No equivalent: 70% of Russian firms cannot ditch Western software

More than 70% of Russian companies are continuing to use foreign software despite authorities demanding a switch to domestic "one of a kind" alternatives.

Source: A study published by the Russian newspaper Vedomosti

Details: The study is based on a survey of more than 80 managers across the financial sector, industry, retail, IT, telecoms, public administration, energy, transport and logistics, conducted by Naumen, a Russian IT company.

Companies are using foreign CRM systems to manage customer data, projects, IT services and document workflows, as well as voice and text bots to automate customer enquiries.

Nearly a third of respondents (32%) said that foreign IT solutions are used because there is no equivalent software on the Russian market. Another 16% said that the alternatives are too expensive and 12% admitted they are waiting for foreign vendors to return to Russia.

Ivan Kharin, chief executive of the Russian firm Akvis Lab, said that as long as the use of foreign software remains permissible and in practice goes unpunished, many companies will keep relying on it, postponing a switch to Russian solutions.

Background: The leaders of seven subjects of the Russian Federation are working on launching so-called "people's bonds" – an instrument designed to pull money straight out of ordinary Russians' pockets.

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