How does IT outsourcing help businesses in Kazakhstan?

— Nurgul, many companies do not pay enough attention to the IT infrastructure when creating a business. Why do you think this is critically important?

— IT infrastructure is the basis for the smooth operation of any company. Today, almost all business processes are tied to IT systems. If they are unstable, then this can negatively affect the activities of the entire enterprise. Without access to data, reliable means of communication and cybersecurity, the business simply will not be able to function. Unfortunately, many underestimate this factor, preferring to save on the development of the IT direction.

— How developed is the IT outsourcing market in Kazakhstan?

— In Kazakhstan, the IT outsourcing market is just beginning to gain momentum. However, unfortunately, we do not have accurate statistics that would allow us to assess its real development. The Statistics Committee’s website has data on the share of ICT services in the economy, but they do not provide an opportunity to detail information on outsourcing segments. This is due to a number of factors: the variety of IT services, the lack of a unified register of outsourcing companies and the difficulty in conducting in-depth research.

— What do you mean by “variety of services”?

— Outsourcing covers many areas: from technical support and system administration to software development and information security. Each of these areas has its own characteristics, and, of course, it is difficult to develop a single methodology for collecting data on such a wide range of services.

— What prevents the creation of a centralized registry of outsourcing companies?

— Lack of standardization in this area. There is no common accounting system for such services yet, which makes it difficult to collect and analyze data. To understand the level of outsourcing penetration into the economy, specialized research is required, which demands significant time and financial costs. This is one of the reasons why such data is not yet available.

— Despite these difficulties, you mentioned that the outsourcing market is still showing positive dynamics. What is the reason for this?

— Yes, this is indeed the case. More and more companies are beginning to realize the benefits of outsourcing some functions. The main benefits they receive are, firstly, cost reduction. Companies can save money on personnel, hardware, software and other aspects of IT support. Secondly, it is an increase in efficiency — with the help of outsourcing, you can get access to expertise and advanced technologies, which significantly improves the quality of services. Finally, companies can focus on their core competencies without being distracted by technical details.

— How do you see the future of IT outsourcing in Kazakhstan?

— I am sure that this segment will only grow. This is especially important for small and medium-sized businesses, which often cannot afford to maintain a full-fledged IT department. For such companies, outsourcing is an opportunity not only to save money, but also to gain access to modern solutions that will help them develop. Taking into account global trends and the transition to digital technologies, we expect that the demand for IT outsourcing in Kazakhstan will increase.