In 2009 Digital Design consolidated revenues made USD 17.5 million, among them share of business applications development and integration – 52%, infrastructure solutions – 27%, software licensing – 9%, other services (including auditing, consulting and technical support) – 12%.

Market situation

The company is satisfied with its operating results in 2009 which was a crisis year for the world economy.

“The situation was more stable for us than for many other IT-integrators for two reasons. Firstly, our company never had any loans. Secondly, we did not focus on software licenses and hardware supplies. These market segments froze in the beginning of 2009,” says Marina Golubeva, Strategic Marketing Director, Digital Design.

Digital Design stable position was also backed up by steady development dynamics in previous years: every year, starting from 2003, the company consolidated revenue rose more than 50%, and financial results of 2009 have exceeded results of pre-crisis 2007 for 32%.

Digital Design management decided to take the lead in new market conditions: the sales system was reorganized, a new department for key customers relationship management was established, and Murmansk representative office was opened.

New customers

In 2009 Digital Design started cooperation with a number of key customers, such as Roscosmos, Rusagrotrans, Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, BNP Paribas, Mosautodor, South Federal University, Onninen Group.

Innovations

After few years’ investigations Digital Design mathematicians and engineers developed the revolutionary software for data storage management. In 2009 the company launched a new product on the market – AVRORA high performance data storage system. Due to the professionalism of Russian mathematicians and ability of national engineers to think outside the box, system authors succeeded to combine high performance, reliability and low cost. Pilot AVRORA systems were installed in South Federal University (for the program Innovative education) and State Academic Mariinsky Theatre (for theatre performance recording and storage in digital format).

Continuing the collaboration with Russian Railways, Digital Design experts developed and implemented a number of innovative solutions. One of the projects was a distance learning system developed on the basis of Microsoft Office Communication Server. 390 Russian Railways specialist got education using this new instrument in 2009. The company saved more than 15 million rubles on business trip expenses.

New representative office

New representative office of Digital Design was open in Murmansk in 2009. First performance result – successful implementation of workflow management and administrational regulations automation solution at Governors Administration Executive Office of Murmansk region.

New partnerships and vendors’ awards

One of the key points of 2009 for Digital Design business was the start of partnership with OMNINET Company (Germany). OMNINET produces software for IT-services automation – OmniTracker ITSM Center. This solution appeared at Russian market not long ago, but Digital Design experts consider it to be one of the leaders in Service Desk solutions due to its functionality, performance and competitive price. First projects of IT-service automation were completed by the end 2009.

As a result of work performance in 2009, Digital Design was awarded for two nominations in Microsoft partnership solutions contest in Central and Eastern Europe:

• Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Systems Management Partner of the Year – for development of the complex IT-infrastructure monitoring system at geographically distributed company Baltika Breweries;
• Small Business Specialist Partner of the Year for the SmartStart for DocsVision, solution for electronic document management at SMB companies.

Company employees – primary value

Digital Design took a principal decision not to cut down expenses at the cost of employees’ development.

The Corporate University began its operations in March 2009. A year after, in March 2010, the miniMBA program was started for medium level company management and participants of the Grow Up program.

The Grow Up program was launched in September 2009 and was intended for young Digital Design employees with sufficient professional competencies and experience, who possess professional competencies and enough experience to get administrative positions in the company in the nearest future.

The company moved to a new office to improve working conditions in October 2009, having increased its office space by 1,5 times.

Social life

Digital Design actively participates in St. Petersburg social life.

The School of System Administrator opens its doors for the fourth time. Every year students from St. Petersburg universities and institutes are invited to take part at this program and to get a free education.

In 2009 Digital Design launched the “Developers school” program in collaboration with St. Petersburg State University. The quantity of requests was six times as much as vacant positions. More than 20 specialists became program graduates in 2009.

Since 2009 Digital Design sponsors Web Ready, the biggest Russian contest of Internet innovative projects organized by Ingria Industrial Park. The contest covers such segments as social media, SaaS, CloudComputing, mobile technologies, e-Commerce, etc. Digital Design supports this project in line with its own innovation development program.

“Our innovative course of development supposes regular participation in student programs. Students and young IT specialists often come with very perspective ideas, and our company is ready to help them simultaneously inviting the best young IT-specialists to work at Digital Design”, says Marina Golubeva, Strategic Marketing Director.

Digital Design supports programs of St. Petersburg cultural values preservation and charitable programs (aid to Golden Pelican and Green World of Childhood child charity organizations). In 2009, renovation of “Flora” sculpture in Pavlovskiy Park has began on Digital Design’s funds as well as four icons of XVIII century from Sampsonievskiy Cathedral were restored.