The IT industry has seen huge growth in Romania in recent years, especially when it comes to multinationals. But what does this look like for a local company? We tried to find out by talking to a Romanian entrepreneur.

“Romania has always kept up with the international evolution of information technology,” says Sorin Cosmescu, EXE Software CEO, when asked about the tech revolution that occurs once every decade. He founded the company in 2001, in the early days of the Internet as we know it.  More than 18 years ago, the software solutions developed by EXE Software were mainly Windows desktop, and an internet connection was established using a modem.

Cosmescu said that starting from 2007, the date of the first iPhone launch, the industry started to resemble what it looks like today. The company was able to develop applications for this type of device. Now, esFields, its field data collection solution, can be used on Android, iOS and Windows.

What does the IT industry currently look like?

Now, more than ever, companies must adapt fast to meet business environment’s needs, which are more and more demanding. Since the beginning of 2011, the Agile methodology has become part of standard methodologies used in software development, and EXE Software makes no exception.

Adaptability, versatility and responsiveness are also features that describe perfectly Cloud computing. Years ago, companies made huge investments in infrastructure, hardware and licensing. That is why the solutions that we are currently offering mean access to dedicated Cloud-based software platforms with zero administration and maintenance costs.

Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Video Communication are areas with increasing popularity. 5G implementation is also a key element in terms of evolution for the upcoming period.

What are the biggest problems you are facing as a Romanian entrepreneur?

I think talking about difficulties in the IT sector in Romania would be unfair. The IT sector in our country benefits from income tax exemption, which has helped the industry a lot, from many points of view.

How is Romania different from other markets, in terms of technology?

If we are talking about multinationals, since they are our main target, there are not any major differences. We can even say Romania has an advantage, due to flexibility, energy and result orientation.

However, local entrepreneurs face many challenges, especially in the beginning. It takes time to build trust and convince clients that your solutions will deliver results. After a while, things become easier. There is a great drive for high technology, innovation and efficiency in business, so the future is promising.

What does success mean for you?

After the Communist period, where everything used to be controlled by the state, a new free era started: the era of private initiative, where any Romanian person with an entrepreneurial spirit could try and succeed, without any restrictions. However, it has been a major effort to make up for the lack of entrepreneurial education, and the ones who managed to do it were the ones who succeeded. Those who have taken different ways, because they wanted to reach the top faster, also managed to fulfil their purpose, but eventually, their success will prove to be temporary.

I have some particular performance indicators I keep track of year after year: profit, sustainable and constant turnover growth, partners who trust us and colleagues who continue their journey with us, more than 95% of client retention and no delays in paying salaries and taxes for more than 18 years. What is more, delivering solutions and services for companies all around the world, keeping up with the latest tech trends and believing that you can always compete with the greatest companies in the industry, these things are also measures of success.

What is the secret to failure (in Romania, in this industry)?

You cannot talk about some sort of secret to failure when your mindset is in the total opposite direction.

Does the future scare you, given the changes in our country?

It’s enough to look around, without any further research, to see that in Romania, there is only one direction for the IT industry. There is nothing to be afraid of because happily, the road seems to lead us to a positive destination. The situations we are going through now are just delaying the arrival to our destination. Fifteen years from now, we will have all the infrastructure and proper conditions we are dreaming about, so the frustration is that we could have already had all of it by now.

How do you recruit your employees, and how do you train them?

Everybody working in IT should pay close attention to market changes, choose their development opportunities wisely and set clear business objectives. Until now, we have never been forced to change our main direction, but we are always keeping up with new trends related to our field of activity, through internal classes or specialized courses, resources and new projects.

How has technology changed the learning process?

Basic IT knowledge is now part of high school education, and specialized education continues at dedicated universities. It is very important for a beginner to have at least basic knowledge because otherwise, it would be very difficult to evolve, especially given the high standards we have at EXE Software. Attitude is also very important, and those who are superficial or reluctant to try new experiences will not find a place in our team.

In IT, most people talk about business or success, and human resource is a mere mass: “employees”. EXE Software claims it has certain standards when it comes to its team, so we talked to Teodor Moderau, BI Developer, to get the lowdown from the other side.

When it comes to technology, we are always amazed at how employees of companies such as Google or Facebook spend their days. What is the culture and atmosphere like at EXE Software?

I think the company pays close attention both to onboarding and employees’ professional development. You have access to classes and certification, and you can also change departments, should the occasion arise.

What makes programmers’ lives more difficult? What would you advise those who are beginners to avoid?

I think superficiality and trying to do things faster are the main reasons why projects become more difficult sometimes. The process of interpreting, approaching and implementing a new demand is often hurried, but it is only because the programmer thinks they have understood the task from the beginning. That is why programmers tend to overcomplicate things, and most of the time, thorough analysis is the solution to this problem.

Is there life after work?

The time spent at the office, about 10 hours daily, can influence this, but I think it is up to each person to organize their time and priorities. Yes, there is life after work, but it is limited, and you have to make the best out of your free time.

How much does creativity matter in a programmer’s activity?

In any domain, even in art, you must not try to “break the wheel”, but rather add value to existing successful practices. Creativity can make everything easier, even how you do your day-to-day tasks: how you structure your work and how you can make it more efficient so that you make time for other tasks. This is all about the professional growth we are all pursuing.

Away from your job, you are part of a rock music group. How did this happen?

Even if IT and music seem like two totally different worlds, they are more similar than people think, because they are both based on mathematical principles. In addition to this, they give you freedom of expression: whether you are writing code or composing a song, you have a feeling of ownership, which brings you a certain inner satisfaction. There are a lot of people passionate about both IT and music, and I think the world definitely needs the two of them.

What are three things you have learned from music?

The moments when I disconnect from reality and the fact that even the smallest detail can make a huge difference are what I value most. It’s a small parallel world, and the moments spent on stage or the nights in my living room with my guitar are a brief escape from my daily routine. The second relevant thing is that you sometimes prefer the live version of a song, unaltered, instead of the studio version, due to its originality. Last but not least, something worth mentioning, even if it is not something positive, is the wasted common effort. Before being part of a musical group, I did not know it is so easy for people to grow apart, even if they share the same passion and purpose. As with any other group activity, each individual has to put in some effort and perseverance to succeed.