By MOTIFE Insights, 21 July 2026
The BOT partner builds the operation, manages it during the initial phase, and transfers it to the client once it is ready to operate independently.
The model can reduce market-entry risk, but its effectiveness depends heavily on the partner. A BOT provider should be able to combine recruitment, employment, local operations, and transfer planning within one coherent process.
Check out also: 2026 Krakow IT Market Report
Before contacting providers, define what the Polish operation should look like. At minimum, clarify:
This information allows providers to prepare realistic hiring, cost, and implementation plans. It also makes their proposals easier to compare.
A company may have extensive recruitment or outsourcing experience without having completed a full BOT project. Ask potential partners for examples of operations they built from the first hire and later transferred to the client. Relevant evidence includes:
The most useful case studies are those involving companies with similar technology, scale, and organizational requirements.
Recruitment is often the most visible part of a BOT project, but speed alone is not enough. The provider should understand:
Hiring forecasts should be supported by market data and recent recruitment experience. Unrealistic volume or timing assumptions can affect the whole BOT schedule.
During the operate phase, the BOT provider may become responsible for much of the local employee experience. Depending on the project, this can include:
Ask which services are delivered directly and which depend on external suppliers. Responsibility should remain clear even when payroll, legal, accounting, or office services are subcontracted.
The transfer is not only the final step. It should influence how the operation is designed from the beginning. A clear transfer plan should cover:
The contract should also define the transfer date or conditions, possible delays, additional fees, and the responsibilities of both parties.
A good BOT structure creates an operation that the client can take over without unnecessary dependency on the provider.
BOT projects involve decisions across recruitment, HR, finance, legal, workplace, and technology. Strong governance helps keep these areas aligned. Look for:
Commercial proposals should separate recruitment fees, employment costs, operational management, entity setup, office expenses, third-party services, and transfer costs.
Compare the total expected cost across the full BOT period, not only the monthly management fee.
Be cautious when a provider:
These issues may create delays, unexpected costs, or operational dependency later in the project.
Before selecting a partner, ask:
Clear answers are more valuable than broad claims about global reach or access to talent.
What is a BOT partner?
A Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) partner builds a local team and operating structure, manages it for an agreed period, and later transfers the operation to the client.
How is BOT different from outsourcing?
In outsourcing, the provider normally continues to own and manage delivery. In BOT, the operation is built with the intention of transferring employees, processes, and responsibilities to the client.
How long does a BOT project take?
The timeline depends on hiring volume, entity setup, operational scope, and transfer requirements. It should be defined through milestones rather than based only on a fixed date.
Who employs the team before transfer?
Employees may initially be hired by the BOT provider, through an Employer of Record, or by the client’s Polish entity. The right structure depends on the project timeline and legal setup.
What should be included in a BOT agreement?
The agreement should define the build and operating scope, employment structure, pricing, KPIs, intellectual property, data protection, transfer conditions, documentation, liability, and post-transfer support.
Learn more about what international companies have achieved with their Krakow tech labs by downloading our 2026 Krakow IT Market Report
If you are interested in setting up your own engineering hub in Poland, contact us at MOTIFE to learn more.
If you are looking for interesting job opportunities in tech companies in Poland, check out open roles at motife.com/jobs.
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