Intellias, one of the leading Ukrainian IT companies with over 2,000 specialists, has signed its first public contract with the Japanese company Zenrin. This move marks Intellias' entry into a new market estimated at $70 billion, as reported by Forbes.
The collaboration involves the development and support of LBS (Location-Based Services) products, such as maps for municipalities and delivery services. Intellias brings experience in creating mapping products used in hundreds of millions of vehicles worldwide, and has previously developed mapping solutions for Facebook and Alibaba.
The decision to enter the Japanese market is motivated by overcoming the ongoing crisis in Ukrainian IT, which led to a nearly 8.5% decline in service exports in 2023. According to Intellias' Vice President of Project Delivery, Oleksandr Oduha, attracting new clients in Ukraine has become more challenging, with fewer contracts available.
Intellias expects that the Japanese market will enable them to develop a successful business and scale operations. Oduha emphasizes that this partnership will also enhance their visibility.
However, experts note that the Japanese market is specific, with cultural nuances and significant language barriers. Nevertheless, Intellias relies on its experience, the partnership with Zenrin, and potential local representation.
Intellias plans to increase the number of contracts in the Japanese market, focusing on future agreements in sectors such as fintech, insurance, telecom, and others.
At this time, specific details of the contract, including its value, the number of involved specialists, and its duration, have not been disclosed by Intellias.
