SoftServe Releases Sustainability Report

AUSTIN, Texas—December 2, 2021—SoftServe, a leading digital authority and consulting company, has released its second bi-annual Sustainability Report. The report, prepared according to GRI Standards, highlights progress made against the company’s ongoing commitment to a sustainable business strategy, featuring key initiatives and achievements that positively impact society and the environment.

“As a global organization, we must take responsibility towards our associates, customers, and communities,” said Chris Baker, CEO at SoftServe. “SoftServe is a people-centric company, focused on creating an inclusive workplace that supports our associates’ well-being, access to education, and innovation, which enables us to support sustainable development in our communities around the world.”

“In 2020 the world faced extraordinary new challenges that impacted each of us as individuals, and as a business,” said Taras Vervega, co-founder and board member at SoftServe. “It was another moment that revealed who we are as a company. The way SoftServe responded to the pandemic, the numerous solutions we have created to help our clients, and the massive response of our company and our people to help hospitals and local communities – all make me very proud of the company we’ve built.”

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

Since 2018, SoftServe has made significant progress towards gender equality, as the rate of women in managerial roles grew from 35% in 2018 to 49% in 2020. Additionally, as part of its inclusivity efforts, in 2020 the company launched its first learning course in accessibility testing for visually impaired people, and its graduates are now part of SoftServe’s accessibility testing team.

Advancing IT Education

Developing IT education is another focus of the company’s social initiatives. SoftServe’s IT Academy, an educational platform for students and graduates, enrolled 2,759 students and subsequently hired 1,368 graduates upon completion of its programs over the last two years. SoftServe currently maintains partnerships with 34 universities and tech schools in Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Poland, establishing new IT bachelor’s degree programs, launching tech labs, and hosting numerous educational events.

Empowering Communities

SoftServe’s approach to social responsibility includes empowering its people to give back to their communities. In 2020 SoftServe became strategic partner to UNICEF Ukraine. The parties cooperated on educational programs and initiatives in Ukraine to exchange knowledge and professional experience and worked together on several pro bono technology solutions.

Throughout 2020, SoftServe built a framework to engage associates in pro bono projects that address pressing social issues and created the company’s Open Tech crowdsourcing platform. Together with NGOs and governmental institutions, SoftServe contributed to a number of projects, including Ukraine’s National Volunteer Platform, created with UNICEF Ukraine, the Ukrainian Volunteer Service, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine. The Platform is an online portal that helps connect volunteers with opportunities around social assistance, education and science, culture, art, and more.

SoftServe also developed a COVID-19 triage chatbot for the Bulgarian government to provide citizens with critical information, answers to frequently asked questions, and healthcare contact information to help assess symptoms and navigate the next steps. Using advanced conversational AI, the triage chatbot quickly assesses users with a series of text or voice questions, eliminating staff burden and soothing patient fears. It is an omnichannel communication tool available on any smartphone, computer, or tablet, and can help to triage patients in under 30 seconds.

Other key social achievements include:

• 4 international awards for SoftServe’s corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives and projects
• 92 volunteer and charitable projects accomplished in 2019–2020
• 50+ events launched dedicated to emotional health and employee well-being
• 752 computers donated to educational establishments in 2019-2020
• 10,000+ trees planted in 2019–2020
• $882,500 contributed to projects implemented by SoftServe’s “Open Eyes” charity fund in 2019–2020
• 10+ tons of medical equipment funded via SoftServe & “Open Eyes” charity fund