“You’re on the right track, comrades!”: Representatives of the IT industry spoke about the vectors of development of science and technology19:05 | 02 July 2023

The past year has been tough for a variety of industries, including information technology. But now the situation has gotten a little better and Russian IT companies are successfully coping with the challenges of import substitution. The withdrawal of foreign players from the market created new opportunities for local companies to develop and new ventures to emerge. The industry is seeing increasing demand for industry-specific software solutions. However, the development of such programs requires large resources and may face competition from Western software in the future.

The trend in the information technology market is the creation of ecosystems in which companies try to combine various programs from different manufacturers. Some Russian companies are already taking an ecosystem approach, adding additional services to their core products. However, experience in integrating different solutions is required to create a single Russian platform to replace imported software. The task of collecting all components rests with the integrators.

The situation in the Russian information technology market is beginning to change for the better. Separation of foreign companies created new opportunities for local players and encouraged innovation. Despite obstacles such as competition from Western software and lack of experience in developing industry solutions, the industry continues to evolve and seek its own growth paths. This promises interesting changes in the Russian IT market in the future.

According to experts, the state and its role in the development of the Russian IT industry are key factors. Companies need government support, especially in the form of grants and soft loans. They also propose using long-term contract and tax incentives to stimulate demand for Russian IT solutions. The government should avoid over-regulation and help the industry develop. Industry communities also play an important role in the development of the Russian IT market, providing cooperation between companies, exchange of experience and assistance in solving various problems.

The transition to native software may take some time, about 2-5 years. It is now important to start testing and educating users to seamlessly transition to new solutions. However, there are some difficulties, especially for companies that already use foreign programs. Coping with the transition will take time and effort. While there has been some relief thanks to professionals from overseas companies, there is also a lack of experienced IT professionals. It is important that import substitution is conscious and long-term, business processes do not slow down and the state continues to support the development of the industry.

Russian IT companies are optimistic about their prospects for entering international markets. The interest of foreign players in Russian solutions has increased. Some Latin American countries are already showing demand for the products of Russian companies, and Russian companies are ready to offer products to other friendly countries. Entering a new market requires significant costs and government support. Russian IT companies also see the immediate environment as an attractive market. There is no language barrier, the mentality is close to Russian and the entry threshold is low. Some developers are expanding their business by opening offices in these countries despite their smaller market size. The government is actively implementing a program of “digital attaches” that will help protect the interests of Russian developers in the international arena. While the results of this program are not immediate, they will have a significant impact in the future.