The early 2010s saw Eastern Europe emerge as a rapidly growing hub for offshore IT services, capitalizing on a well-educated workforce, competitive costs, and proximity to Western European markets. By 2013, IT consultancy firms were multiplying across the region, carving out a distinct niche within the global digital economy. For analysts and policymakers, measuring this growth in a rigorous way required leveraging standard classifications like ISIC 6202—computer consultancy and computer facilities management—which offered a structured lens to track sector expansion and assess the impact of public support programs.
The foundation of this analysis lies in firm registrations under ISIC 6202. National business registries and chambers of commerce provide detailed records of new and existing IT consultancy firms. By comparing the number of entries over time, particularly between 2012 and 2013, analysts can identify growth trends and pinpoint hotspots of activity—urban centers like Warsaw, Budapest, and Sofia often emerge as key nodes.
Yet, registration data alone offers only a partial view. Not all IT consultancies serve offshore markets; many focus on domestic clients or other IT-related services. To refine the analysis, firm-level surveys are essential. These surveys gather information on client geographies, service offerings, revenue sources, and workforce composition, enabling differentiation between pure offshore IT service providers and other firms classified under ISIC 6202.
A crucial overlay for Eastern Europe is the role of EU structural funds. Many countries in the region have received targeted allocations aimed at boosting IT sector competitiveness and innovation. Integrating data on these funding flows with firm-level survey responses allows analysts to assess whether structural funds correlate with increased firm formation, revenue growth, or workforce expansion in offshore IT services. For instance, regions receiving higher EU investment may see faster growth in ISIC 6202 firms serving international clients.
This combined approach also supports understanding the quality and sustainability of growth. Structural funds often support training programs, infrastructure upgrades, and research initiatives—all factors that can influence the capacity of firms to compete globally. By connecting funding data with operational metrics from firms, analysts gain insight into how public support translates into market outcomes.
Challenges exist in reconciling data sources. Registration timing may lag actual firm activity, survey response rates vary, and attribution of growth to structural funds must be handled cautiously to avoid overstating impacts. Nevertheless, the ISIC 6202 framework provides a consistent starting point, enabling cross-country and regional comparisons that are otherwise difficult.
Beyond the data and analysis, this approach helps clarify where the offshore IT service sector stands and where efforts could be focused next. It offers a foundation for stakeholders to make informed decisions about investment, policy design, and workforce development, ensuring the sector’s growth is supported in a practical and effective way.