Real-life examples often help make things clearer—and sometimes, they’re the inspiration you need to move forward. That’s exactly what this article is here for. We’re not just explaining the concept; we’re showing you how some of the biggest companies in the world built their success by offshoring early, long before it became a standard move. Whether it’s cutting costs, scaling faster, or finding better talent, offshoring has been a key part of their strategy—and a big reason they are where they are today.
We’ll go over examples from different branches, break down what offshoring looks like in each, and why these companies chose the path they did.
How the Tech Industry Uses Offshoring
Before its 2009 launch, WhatsApp strategically outsourced its software development to Eastern Europe, notably engaging developers from Russia and Ukraine. Co-founder Jan Koum highlighted the region’s exceptional engineering talent as a key factor in this decision. This approach allowed WhatsApp’s lean in-house team to concentrate on customer support and operations, while the offshore team managed core app development and design solutions. This division of labor enabled WhatsApp to scale efficiently, ultimately leading to its $19 billion acquisition by Facebook in 2014.
Post-acquisition, WhatsApp continues to benefit from Meta’s extensive global infrastructure. While specific details about current offshoring practices are limited, it’s common for Meta to utilise global talent pools, including those in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, to support various aspects of its operations.
In November 2019, Google acquired CloudSimple, a company with offices in Ukraine and India, to bolster its cloud computing capabilities. CloudSimple specialised in enabling enterprises to run VMware workloads on public clouds, simplifying the migration of existing on-premises applications to the cloud. By integrating CloudSimple’s technology and talent, Google aimed to provide a more seamless and efficient cloud migration experience for its enterprise customers.
Google continues to invest in global talent pools to support its diverse range of services. The company maintains R&D centres and partnerships worldwide to leverage specialised skills and cost efficiencies.
Slack
In its early stages, Slack collaborated with MetaLab, a Canadian design agency, to refine its logo, website, and application design. This partnership was crucial in creating Slack’s user-friendly interface and unique brand identity, which contributed to its rapid adoption and growth. By focusing on delivering a polished and intuitive user experience, Slack attracted a broad user base, leading to its valuation of $5 billion by 2017.
The Balkans’ growing reputation as a hub for IT outsourcing presents opportunities for companies like Slack to tap into the region’s skilled workforce. North Macedonia, with its focus on IT education and infrastructure development, offers a conducive environment for such collaborations.
Offshoring Examples in Manufacturing
Samsung
Samsung’s offshoring strategy has focused on establishing manufacturing facilities in regions with strategic advantages. In India, Samsung inaugurated its largest mobile phone manufacturing plant in Noida in 2018, aiming to serve both domestic and international markets. This facility has significantly increased Samsung’s production capacity and reduced lead times for product delivery.
Samsung continues to expand its manufacturing footprint globally. In addition to its Indian operations, Samsung has established plants in the USA, Vietnam, Brazil, and other countries. Notably, in 2024, Samsung planned to outsource 25% of its smartphone production to Chinese manufacturers to cut costs and expand its budget phone offerings.
Ford Motor Company
Ford began offshoring as early as the 1920s, with its first plant in Mexico. Over time, it expanded manufacturing in Mexico and China to lower costs and better serve local markets.
Today, Ford builds key models like the Mustang Mach-E and Bronco Sport in Mexico. In China, its joint venture with Changan produces vehicles for domestic use and export, generating nearly $900 million in earnings in 2024.
Finance and Offshoring
JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase has established a significant presence in the Philippines, with operations in Manila and Cebu. These centres handle a range of functions, including customer service, transaction processing, analytics, and IT support, serving various lines of business such as Consumer & Community Banking and Corporate & Investment Bank.
This strategic move has allowed JPMorgan Chase to enhance its global service delivery, ensuring round-the-clock support and efficient handling of customer interactions. The cost savings and operational efficiencies gained have contributed to the bank’s ability to invest in innovation and maintain a competitive edge in the financial industry.
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Wise has developed remote development teams in Estonia and Ukraine, tapping into the regions’ rich pools of tech talent. Estonia and Ukraine are known for their strong emphasis on STEM education and have become hubs for tech startups and innovation. By building teams in these countries, Wise benefits from high-quality software development capabilities at a lower cost compared to Western Europe or the U.S.
Retail and E-commerce Offshoring Examples
Amazon
A textbook example of strategic offshoring, Amazon has effectively leveraged offshoring to optimise its operations. The company outsourced customer service functions to South Africa and the Philippines, capitalising on the regions’ skilled, English-speaking workforces and cost advantages. Additionally, Amazon offshored research and development (R&D) to a Ukrainian startup specialising in home security systems, gaining access to exceptional talent at a reasonable cost.
A large part of Amazon’s success can be traced back to its early decision to embrace offshoring—not just as a cost-cutting tactic, but as a core growth strategy. Industry estimates suggest that Amazon saves billions annually through its global workforce model, with a significant portion of its operating income—especially in its early expansion years—directly tied to the efficiency gained through offshoring.
BigCommerce
Facing domestic talent shortages, BigCommerce turned to Eastern Europe to expand its development team. The company partnered with Romanian-based CustomSoft and Poland-based Snowdog to broaden its international presence and leverage the regions’ skilled IT professionals.
By offshoring to Eastern Europe, BigCommerce has successfully expanded its development capabilities, enabling faster product innovation and improved service offerings. This strategic move has allowed the company to remain competitive in the global e-commerce platform market.
What Offshoring Examples Teaches Us
Success Starts with the Right Model and the Right Partner
When you look at how the biggest companies in the world approached offshoring it’s clear they didn’t just jump in blindly. They chose the right offshoring model for their needs, and more importantly, they partnered with the right people. That’s a big reason they’re at the top today. They found teams that could grow with them, not just fill a gap. When we try to build our own path to success, it makes sense to take notes from what worked for them.
Cultural Differences and Communication Gaps
Even the biggest corporations run into issues with cultural differences and communication gaps—it’s one of the most common problems in offshoring. The difference is, they have whole departments and managers dedicated to handling it. Now, your company might not be on that level (or that budget), but that doesn’t mean you can ignore the problem. Whether you choose to delegate it or handle it yourself, the key is to face it head-on. You need a plan. Set expectations early, build clear communication habits, and understand the people you’re working with. It’s all a part of the process, and one you’ll keep learning from.
Offshore Team Integration
You can hire the best offshore talent in the world, but if you don’t integrate them properly, the results won’t match the potential. This part right here—team integration—is what ties everything together. The companies we’ve talked about, from Amazon to Wise, didn’t just offshore and forget. They built systems where offshore teams became a real extension of the core team. That’s why their success stories exist. Without proper integration, offshoring becomes a temporary fix instead of a long-term strategy.
Conclusion
Talking about the success of big corporations in this article isn’t just to highlight their wins—it’s to show what’s possible. We hope it serves as a bit of inspiration for finding your own way and stepping into the offshore waters with more clarity. The companies we mentioned made it work because their approach was right from the start. These stats and facts? They mean nothing if the mindset and execution aren’t there. Offshoring isn’t just a move—it’s a strategy, and how you do it makes all the difference.
We’ve been in this space for many years, and we can say with confidence that many of our clients have found their own path through offshoring—reaching levels of success they once only imagined. With the right guidance and setup, it’s absolutely within reach.