The Business Context
Terberg Group is a global manufacturing company active in 14 countries with 25 sites. Its production and logistics depend on a centralized Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O platform. Continuity in ERP and IT support is business-critical: if systems slow or fail, supply chains stall, production is disrupted, and compliance risks increase.
Challenge
The Pressure Point
Terberg’s IT leadership was under mounting delivery pressure. Internal hires were scarce and often left within 12–24 months for consultancy jobs. Contractors were available but at unsustainable rates. Recruitment cycles stretched 60–90 days, leaving ERP and IT support understaffed. For a production-driven business, those delays and costs were untenable.
Why Talcom
Terberg asked Talcom to provide alternatives from its Serbian hub. Within days, certified Dynamics F&O specialists and IT engineers were presented—profiles with technical depth and stakeholder skills. The deciding factors were clear: cultural fit, immediate availability, and a cost structure that could scale.
Solution
Building a High-Velocity Nearshore Team
Talcom designed a nearshore setup focused on speed, compliance, and integration:
- ERP Application Support – Certified Dynamics F&O engineers with frontline business experience.
- IT Support & Server Admins – Screened for compliance, clear communication, and EU-hour coverage.
- Hybrid onboarding – A first week onsite at Terberg HQ in the Netherlands, including team dinners and daily standups.
- Full compliance – Talcom engineers work from Terberg machines, under Terberg contracts, within Terberg systems.
- End-to-end logistics – Flights, hotels, hardware, and onboarding handled by Talcom.
Within 10 days, Talcom provided 10 qualified IT profiles, leading to 4 hires. In ERP, 4 profiles were shared in 5 days, resulting in 2 hires. From first profile to execution, the full team was live in under 30 days—without recruitment fees, and at ~€35 per hour less than Dutch contractors.
Results
Outcomes & Impact in 30 Days
Talcom moved Terberg from slow, high-cost hiring to rapid scaling—without compromise on quality.
Results That Mattered
Why It Worked
- Retention designed in: Support roles are a career path in Serbia, reducing churn.
- Speed with compliance: Onboarding and security aligned with Terberg standards, delivered in a fraction of the usual time.
- Embedded model: Engineers joined Terberg teams directly, avoiding the pitfalls of outsourcing.
Lessons for Other Corporates
Nearshore doesn’t have to mean outsourcing. Start with one or two hires to validate skills and cultural fit. The model is low-risk, high-upside: once proven, scaling by two or three engineers takes weeks, not quarters.
