10 Companies Choosing Turkey for Outsourcing and Staffing

Turkey has become an interesting outsourcing destination due to cost-efficient labor and a solid tech talent pool.

Lower salaries and living costs compared to Western Europe allow companies to reduce expenses without compromising quality. Local universities produce large numbers of IT graduates each year, many with good English proficiency (ranked 66/113 in the EF English Index). Turkey’s time zone, positioned between Europe and Asia, supports smooth collaboration with international teams.

10 Companies That Outsource to Turkey

To select these companies, we looked for public hiring data and announcements, local office presence, and tech team size in Turkey. Each company below is a major tech or tech-enabled firm that maintains engineering or R&D roles in Turkey.

1. Microsoft

2. SAP

3. Amazon

4. Amadeus

5. Gusto

6. Udemy

7. JumpCloud

8. Nokia

9. Ericsson

10. Atos

Each of the above companies was chosen based on evidence of local operations (offices, team counts, job postings) and a clear rationale for using Turkish talent.

1. Microsoft

Microsoft (USA) operates a major office in Istanbul, serving as its Middle East and Africa headquarters.

This hub employs a mix of sales, cloud, and developer roles. For example, Microsoft’s regional offices often staff cloud engineers, software developers, and IT support in Turkey. Microsoft’s presence dates back many years, and its local campus includes amenities for staff (gyms, cafeterias). Turkey’s strong developer base and convenient time zone help Microsoft support both regional customers and global projects.

2. SAP

SAP (Germany) has been in Turkey since 2001 and maintains multiple offices.

As a global ERP software leader, SAP hires Turkish engineers and consultants to customize its enterprise solutions. Local roles at SAP Turkey often include software developers, system integrators, and technical consultants. Turkey’s pool of business-technology talent (familiar with SAP platforms) and its lower wage base make it attractive for expanding SAP’s development and support teams.

3. Amazon

Amazon (USA) runs offices and fulfillment centers in Istanbul and employs local talent across IT and other functions.

Amazon’s Turkish operations include cloud infrastructure (AWS), e-commerce, and logistics teams. For example, developers and cloud specialists in Turkey build and maintain parts of Amazon’s regional systems. With lower operational costs and a base of skilled engineers, Amazon leverages Turkey to support fast-growing retail and AWS services while staying close to customers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

4. Amadeus

Amadeus (Spain) provides travel and booking software worldwide.

It maintains a research and development center in Istanbul. At this R&D hub, software engineers and product managers develop and test the company’s airline ticketing and reservation platforms. By tapping into Turkey’s tech talent, Amadeus accelerates innovation in travel tech. The center’s engineers work on mobile and cloud-based travel solutions for European and global customers, taking advantage of Turkey’s strong engineering universities and lower costs.

5. Gusto

Gusto (USA) is a payroll and HR software platform.

Although headquartered in San Francisco, Gusto has team members in Turkey. Turkish employees at Gusto include software engineers, data analysts, and support staff who help build the company’s payroll and benefits automation tools. Gusto recruits locally because Turkish developers offer high skill in modern cloud stacks at competitive rates. This distributed model lets Gusto scale its engineering team quickly while aligning with the same product culture and work hours as its U.S. office.

6. Udemy

Udemy (USA) is an online learning marketplace. Udemy has six global offices, including one in Ankara.

The Ankara office staff includes software developers, data engineers, and support roles focused on Udemy’s platform. By staffing a local office, Udemy can leverage Turkish tech talent for video streaming, content management, and AI-driven course recommendations. The strong English skills of Turkish developers and their experience with languages like Java and JavaScript make them effective contributors to Udemy’s global codebase.

7. JumpCloud

JumpCloud (USA) is an identity management and cybersecurity company.

It has an office in Ankara with employees in various tech roles. At JumpCloud Turkey, engineers work on secure access and cloud directory solutions for enterprise clients. The company chose Turkey because it offers skilled developers in security and cloud at much lower overhead than Silicon Valley. Turkish teams also benefit from English proficiency, ensuring smooth collaboration with JumpCloud’s international R&D organization.

8. Nokia

Nokia (Finland) opened a new office in Istanbul to drive 5G development.

This facility includes dedicated lab spaces for R&D on telecommunications infrastructure. Nokia’s Turkish team is building software and testing hardware for next-generation mobile networks. By situating labs in Istanbul, Nokia can work closely with local universities and operators on 5G rollout. The country’s strong engineering talent pool (many electronics and telecom graduates) and its location between Europe and Asia were key reasons for Nokia’s choice.

9. Ericsson

Ericsson (Sweden) is a telecom giant that has been operating in Turkey since 1890.

Ericsson Turkey has three R&D centers (Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara) with over 450 R&D engineers (plus 150 technical support staff). These centers develop software and services for telecom networks and export technology globally. For Ericsson, Turkey offers a large pool of skilled engineers and favorable labor costs. The long history and scale of Ericsson’s Turkish operations underscore the country’s role as an important engineering hub for major tech firms.

10. Atos

Atos (France) is a global IT services provider.

In April 2023, Atos launched a new SAP Center of Excellence in Istanbul. This center is a major delivery hub for SAP consulting services, serving clients across Central Europe and beyond. Atos is staffing Turkish consultants, developers, and support personnel to manage SAP implementations and integrations. Turkey’s attractiveness for Atos lies in its strong SAP skills (due to SAP’s presence in the region), competitive salary levels, and the ability to ramp up large teams for enterprise projects.

By expanding in Turkey, Atos also extends its nearshore footprint with multilingual support.

Challenges of Outsourcing in Turkey

💱 Currency Volatility

The Turkish lira has historically been volatile.

High inflation and exchange rate swings can affect project budgets. Contracts and pricing should account for potential currency fluctuations. Companies often negotiate payments in stable currencies or use hedging strategies to manage this risk.

📜 Legal and Contractual Issues

Turkey’s labor laws and regulations are complex.

Strong unions and collective bargaining are common. Employers must comply with detailed rules on social security, severance, and employment contracts. IP protection and data privacy laws may also differ from Western norms. Without local legal expertise, foreign companies can face challenges around worker classification and compliance. Working through local legal advisors or partner firms is recommended.

👔 Competition for Senior Talent

The tech job market is competitive, especially in Istanbul.

Top engineers and managers often have multiple offers, so recruitment must be swift and competitive. Companies may need to offer attractive benefits and career growth to secure senior developers.

How to Start Outsourcing to Turkey

To launch an outsourcing effort in Turkey, consider these steps:

Direct Hiring vs. Outsourcing Partners

You can establish a Turkish subsidiary or branch and hire staff directly under Turkish labor law. This offers full control but requires significant setup (capital, legal compliance, local office).

Alternatively, use an Employer of Record (EOR) service: the EOR becomes the official employer in Turkey and handles all payroll, taxes, and legal compliance. An EOR lets you onboard engineers quickly without forming an entity, though it adds service fees. For short-term or specialized needs, hiring independent contractors is also an option, but be careful to correctly classify workers to avoid legal issues.

Local Compliance and Models

If hiring directly, be prepared for Turkish labor law requirements, including social security contributions (around 22.5 percent of salary), mandatory paid leave, and severance rules. Work permits are required for foreign nationals. Many companies also pay local employees in Turkish lira to stay compliant with regulations.

As an alternative, companies can hire Turkish professionals on a B2B contractor model, usually via individual entrepreneurs or local service companies. This approach avoids employment obligations such as benefits and severance, while contracts focus on services, deliverables, and IP ownership.

If using an EOR or payroll provider, they handle local taxes and benefits on your behalf. In all cases, contracts should be aligned with Turkish law to protect intellectual property and clearly define scope, deliverables, and payment terms.

Vetting Turkish Talent

Screen candidates using the same standards as you would elsewhere.

Turkey produces many computer science graduates and has strong programming skills. Technical interviews, coding tests, and portfolio reviews are crucial. Note that many Turkish engineers speak English well, but it’s wise to test communication skills explicitly. Check references and consider hiring through reputable local recruiters or agencies. You can also tap global networks: many Turkish developers are active on GitHub, StackOverflow, and local tech meetups. Trials or probationary periods can help confirm the candidate’s fit.

Notable Local IT Outsourcing Providers in Turkey

Commencis

A leading Istanbul-based digital transformation firm with over 450 experts.

It offers software engineering, cloud, AI, and UX design services. Commencis works with international clients in finance, insurance, telecom, and retail, helping them build scalable web and mobile products. The firm’s large team and tech stack expertise (cloud, AI platforms) make it a go-to partner for outsourcing high-end development projects in Turkey.

Mobilist

An Ankara-based IT consultancy focused on cloud and data solutions.

It is an Amazon Web Services consulting partner and has completed over 300 projects for 100+ clients. Mobilist provides cloud architecture, app development, and analytics services. By blending local engineering talent with AWS expertise, Mobilist helps global businesses migrate and modernize their IT systems. Its track record in big-data and IoT projects illustrates the depth of Turkish software skills.

Conclusion

Outsourcing to Turkey is a trend that is only gaining momentum and for a good reason. The country’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and cost-effective solutions make it an attractive destination for companies looking to expand their global presence.

👉 Looking to hire software developers in Turkey? Let us know.