Choosing the Right Nearshoring Location: 9 Essential Criteria

I’m based in London, UK, but I’ve had teams in South America, USA, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, and India. Some of those locations worked for me and some didn’t.

In 2017 I opened a software development operation in Sofia (Bulgaria) for one of the world’s leading news organisations, headquartered in London (UK). Sofia met our criteria for selecting a nearshore location (and still does). I thought others might be interested in the nine criteria we used to select a nearshoring location. Particularly since I’ve inherited teams in other locations that did not meet these criteria.
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Is Sofia Still a Smart Nearshoring Bet in 2025?

In 2017 I was asked to create a nearshore development team for one of the world’s leading news organisations, headquartered in London (UK). We explored other locations, including Cluj-Napoca, Porto, Kraków, and Poznan, but in the end chose Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. At the time it was a great choice and I grew a fantastic team there. But time has marched on and lately, when talking to people about nearshoring destinations, I hear comments like, "Isn’t Sofia too expensive? Isn’t it saturated?" So I thought I’d have another look.
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Need More Developers? Six Ways to Expand Your Software Team

Expanding software development capabilities isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential in today’s fast-paced tech world. Whether you’re tackling a surge in project demand or aiming to build a more resilient and versatile team, knowing your options is half the battle. From direct hiring to AI-driven productivity boosts, the choices are plentiful. But which ones make the most sense for your business? As someone who has navigated this journey from developer to CIO, I’ve seen it all. Here are your main options.
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