Why are the Best Java Development Companies in Eastern Europe?

If you have been looking for top Java development companies in Europe and found yourself at a loss, we will help you figure out where exactly to look for the best providers. In this article, we are going to discuss:

• The demand for Java specialists worldwide;
• Top Java development companies in Europe;
• 5 key reasons to opt for Java development companies in East Europe;
• Steps to hire a Java development company in Europe.

Global demand for Java expertise

In May 2023, the worldwide need for solid Java experts remains high. In the US labor market alone, there were more than 15,000 unfilled positions for Java developers (according to Glassdoor). In the European Union, this number is even higher – nearly 24,000 Java developer vacancies (according to LinkedIN). Businesses in the UK are currently looking for over 2,000 specialists.

These numbers show that companies are vying for every single expert out there, and sometimes have to wait for months to hire just one Java specialist.

Analysis of Java development companies in Europe

As of May 2023, Clutch lists almost 2,160 Java development companies in Europe. More than 65% of these companies are small boutique agencies with less than 50 employees aboard. The companies that claim to have Java expertise in Europe typically partner with businesses in eCommerce, healthcare, financial, and manufacturing industries.

If we take a closer look at these companies, we will see that many of the top Java development companies in Europe are actually located in Eastern Europe. So why should you choose them?

Why look for top Java companies in Eastern Europe? 

Out of the general number of Java companies in Europe, half of them are located in Eastern Europe. So what makes Western businesses choose Eastern European Java companies? Why does this destination stand out? Here are five reasons that make more and more businesses opt for remote Java teams in this region.

• A large number of Java developers in the region 

Overall, there are around 300,000 Java specialists in Eastern Europe. Countries with the largest number of these experts are Ukraine, Poland, and Romania. Poland is home to 80,000+ Java engineers; however, the lion’s share of them is working for companies that provide Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services. Next comes Ukraine with a little over 50,000 engineers. The third place is taken by Romania with 47,000 developers. The combined tech talent pool of the Baltic region and Moldova hardly exceeds 20,000 specialists.

Another aspect to take into account is the number of companies competing for Java engineers. There are fewer tech giants or global companies present in the region. Considering the fierce demand for tech talent in Western Europe, you can tap into the pool with much lower competition by choosing a Java development company in Eastern Europe. It will help you access better experts in a shorter time frame. 

•  A variety of companies to choose from

We have already mentioned the overall number of Java development companies in Europe. Let’s zoom in on the companies that are operating in Eastern Europe. A little under 400 Java firms have their headquarters, offices, and/or delivery centers in Ukraine. Poland is the home to 300+ Java development vendors. Another 180+ providers are located in Romania. 

We are deliberately not covering Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, or Moldova in this article, as there are less than 100 Java companies combined in these countries. On top of that, many vendors in this region are small providers with less than 50 experts. 

Many of the Eastern European vendors are recognized by international industry rankings like IAOP, GSA UK Awards, and many others. This proves that these companies can match Western colleagues when it comes to their expertise and the standards they follow.

• Wide domain expertise

Another important thing to consider is the domain expertise of companies in Eastern Europe. Similar to the Western European scene, companies in Eastern Europe have extensive expertise in Java development for eCommerce and healthcare industries. Unlike Western European companies, these vendors have also experience delivering Java solutions for IT companies. 

However, this doesn’t mean that other industries are left without any attention. You can see that vendors in Eastern Europe have wide domain expertise that ranges from advertising & marketing to supply chain, logistics, and transportation.

• A constant influx of new specialists

We should also mention the number of IT graduates in every country. With the rising demand for qualified specialists, Eastern Europe has a constant supply of new specialists that enter the market every year. In Ukraine, Poland, and Romania the combined number of Computer Science grads exceeds 40,000 people.

In these countries, higher education is government-funded, so aspiring Java developers can easily obtain a relevant degree in Computer Science. On top of that, many companies have in-house courses, training programs, and educational activities to help specialists transition to IT from other spheres. 

• Excellent technical expertise

And last but not least, Eastern European engineers are recognized for their expertise, skills, and experience. The SkillValue report shows that among the top 10 countries with the most skilled engineers five positions are occupied by Eastern Europe. In the TopCoder ranking, Ukraine and Poland are in the top 10 countries. And, according to the 2021 EF English Proficiency Index, all of the countries in the region have either high or moderate English proficiency. For comparison, among the countries with similar proficiency levels are Switzerland, France, and Spain.

Steps to hire a Java development company in Europe

Determine your requirements. Before you dive into searching for a Java development company in Europe, it’s best to define a set of requirements for your Java project. Will it be web development, custom software development, game development, system integrations, or other solutions? Your list of requirements should be as detailed as possible and include the features and functionalities you want your Java team to build. Such a list will help you better understand the type of skills and competencies you want your Java development company in Europe to provide. Your set of requirements should also have a budget, deadlines, and metrics to measure the success of your remote Java unit. All of this will help you find the most suitable provider for your needs. 

Choose the location of your Java development company in Europe. At this step, you should select a hosting country for your Java unit. You may want to take into account the following aspects:

• Java developer salaries. Remote teams are a great way to cut back on in-house development costs, given that you can choose a country where developer rates resonate with your budget. Luckily, Europe has a lot to offer. For example, countries of Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Poland, Romania, etc) boast competitive rates within a range of $50-$55 per hour of work of a skilled engineer, including service fees. 
• Number of developers. Not only do Java development companies in Europe let you save but they also offer easy access to a diverse pool of Java talent. For example, Java is the second most popular programming language in Ukraine. The country boasts up to 50,000 specialists in this technology. 
• Domain expertise. Another key aspect to take into account when choosing a Java development company in Europe is the developers’ experience in your domain. For example, Ukrainian engineers boast strong domain expertise in such industries as Fintech, Healthcare, Automotive, Telecom, and e-Commerce. 

Shortlist potential providers. After you reviewed Java development companies in Europe that fall under the requirements above, create a list of potentially suitable providers and include short comments, including information on their clients, area of specialization, and expertise in building Java development units. By doing so, it’ll be easier for you to remember why you decided to consider them. 

Do more research on potential providers. Now it’s time to review your shortlisted Java development companies in Europe in more detail. The goal of this step is to define which one has relevant domain experience to build your Java solution. With that in mind, you can review the websites or contact company representatives and ask them directly about their Java development expertise. The company of your choice should provide you with examples of Java projects, to which their teams contributed. Ideally, the provider should have solid experience in your domain. 

Ask for references. It’s best to choose a Java development company in Europe with a solid portfolio and verified reviews on trusted sources such as Clutch.co. In case such information is not available, it’s a good idea to contact past clients of a provider and ask them to corroborate the information. 

Interview providers of your choice. At this point, your list of potential Java development companies in Europe is more focused, which means you are ready to make the final decision. The best way to do it is to interview the providers via video conferences. The interviewing process should cover the following points: 

• Where and how the company sources Java talent;
• When they will be able to provide the first candidates;
• Your role in the process of building your Java team;
• How Java developers will be integrated into your team;
• How the provider will ensure their retention;
• The company’s pricing model and other policies.

These questions will help you narrow down your list of potential Java development companies in Europe even further to identify one or several ideal providers.

Draft an agreement and launch your Java unit. Once you have decided on a Java development company in Europe to collaborate with, the next (and final) step is to create a contract to formalize the agreement and a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to protect your cooperation. The contract should encompass all project specifications, Java developer rates, responsibilities, and other aspects you deem necessary. Conversely, the NDA will ensure the confidentiality of your project.

Final thoughts

So if you are looking for top Java development companies in Europe, it will be much easier to find a reliable vendor in Eastern Europe than in any other region. Countries there have a significant tech talent pool and a variety of firms of all sizes and specializations. We can also add a favorable business climate recognized by the Ease of Doing Business Ranking by the World Bank and the growing expertise in innovation marked by the Bloomberg Innovation Index. But we think that all of the above-mentioned reasons are enough to make an informed decision. 

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