Wrocław-based software house Scalo, so far known mainly for its strong position in the financial and technology sectors in the south of the country, is making a strategic turn to the north. The company has officially launched a branch in Gdansk, which in practice means closing its presence in Poland’s key business centres. The move, however, appears to be more than just a geographical expansion – it is an attempt to diversify its client portfolio with industries specific to Pomerania: logistics and freight forwarding.
The decision to have a physical presence in the Tricity is part of the market trend of a return to localism in B2B relationships. Despite the prevalence of remote working, large contracts in Managed Services or Advanced Team Leasing models often require direct supervision and an understanding of local specifics. At the helm of the new Business Unit was Oskar Kapica, a manager with operational rather than strictly technological experience. His background – which includes cross-border management at OTTO Work Force in the Netherlands and process optimisation at Derksen Polska – suggests that Scalo’s focus on operational efficiency and the ability to navigate an international environment is key in the port city of Gdansk.
For Scalo, the Tricity is not only about access to new IT talent, but above all about entering an ecosystem that is dynamically digitalising. Logistics and shipping are sectors that are intensively seeking optimisation through technology after the pandemic. Kapica, as Head of Gdańsk Business Unit, is tasked not only with transferring proven processes there, but with building an offer tailored to companies for whom IT is a supply chain support tool rather than a product in itself.
An interesting, though less prominent, element of this strategy is the military theme. Scalo is strengthening its cooperation with the Polish Chamber of Manufacturers for National Defence. Its presence in the north of Poland – a region of strategic importance for defence – may position the company as a technology partner for the defence and advanced solutions industries. In the context of increasing defence spending, the Gdansk foothold may prove crucial for winning contracts in this demanding market segment.
