Bulgaria has been long recognized for having a strong tech industry and during the past few years has become one of the top software development hubs. Its geographical proximity to Western Europe and cultural similarities with US and Western European countries, the availability of technically diverse highly-skilled and multi-lingual talent, the affordable labor cost, and favorable taxation are among the main advantages of the country.

With heavy traditions in IT and mathematics that could be traced back to the communist times, Bulgarians have the strong technical knowledge and are one of the best performing developers worldwide as stated in HakerRank’s research. They rank 12th in the overall chart and occupy top positions in major technologies such as Java (#2) and Python (#3).

Why you should work with a Bulgarian IT company?

Among the multi-national organizations that have already discovered the advantages of the country and built their operational and development centers in Bulgaria are companies like HP, SAP, Microsoft, VMware, and others. Currently, the IT sector in Bulgaria consists of more than 65,000 full-time employees (excluding freelancing professionals) according to the National Social Security Institute (NSSI).

Another reason for choosing a Bulgarian IT company compared to other countries in Europe is because of one of the best price/quality ratios on the market. Bulgaria is known for its competitive labor costs compared to other EU countries, which translates into more affordable rates for IT services such as software development. The local IT companies have access to a talented pool of professionals with strong technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency in English. Also, they have a reputation for being adaptable and versatile, allowing them to work effectively on a wide range of projects and technologies.

As a result of the well-functioning education system and the rising popularity of privet educational organizations, this number is continuously increasing, making Bulgaria’s system very well suited to match the IT business needs.

At the same time, what makes Bulgaria attractive from an ICT perspective are the skilled workforce, EU membership, competitive labor costs, low corporate taxes, and a growing startup ecosystem.

What to pay attention to when working with a Bulgarian IT company?

Even though Bulgaria has a developing IT infrastructure, there are several indicators that make potential clients give second thoughts when working with Bulgarian IT companies. Among them are high piracy rates, lack of cybersecurity infrastructure, and lower-than-average service quality compared to Western-European countries. 

At the same time, the other two main topics you should be aware of are talent retention and choosing the right vendor.

Talent retention can be a challenge for the Bulgarian IT industry, with skilled professionals sometimes attracted to opportunities in other European countries. To mitigate this risk, ensure that the local IT company you work with has a strong team and a track record of maintaining a stable workforce. There are many local IT companies offering their services. It is crucial to perform thorough research and due diligence when selecting a vendor, considering factors such as experience, expertise, client testimonials, and portfolio of work.

How reliable are Bulgarian IT companies

The country has built a reputation as an attractive IT destination for developing software, establishing near-shore centers, and outsourcing business processes. With its strategic location and the steady growth of its economic and demographic indicators, the country has turned into a preferred development destination.

How Bulgarian IT industry relates to the neighboring countries

Having Romania and Greece as the main regional competitors, Bulgaria’s IT industry is positioned somewhere in between of those two countries in international rankings. While Romania probably has more capacities in developing web and software solutions for the foreign market due to a long-term investment in IT education and different business model, Bulgaria ranks better than Greece in some IT branches, such as BPO and Java programming. 

Also, the IT industry in Bulgaria has experienced significant growth over the past decade. An interesting fact is that the industry has exceeded the Country’s GDP Levels from 25 years ago. Compared to neighboring countries such as Romania, Serbia, and North Macedonia, the Bulgarian IT industry performs competitively. Bulgaria's competitive labor costs, skilled workforce, and supportive business environment make it an attractive alternative for clients and investors seeking opportunities in the region.

The Bulgarian Business Environment from an ICT Perspective

Deyan Denchev, the founder of Bulgarian Lexis Solutions appreciates the national business environment as being dynamic and rapidly growing especially since the country joined the European Union in 2007. On this basis, Bulgaria is becoming a regional hub for technology startups and outsourcing services. The local ICT industry is driven by a strong pool of software developers, engineers, and digital professionals, and the country is home to a growing number of technology parks and incubators that nurture startups and innovative companies.

At the same time, the business climate for opening a new IT company as a local entrepreneur in Bulgaria is generally favorable. There are multiple local investment companies like LaunchHub, Eleven, and Sofia Angels Ventures you can easily reach directly or through the local accelerating programs and network events.

SAP, SiteGround & Others Dominate the Bulgarian ICT Stage

At the same time, there are several prominent IT companies operating in Bulgaria, both local and international, that have made a significant impact on the country's IT landscape like:

- Telerik (Acquired by Progress in 2014) - a leading provider of application development tools and services for web, mobile, and desktop platforms -

- VMWare - a global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions - SAP - a market leader in enterprise application software

- SiteGround - a leading web-hosting company with a headquarter in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Government Programs Supporting the ICT Development

Governmental institutions in Bulgaria encourage the development of the IT sector through a variety of policies, initiatives, and support measures like investment in infrastructure - The Bulgarian government invests in digital infrastructure development to improve internet connectivity and create a more conducive environment for IT businesses. This includes initiatives to expand broadband access, enhance data center capacities, and promote the development of smart city solutions.

Also, the creation of Tech Park Sofia and INSAIT - Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Technology are two great examples of governmental support of the IT sector. Another way of encouraging the IT sector is through access to EU funds and the creation of a more business-friendly regulatory environment for IT companies.

Sofia & Plovdiv - The Leading Tech Bulgarian Urbs

The two best cities in Bulgaria for establishing an IT business are Sofia and Plovdiv. Both cities have unique advantages that make them attractive locations for IT companies and entrepreneurs. As the capital and largest city of Bulgaria, Sofia is the country's primary economic and business hub. It offers several advantages for IT businesses like a skilled workforce, startup ecosystem, international presence, and connectivity. Plovdiv, the second-largest city in Bulgaria, is also emerging as an attractive destination for IT businesses due to: - Educational institutions like Plovdiv University and the Technical University, - Technology parks like Plovdiv Tech Park - Lower operating costs - Compared to Sofia, Plovdiv generally offers lower costs for office spaces and living expenses 

The Bulgarian IT Talent Pool - Skilled and Attractive

According to Deyan Dunchev, the local talent pool in Bulgaria is characterized by well-educated and highly skilled individuals, particularly in the fields of computer science, engineering, and information technology. Bulgarian universities and educational institutions offer strong programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines, which contribute to the development of a qualified workforce in the IT sector. The IT industry is seen as an attractive career choice for many young professionals due to the high demand, competitive salaries, career growth, and global and entrepreneurship opportunities.

 

Node Js is a JavaScript runtime environment that allows developers to run JavaScript code on the server-side. Unlike traditional server-side technologies like PHP or Ruby, which are typically used for handling server tasks, Node.js enables developers to use JavaScript for both client-side and server-side development. Below we’ll dive deeper into the types of projects built with it, and how companies can leverage it for their projects:

Node.js is built on the V8 JavaScript engine from Google, making it incredibly fast and efficient. It uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, which makes it ideal for building scalable and real-time applications. Node.js is particularly well-suited for projects that require high concurrency, such as web applications, APIs, chat applications, streaming services, and more. It has a large and active community, which has led to a rich ecosystem of libraries and packages available via npm (Node Package Manager), simplifying development tasks.

As for the type of projects that can be built using Node.js, we can name the following:

1. Web Applications:  Many web applications are built using Node.js, often using web frameworks like Express.js. These applications can range from small personal websites to large-scale, enterprise-level platforms.
2. APIs (Application Programming Interfaces):  Node.js is commonly used to create RESTful APIs that allow different services or applications to communicate with each other. This is essential for building services that provide data to mobile apps, websites, and other clients.
3. Real-time Applications:  Node.js is favored for real-time applications, such as chat applications, online gaming, and collaborative tools. The event-driven architecture of Node.js is well-suited for handling multiple concurrent connections.
4. Streaming Services:  Media streaming platforms and services that deliver audio and video content use Node.js to efficiently manage and serve media files to users.
5. IoT (Internet of Things):  Node.js is used in IoT projects to handle data collection from sensors and devices, process that data, and communicate with cloud services.
6. Serverless Functions:  Node.js is a popular choice for building serverless functions or AWS Lambda functions due to its lightweight and quick startup times.

Node.js is a versatile technology that can be effectively utilized in both smaller and larger projects, but its suitability hinges on several key factors.

For smaller projects, Node.js offers distinct advantages. Its event-driven, non-blocking I/O model allows developers to rapidly prototype and develop applications. This makes it an excellent choice for creating functional prototypes, minimum viable products (MVPs), or simple web tools swiftly.

Node.js's efficiency in handling I/O operations can lead to responsive user experiences, which is valuable for small-scale applications like personal websites, blogs, or straightforward web tools. Moreover, Node.js itself is lightweight, making it suitable for projects with minimal hardware or resource requirements. It doesn't impose significant overhead, making it a cost-effective option.

Node.js is also well-suited for serving as a backend for Single-Page Applications (SPAs), handling API requests, and serving static files efficiently. Its ability to use JavaScript both on the server and client sides can reduce development costs by enabling code reuse and a single development skill set.

For larger projects, Node.js remains a compelling choice for various reasons. Its ability to handle a large number of concurrent connections positions it favorably for projects with high traffic and user loads. It's designed to scale efficiently, allowing it to distribute workloads across multiple servers or containers, making it scalable and robust.

In larger applications with complex functionality, Node.js can be employed to build microservices that communicate efficiently with each other. This modular approach enhances maintainability and facilitates development on a larger scale.

Node.js's event-driven nature also makes it an ideal candidate for larger projects requiring real-time features. It excels in managing multiple simultaneous connections, making it suitable for applications such as messaging platforms, online gaming, or collaborative tools.

Additionally, Node.js continues to offer development speed advantages regardless of project size, which can be particularly valuable in meeting tight project deadlines.

Furthermore, for larger projects with JavaScript as the primary language on both the frontend and backend, Node.js facilitates streamlined development processes, code sharing, and collaboration among teams working on different parts of the application.