Market changes, IT remains
One of Poland's leading IT integrators, Softbank, says it is planning to switch its focus from the banking sector, where most of the institutions have finished building their systems, to the public sector. They see the thousands of state and local government systems that need to be developed to comply with EU guidelines as a potential gold mine.
"Integrated systems are passing into the shadow zone. The public sector now shows the biggest growth dynamics," says Softbank president Krzysztof Korba.
Estimates suggest total public IT bids, valued at zł.2.37 billion in 2003, are set to double in two years. The company hopes to double its revenues from public administration contracts by 2006, to reach zł.150 million.
Softbank's expansion does not imply a retreat from the banking sector. But the end of the initial integration phase will require a change of roles.
"We are staying in banking, we just need to provide different products than those we have been offering so far," says Korba.
Competitors are skeptical though. Computerland, which is the biggest banking sector IT provider, will not give up its position without a struggle. Computerland's deputy president Sławomir Chłoń says: "I do not understand why Korba is so sure that achieving zł.360 million revenue in 2006 will be enough to jump into first place. We already have zł.300 million and two years is a long time."
The DiS analytical office estimates that banks spend zł.600-800 million on maintenance of existing systems. And Korba sees a potential future for Softbank in the sector as a data manager and IT trainer rather than a systems architect and integrator. "I cannot exclude a possibility of transforming Softbank into a consulting firm in the future," he admits.
Rival integrator Computerland, which has annual revenues of around zł.300 million, intends to sustain its position in banking and record a steady growth-both here and abroad.
While keeping an eye on developments in Poland, Computerland is simultaneously preparing itself for the conquest of foreign markets. "We have already established business in Russia and we are now entering Saudi Arabia," reveals Computerland director of foreign investments Dariusz Śliwowski.
"Integrated systems are passing into the shadow zone. The public sector now shows the biggest growth dynamics," says Softbank president Krzysztof Korba.
Estimates suggest total public IT bids, valued at zł.2.37 billion in 2003, are set to double in two years. The company hopes to double its revenues from public administration contracts by 2006, to reach zł.150 million.
Softbank's expansion does not imply a retreat from the banking sector. But the end of the initial integration phase will require a change of roles.
"We are staying in banking, we just need to provide different products than those we have been offering so far," says Korba.
Competitors are skeptical though. Computerland, which is the biggest banking sector IT provider, will not give up its position without a struggle. Computerland's deputy president Sławomir Chłoń says: "I do not understand why Korba is so sure that achieving zł.360 million revenue in 2006 will be enough to jump into first place. We already have zł.300 million and two years is a long time."
The DiS analytical office estimates that banks spend zł.600-800 million on maintenance of existing systems. And Korba sees a potential future for Softbank in the sector as a data manager and IT trainer rather than a systems architect and integrator. "I cannot exclude a possibility of transforming Softbank into a consulting firm in the future," he admits.
Rival integrator Computerland, which has annual revenues of around zł.300 million, intends to sustain its position in banking and record a steady growth-both here and abroad.
While keeping an eye on developments in Poland, Computerland is simultaneously preparing itself for the conquest of foreign markets. "We have already established business in Russia and we are now entering Saudi Arabia," reveals Computerland director of foreign investments Dariusz Śliwowski.
