5 years after COVID: how our IT company in Moldova adapted

It’s hard to believe that five years have passed since the world shut down in early 2020. As a Dutch IT company based in Moldova, we’ve experienced firsthand how the pandemic reshaped the industry, our way of working, and the expectations of both employees and clients. What started as a crisis quickly turned into an opportunity for transformation. Looking back, it’s clear that IT companies like ours had to rethink everything – from where we work to how we collaborate and grow.

1. Remote work became the new reality

Before COVID-19, remote work was more of an exception than the rule. When the lockdown hit, we had to pivot overnight. At first, it was challenging – setting up home offices, ensuring smooth communication, and keeping teams motivated. But over time, we saw the benefits: greater flexibility, better work-life balance, and access to a wider talent pool. Sure, we sometimes miss having all our employees together in the office, but hybrid work is here to stay, and we’ve fully embraced it.

2. Tech roles diversified

COVID-19 pushed businesses to accelerate their digital transformation, and with that came the need for new types of tech talent. Demand for cloud solutions, cybersecurity, blockchain & automation grew significantly. In the past year, AI developers have become especially in demand. As a result, our team grew quickly, taking on more clients and projects than before.

3. Soft skills became a priority

It’s no longer just about technical expertise. Yes, cloud computing, AI, and automation became more important, but so did soft skills. Especially after the layoffs in 2024, companies started prioritizing employees who are adaptable, strong communicators, and good problem-solvers. Our partners want more people who actively engage with their teams and want to be part of a community. To support this shift, we’ve organized multiple learning and development workshops on topics like public speaking, workplace well-being, and conflict resolution.

4. A greater focus on health and well-being

After spending long periods at home, many employees started placing more importance on fitness and well-being. Today, 80% of our employees embrace a healthy lifestyle and practice at least one type of sport: fitness, yoga, running, boxing, tennis, and more. We saw this growing interest and decided to encourage it by sponsoring marathon participation, organizing company-wide healthy breakfasts and meals, and hosting sports competitions. This has a double benefit: it supports mental well-being and strengthens team connections, which leads us to the next point.

5. Company culture matters more than ever

Over the past five years, company culture has become a major factor in job decisions. Besides a lack of flexibility, a toxic or unsupportive culture is now one of the top reasons employees leave jobs. Many professionals, especially Gen Z, want to work for companies whose values align with their own. We’ve seen this firsthand during interviews, candidates often mention that they prefer employers involved in social responsibility initiatives.

A sense of belonging is also more important than ever. With remote and hybrid work on the rise, employees look for companies that foster interaction and collaboration. At the same time, we respect those who prefer working from home by keeping them engaged through our monthly newsletter, company-wide Slack announcements, and intranet updates on key events.

What’s next?

The past five years have taught us that adaptability is key. We, as BackstageIT, haven’t just navigated the changes brought by COVID-19, we’ve grown stronger because of them. The world of work has changed permanently, and we’re excited to keep evolving with it.

Looking ahead, our focus will be on staying agile, investing in innovation, and continuing to build strong dedicated teams. The challenges were great, but the opportunities ahead are even greater.