Alexey Bogomolov, Director of the Transformation Strategy

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Vladimir Zaitsev, CEO of Enkost, a company that develops industrial equipment monitoring systems, singled out import substitution of software at critical infrastructure facilities as the most likely option for import substitution by 2025: “It is difficult to imagine that all Russians would abandon Windows and switch to Russian operating systems or, for example, stop using Excel. The same example with video conferencing: there are domestic analogues of Zoom, but in bolivia whatsapp number database fact, the vast majority of businesses and individuals still use imported products. If we are talking about replacing specific software at critical infrastructure facilities, this is a completely different story. Of course, replacing the entire IT landscape in a short time will be quite difficult. Such complex projects require time and significant budgets. For example, replacing ERP at an industrial facility can take up to a year or more. However, critical infrastructure facilities, firstly, embarked on the path of import substitution earlier than other Russian organizations. Secondly, current legislation encourages them to speed up the process. Therefore, in the next few years, most of the foreign software at critical infrastructure facilities will likely be replaced "Russian analogues".

Practice at Reksoft Consulting, a digital solutions development company, explained why the option of rapid import substitution is impossible everywhere: "For subsidiaries of Western industrial structures that have left Russia, the main stage of substitution will end by the end of 2024. But there are few such enterprises. Large corporations with state participation are required to switch to domestic software in 2025-2026. But most large private enterprises are in no hurry to make a replacement. For example, the same SAP functions normally in such organizations and performs familiar tasks. Therefore, here there is a calm development of replacement options. Moreover, no one will change the working systems without economic justification. Most enterprises are discussing the creation of hybrid architecture options: working systems remain in the circuit, the data from which will subsequently be received through microservice platforms into new systems that allow you to get the necessary functionality, analytics, etc. These enterprises have an import substitution plan calculated up to 2030 with mandatory justification of business effects for each project, replacement of an information system component or functional module."

Sergey Artemov, Director of Development of the eXpress Corporate Communications and Mobility Platform, reflected on the readiness of Russian products to enter foreign markets: "Our solutions are still inferior to Western ones in quality and functionality, and, perhaps, this applies to almost any class of software, with the exception of information security systems. Also, we have not yet achieved the quality of support that global vendors demonstrate and to which everyone is accustomed. But our solutions are superior in their novelty. Some Western developments at some point stalled in development, slightly encapsulated. Domestic products push the business process forward, they are released right now and take into account all the latest trends in IT fashion."

Alexander Shibaev, CEO of the software and mobile application developer IW Group, is confident that the markets of friendly countries are open to domestic solutions: "I think that IT companies that develop software as part of import substitution will not be able to effectively enter the European and American markets with them and compete with solutions from global players. As for friendly countries, Russian manufacturers have a good chance here, and that is where we should aim."

Evgeny Fedorov, head of the product line at cybersecurity system integrator Innostage, is confident that domestic products are ready to enter foreign markets: "Despite many obstacles, Russian companies have a great opportunity to enter foreign markets in the coming years. Yes, there is competition with large international players, and there are still problems associated with the lack of international recognition and trust in domestic technologies. However, Russian developers continue to demonstrate a high level of qualification and the ability to create competitive products. In addition, the growing trend of data nationalization and the strengthening of digital sovereignty of many countries can create new opportunities for the distribution of domestic software outside of Russia."