals are a great opportunity to meet with colleagues and discuss achievements in their specialized fields. Every year the calendar of IT events in Ukraine is expanding. More and more world specialists come to us to conduct training events or exchange experiences. Unfortunately, Covid-19 restrictions forced organizers to hold these events online, postpone or even cancel them.
New forms of work. Covid-19 became a challenge for businesses and forced companies to switch to new forms of work. IT companies have been building a remote infrastructure applying global remote resource practices. The transition to online cooperation has contributed to active testing of various online forms of communication. The necessity to implement digital transformation processes has grown.
A diverse pool of candidates to hire. The switch to remote forms of work provided the opportunity for companies to hire outside of their office locations. Some companies expanded the number of their in-house software development engineers and hired resources for remote work, without a need for candidates to relocate to the employer’s office location.
Measures Taken by Ukrainian IT Companies in Response to Covid-19
Ukrainian IT companies adjusted their work to today’s realities and took different measures in response to Covid-19. Here they are:
- Switching to partially or even fully remote work when the situation with the pandemic was critical;
- Supplying offices with disinfectants and information about Covid-19;
- Switching to online communication tools;
- Banning all business travels and replacing them with online meetings;
- Coming up with a business continuity plan;
- Ensuring compliance with laws and health regulations.
Post-Pandemic Workplace Trends
The pandemic forced a lot of companies into remote work, but government regulations allowed a choice of either a return to offices or to provide their employees with the mixed mode of work. So, some workplace trends are widespread in the IT industry.
Work From Anywhere
Post-pandemic reality suggests the opportunity to continue remote work for software development engineers. This trend has some benefits for employers:
- reducing real estate costs for organizations;
- the ability to hire the best available talent developers without geographic restrictions;
- increasing employee productivity (this is a debatable point because it depends on whether employees can balance their work-life and be productive away from the office or not ).
Many companies that changed their work format during quarantine opted for the mixed-mode. Providing the mixed-mode employment type, such companies offered employees the choice of how they wanted to work: in the office, partly remotely, or completely remotely
- Office format: a personal desktop is provided if an employee visits the office more than 4 times a week.
- Flexible: employees have a dedicated chair at a shared table in their team space if they visit the office 3 or fewer times a week.
- Remote: colleagues work remotely and use a shared space when necessary (for sharing knowledge, communicating with peers, the team, business trips, etc.).
Infinity Technologies changed its work format by providing employees with the mixed-mode work opportunity, plus the opportunity to travel to and work from any city within our office network.
Hybrid office model
This trend suggests making a hybrid office where employees come some days a week, for example, 2 or 3 days, to meet, collaborate and connect with co-workers, and then work remotely for the rest of the time. The hybrid office model requires careful management and communication approaches. Companies should set clear rules on where and when employees can work to avoid misunderstandings.
Infinity Technologies adheres to the principles of co-op office, as we work in a team where every member contributes to the prosperity and development of the company.
Digitization and reskilling
The IT industry was ready to accommodate the sudden demand for remote working. The pace of automation and digitization accelerated due to the need for social distancing and a continually evolving technology, so the IT industry fitted in with these demands. Some employees will need to develop new skills, and companies should consider reskilling these employees. Key focus areas are interpersonal and leadership skills.
Summing Up
The world hasn’t frozen. Life goes on.
COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of adapting technology choices being flexible with the tools of remote cooperation that end clients use to mitigate the negative impact of the virus. Building the necessary technological infrastructure will be vital for any company or country that wants to remain competitive in the post-pandemic world. The Ukrainian IT industry endured lockdown difficulties and maintained a high ranking place in the market, taking health measures and supporting post-pandemic workplace trends.
Infinity Technologies continues the specified health measures and it has become an everyday routine. We take care of our employees’ health. After the lockdown ended, a lot of office-based staff are more motivated to work productively from offices, but still, we give our employees the opportunity to work remotely if they prefer. The world has changed and we accept and adapt to these changes. For instance, our newly-built coworking location in Sumy is a place where local developers can implement a hybrid model of work!