Erik, a lot is happening internationally at Implema right now. What is driving this development?
– Primarily our customers and how their needs are changing. We work with increasingly large and complex assignments, and many of our customers are international companies. Therefore, we need to combine the proximity and business understanding that has always been a strength for Implema with a greater international delivery capability.
It is not about internationalization for the sake of internationalization, but about building the capacity and expertise that our customers need.
Implema recently established operations in Romania. How has the start been?
– It has gone very well. Perhaps the most positive aspect is how quickly we have moved from establishment to actual delivery. Our colleagues in Cluj, Romania, are already working alongside Swedish teams on customer assignments, so we received early confirmation that the model works.
We have started with a smaller team focusing on SAP expertise in areas such as development, integration, and technical architecture. However, we see Romania as a long-term part of Implema’s delivery organization, with good opportunities to grow and broaden expertise over time.
Why Cluj specifically?
– Cluj is an established IT and innovation cluster with a large talent base in tech. For us, access to the right expertise was a key factor when choosing where to establish ourselves.
At the same time, it is important to build an operation that is connected to the rest of Implema. Our colleagues in Cluj should not be a separate delivery organization but an integrated part of Implema, working together with our Swedish colleagues on customer assignments.
What does this initiative mean in concrete terms for Implema’s customers?
– Primarily greater capacity, access to more specialist expertise, and greater flexibility. We can assemble teams in a different way and scale up faster when a project requires it.
An important part is building integrated teams. The customer should meet an Implema team, with the same working methods, responsibilities, and quality requirements, regardless of where the consultants are located.
Does the increased international delivery capability allow Implema to take on larger and more complex assignments?
– Yes, it provides us with better conditions to do exactly that. We gain access to a broader expertise base and can scale teams faster as needs change. This allows us to take greater responsibility in customer projects without losing the proximity and flexibility that are important to us.
It has been about a year since Implema established itself in the USA. How has that operation developed?
– Very positively. We established ourselves in Raleigh, North Carolina, to get closer to customers with operations in the USA and have since gradually built up our local organization. Now, in a short period, we have been able to welcome three additional colleagues to the team.
This is an important step. We have moved from establishing a presence to building an operation with more capacity in the American market.
How do you see the next phase for Implema’s presence in the USA?
– The local presence makes it easier to build relationships and be close to the customers’ operations. At the same time, we see the value in being able to combine local presence with the expertise and experience from the rest of Implema.
Now it is about continuing to develop the local organization and our ability to support both existing and new customers.
Do you also see opportunities to grow with new customers in the USA?
– Absolutely. Our existing customers are a natural starting point, and local presence makes a big difference when we support their operations in North America. But we also see opportunities to grow with new customers.
Raleigh and the Research Triangle area where we have our office is an interesting location for us, with many companies in sectors such as technology, industry, and Life Science. There is a good match with the expertise and experience we bring with us.
So Romania and the USA fill slightly different roles?
– Yes, Romania primarily strengthens our delivery capacity and access to specialist expertise, while the USA gives us a local presence in an important market. But both are parts of the same development.
We are building an Implema that can follow our customers further, take on larger assignments, and assemble the right expertise regardless of where it is located. Sweden will continue to be our base, but our delivery capability is becoming increasingly international.
What is the next step?
– To continue building with quality. In Romania, we want to grow in line with customer needs and eventually broaden our expertise to more parts of Implema’s offering. In the USA, we continue to develop the local organization and our ability to support both existing and new customers.
At the same time, we are looking at more ways to strengthen our delivery capability internationally, including in other markets where our customers are located. It doesn’t always have to be about our own establishments, but about finding the right model based on customer needs.
It is truly exciting to see this development. We have taken several concrete steps in a short time, and it gives us a good foundation to build upon.
