VWDS Porto: driving through new horizons

Nearly three months have passed since the opening of the VWDS Porto office, an event that has garnered significant attention from various publications including Jornal de Negócios, Eco (SAPO), and SAPO Tek. This milestone marks a new chapter for the company, with far-reaching implications. In the following lines, I will explore the diverse perspectives and impacts of establishing a new office in a different part of the country.

In today’s fast-changing business world, companies often find it useful to expand by opening new offices in different parts of the same country. This approach is driven by several factors, including market growth, financial benefits, access to a diverse workforce, and improved brand visibility.
Let’s explore the various positive impacts of such a move, focusing on the infrastructure of Porto City, the local economy, and talent acquisition benefits.

The decision to open a new office is usually a strategic one, influenced by several key reasons:

• Spreading out geographically allows companies to enter new markets, reach more customers, and lessen the risk of relying on just one location.
• Having multiple offices can make a company run more smoothly by spreading out tasks and reducing bottlenecks.

In our context, several elements are important to consider:

• Porto’s tech sector is robust and certainly worth watching.
• The city is home to the third fastest-growing tech hub in Europe according to Atomico’s State of European Tech Report.
• Porto’s tech ecosystem experienced the second-fastest job growth among all European cities in the World’s top 100 most innovative cities between 2015 and 2020.

Additionally, Porto boasts one of the most advanced and competitive ICT infrastructures in Europe. A 2021 survey by EY revealed that over 75% of established investors found Portugal’s telecommunication infrastructure appealing, and IMD’s 2021 ranking placed Portugal 11th globally for communications technology. Porto offers one of the largest public Wi-Fi networks in Europe, with hundreds of free hotspots in parks, buses, and stations throughout the city*.

Opening a new office can have a big positive impact on the local economy too, such as:

• Job creation. By starting operations in a new location, companies create jobs for local residents, which can significantly reduce unemployment rates and improve living standards.
• The arrival of new employees can boost local businesses, such as restaurants, retail stores, and service providers, as these workers spend their income within the community. This engagement can lead to increased demand for local products and services, encouraging innovation and growth within the local business community.

Hiring talent is another important area where opening a new office can have substantial positive impacts. By expanding to new locations, companies can access diverse talent pools that may not be available in their original location. This access to a wider range of skills and expertise can enhance the company’s innovation and competitiveness.

Moreover, having offices in different regions can give access to different “talent pools” and help attracting top talent who prefer not to move far from their home areas. This flexibility can be a significant advantage in today’s competitive job market, where employees often value work-life balance and proximity to family and friends.

For current employees, the opportunity to transfer to a new office can provide career advancement and professional growth. It can also boost employee satisfaction and retention by offering new experiences and opportunities for personal development.
Additionally, having a distributed workforce can promote a more inclusive and diverse company culture, as employees from different backgrounds and regions bring unique perspectives and ideas to the table.

In conclusion, the new office in Porto brings many benefits that can significantly enhance a company’s market position, financial health, and overall growth. From boosting the local economy through job creation and business engagement to accessing a broader range of skilled professionals, the positive impacts are extensive. The diversity of the workforce and the potential for increased employee satisfaction further highlight the strategic advantages of this new chapter in VWDS’s story.

*1 https://www.investporto.pt/en/sectors/digital-it-services/