With its business system, developed entirely for car dealers, Keyloop aims to transform the future for the automotive industry in the same way that Amazon revolutionized e-commerce. That is why the company chose to establish operations in Poland in 2021 and went from 0 to 100 employees in only one year. “We had an ambitious plan, and owing to our hard work and an excellent partner, we succeeded,” says Claus Trillingsgaard, VP Global Delivery at Keyloop.
Keyloop is a global software supplier of digital solutions for the automotive industry and car dealers, and its goal is to create a seamless journey for all car buyers or car owners. The path to achieving this goal is its platform, which connects car dealers, suppliers, partners, and car buyers to create a smooth and seamless experience when buying a car or servicing an existing one.
“The automotive industry is one that is undergoing continual change, but that happens slowly. That is why it has not gone digital at the same pace as other industries even though it made great strides forward during the pandemic when many industries quickly needed digital solutions to continue their operations,” says Claus Trillingsgaard, and continues:
“We are creating a smooth, easy, and connected journey for car owners and for people buying new cars. With Keyloop’s technology, all the divisions and systems can be linked together to ensure a more efficient, and more powerful, business.”
Facts
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Major need for leading-edge skills
To create and develop a digital future for the automotive industry, Keyloop chose in 2021 to establish a global delivery hub in Poland. The objective was to add 100 employees over the course of a year.
Several factors made Poland the choice. On the one hand, it was because of Poland’s geographical location, close to many of the company’s other establishments, but primarily it was due to the leading-edge skills and large talent pool in the country.
“We had a major need for many engineers and IT professionals at various levels, from senior experts with leading-edge skills to junior professionals who were just beginning their career. In Poland, which is a country with a very large offering in IT, we had the possibility of finding all the talent we need to create the best solutions for the future,” says Claus Trillingsgaard.
A successful partnership
To succeed in this challenge, Keyloop sought help early on from Ework, which added 45 professionals in Warsaw in one year. These were primarily IT professionals, but there were others in areas including HR. However, the partnership concerned not only finding professionals; a large part of the partnership dealt with advisory services to make the process of establishment as smooth as possible.
“It really has been a successful professional partnership. Ework has been tremendously valuable throughout the process, not only by locating fantastic talent that can help develop our software but throughout all the parts of our journey during establishment,” says Claus Trillingsgaard.
Transparency and clear expectations from both parties have been crucial to success in the assignment, as Agnieszka Wysocka, sourcing manager at Ework Group, tells us.
“A large part of the initial effort dealt with advisory services and guidance since the market in Poland differs somewhat from other markets where Keyloop is located. It involved both telling the company how to attract professionals in Poland, and also ensuring that the market in Poland knew what unique opportunities the company was offering to professionals who wanted to work with technology that could change an entire market. By maintaining close dialogue with the client and professionals, we managed very well in establishing a strong, successful relationship.”
Partnership and networking
Keyloop has adopted this new method of working. Each team can now themselves choose when they want to work from home, and when they want to meet at their offices, where they can maybe take a turn on the slide, and work together.
“For us, having an inviting location that everyone wants to come to is important – a fantastic environment where we can work together, network, discuss and collaborate to find smart, innovative solutions,” says Claus Trillingsgaard.
In conclusion, do you have any advice for other companies that are considering a major establishment in a new country?
“You have to set the time aside, regardless of whether you’re getting help from a partner or you’re managing all the recruitment yourself. It’s not only a question of interviewing candidates. There also has to be time for evaluation and answering the professionals or job applicants who, for whatever reason, didn’t get the assignment. Another important matter, if you’re getting help from a partner, is keeping the dialogue going and offering feedback. This strengthens the partnership by continually refining the process.”
