Closing out 2024: Anchoring achievements through uncertainty
It’s time to bid farewell to 2024, a year that marked continuity in the disrupted global economy and politics. However, if you were lucky, you had invested in the US stock market and Bitcoin.
After COVID-19, we were talking about the “new normal.” Unfortunately, this turmoil in the markets and unstable politics soon became normal for three years.
But as everything good comes to an end, they say, corporations worldwide have started to call people back to offices as remote work harms micromanagement more than productivity. Let’s hope all the bad will also come to an end soon, and we will have peace in Ukraine that is acceptable for its people, recovery in the markets, and not too high customs in the US. Maybe all this will happen in 2025?
When I talk about the market landscape, I tend to watch towards the Nordics as our business in Software Sauna is focused there. 2024 was challenging, especially in Finland and Sweden, where the IT markets were declining. The same was visible in Central Europe: many software companies were laying off people and losing projects or clients around us. Despite this, our team demonstrated resilience and dedication, leading us back to the track after the struggle in 2023.
Teamwork victory – growth despite challenges
The year was definitely full of uncertainties, and many companies in the IT sector kept facing difficulties. I would describe it again as a rollercoaster ride, but in the end, we at Software Sauna managed to achieve a solid 35% increase in revenue and double-digit profitability. This is a result of our team’s unwavering commitment and hard work that pays off. It is also important to point out the trust of our clients in what we do together with them.
Our sales team put up a phenomenal show: their strategic approach and dedication have been instrumental in driving our growth.
Our sales and marketing teams played a great role in expanding our client base and strengthening cooperation in long-term partnerships. Our sales team put up a phenomenal show: their strategic approach and dedication have been instrumental in driving our growth.
The HR team also leveled up in identifying and recruiting outstanding individuals who have seamlessly integrated into our culture and contributed to both our and our clients’ success. We have constantly been trying to improve our recruitment and onboarding procedures and developer experience in everyday work.
Thanks to these efforts, 40 developers were actively engaged in projects in December, a ca. 40% increase compared to the same period in 2023. At the end of the year, the Sauna team comprised nearly 50 professionals.
Venturing into new areas
In the last quarter of 2024 we embarked on our first Data Engineering project, marking a new direction for Software Sauna. We are excited to further explore and expand our capabilities in this domain in 2025.
Software Sauna also landed on Danish soil and started the sales operations in the land of vikings, smørrebrød, and hygge. We look forward to seeing the first results and new Danish clients in the first half of 2025.
Setting our compass for 2025
Reflecting on 2024, we can definitely take pride in our accomplishments and set the bar even higher for 2025. Some turbulence is inevitable, but we keep working hard for the company’s future growth as the foundation is well-founded, and we are ready to sail the new seas.
Thank you to our clients, partners, and team members for being an integral part of our journey. Here’s to a prosperous and dynamic 2025!
Cheers,
IC
Saunamajuri
