On 19-20 of March, 2025, representatives of Lionwood.software team were visiting TRANSFORM Berlin 2025 as part of the Ukrainian IT delegation to exchange insights and foster collaborations that would help advance digital excellence in both countries.
We would like to thank the organizers, sequa gGmbH and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH for the opportunity, a warm welcome, and openness for cooperation! Here is our brief review of what the event included, as well as some tips that we feel companies operating in Germany might find useful.
About the event
When it comes to digitalization, Germany takes a balanced and responsible approach, never going for tech innovations for the sake of “buzz” alone, but rather calculating their actual needs. The result is that to some, their digital transformation may seem slow-paced, but the reality is that German businesses are selective about what tech novelties to implement and who to partner with.
This is why the event was largely focused not just on tech per se, but also on practical sessions that help align the offering of tech companies with business requirements and understand the real needs.
Before the event itself, our trip included workshops with a sales coach, as well as meeting some leading associations like Deutscher Outsourcing Verband, BITMi, and more. This was invaluable in establishing deeper knowledge about Germany’s business landscape and where we as a tech company fit the best.
An important part of our trip that supplemented the event itself was meeting MotionLab.Berlin, an innovative hub where companies, including startups, collaborate in the deeptech realm. We’d also like to take the chance to thank Marianna Egressy or MotionLab for her excellent skills as a guide.
The German business and IT landscape + tips
So what does a tech company really need to know about working in the German business landscape? We’ve already mentioned how German enterprises are very selective about who to partner with and what technologies to implement. The underlying sentiment is that since, in a particular domain, countless professionals have worked to establish a working process, disruption is only justifiable when it can bring demonstrable benefit. Accordingly, when establishing a first contact, any tech vendor should keep in mind they are expected to illustrate why, how, and how much the innovation will improve what’s already there.
At the same time, German businesses and organizations recognize the need for digital talent, and are methodically working to compensate for the lack of talent in SMEs – a widely recognized problem that outsourcing can help solve.
And when we say outsourcing, it is largely nearshoring that is meant: German companies tend to value their ideal, precise, clockwork functioning that largely relies on cultural values and unwritten laws. This, in turn, means businesses are either interested in attracting tech talent from neighboring countries (Central Europe being the obvious choice) or professionals who can adapt to the corporate culture and climate. For both categories, language matters a lot, too.
Conclusions
Our experience at TRANSFORM Berlin 2025 reinforced how much there is to admire in the German approach to digital transformation. German businesses are deeply thoughtful in their adoption of technology—prioritizing precision, long-term value, and cultural alignment over short-term hype. This creates an environment where collaboration is based on trust, clarity, and real impact. As a Ukrainian tech company, we see great potential for partnerships that honor these principles. We’re grateful for the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together—and look forward to building solutions that match the excellence and integrity of the German business culture.
