Since 1990, a number of IS companies and divisions in Latvia have been formed, all working under the umbrella of A/S DATI (transl. from Latvian, “Data Processing Technology Integrators”)

DATI comprises the following specialist units:

•SIS - software development, project management

•Riga Information Technology Institute (RITI) - scientific research, development of software engineering tools, development of information technology standards and terminology •DIT - network technologies, worked with IBM to build Latvia Post’s 700 site nationwide network •Komerccentrs DATI grupa - retail outlet in Riga

•HePa - distributor of Informix and Hewlett Packard products

•DATI Deutschland GmbH - marketing in Central Europe

•SC Sistemas - developer of Smart Card technologies, distributor for GemPlus (France) products

  Valdis Lokenbahs, President of DATI, said that the company’s open structure permits similarly thinking firms to join DATI and gain the benefits of working within a large organisation.

 Discussing his vision for the company’s future, Mr Lokenbahs says “DATI is a union of highly skilled professionals, incorporating enterprises with specialised skills in different areas of IT. By integrating these skills, DATI can meet any customer’s requirements - from the provision and installation of local and wide area networks to the development of custom software.

DATI management will provide centralised functions such as accounting, technical services and marketing. The latter is of particular importance. Communicating with foreign customers (approximately half of our clients) it is advantageous that we are a large company with broad accumulated experience. We believe that DATI’s structure can combine the responsiveness of small organisations in the implementation of projects and servicing of customers’ needs with the stability and assured quality available only from large enterprises.”

A Helping Hand

With the market economy developing so rapidly in the Baltic States, more and more companies are opening regional offices here. As Riga is the central capital of the Baltic region and has good transport connections, it has become the first choice for many companies.

DATI can offer those companies intending to open their offices in Riga a complete office set-up, from phone lines, installation of private networks or Internet connection to the company’s headquarters up to the adaptation of software for local needs, as well as consultancy and helpdesk services. DATI has already provided such services to international companies including Bayer, Neste, Procter&Gamble and Unilever.

Strategic position

The combination of skills, practical experience and contacts available to DATI would be difficult to find anywhere, let alone in a small country like Latvia. Considering Latvia’s strategically significant location on Russia’s western border, it would be impossible for companies planning to expand their activities in the Baltics to ignore DATI’s IT skills and services. DATI’s experience in the former Soviet sphere, as well as partnerships with companies in St. Petersburg, Voronezh and Minsk offer considerable marketing potential.

Latvia’s government frequently speaks of our country as a bridge between West and East. DATI utilises this bridge position in its activities, thus increasing the company’s international competitiveness. DATI has established partnerships with world renowned companies IBM, Microsoft, Informix, Hewlett Packard, Compaq, Philips, BASF and OKI, and technicians certified by these companies provide warranty repair services and technical assistance.

Software development for overseas customers

DATI continues its activities in the field where it has been successfully working for six years. This area is system analysis and development of large complex projects, system integration, maintenance of developed systems and re-engineering projects for major software companies such as Software AG, Siemens-Nixdorf, as well as for end users like air charter company LTU(Germany), the Bremen-Oldenburg state social insurance office, ETHICON a manufacturer of surgical threads, direct marketer Bradford Exchange in Switzerland and German church union ROKD. It is the skills in work organisation, the ability to co-ordinate communication between all the parties involved in the project, as well as highly skilled specialists that allow DATI to successfully complete such large scale projects.

To date DATI’s customers have been from German speaking countries, as a result of participating in the CeBIT exhibition. We are now looking to extend DATI’s services to customers in Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries.

It is becoming more common for at least parts of software projects to be carried out offshore. As DATI’s president emphasises:

  “We have entered a rapidly expanding business area, in which, from a global perspective, DATI is a medium size player. Nevertheless, DATI is selling its skilled labour into the international market, thus proving that Latvia can do more than export timber and oil, and that Latvia’s future lies also in activities connected with the selling of knowledge and intellectual knowhow.”

DATI has proved that it is a real alternative to the Indian software industry, and that the term offshore does not have to mean “outside Europe”. There are several factors working in DATI’s favour

•experience - the completed projects mentioned above. •Latvia’s geographic position - less than 3 hours from most European destinations •competitive pricing.

That DATI means to remain a serious player in this market is proved by our work towards ISO9000 accreditation in conjunction with Norway’s DET NORSKE VERITAS.

Personnel

DATI has more than 350 people, most of whom are highly qualified computer specialists - including 4 professors and 30 PhDs. The experience of more than 150 employees exceeds 10 years in system development, and many have worked in projects abroad - in Germany, Switzerland, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Finland, Ireland, Russia, USA and Canada.

Further information

Ojars Krumbergs A/S DATI

Skanstes iela 13, LV - 1013 Rīga Latvia

Tel : +371 236 2400, +371 236 2500 Fax : +371 782 1457