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Every new policy or change meant hours of work for our development team, and it became clear that our internal system was getting too expensive and inflexible to keep up.
Ekaterina Sheremetieva
Senior Business Analyst
From Weeks of Coding to 15 Minutes of Config: How Softeq Found Peace of Mind with Switching from In-House solution to Calamari
Softeq specializes in new product development, R&D, and digital transformation consulting. Our mission is to help startups and global clients create innovative solutions that solve complex challenges, delivering results on time, within budget, and at scope.
Ekaterina Sheremetieva
Senior Business Analyst at Softeq
Industry
IT
Employees
150
Founded
1997
Modules used
Time Off
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Here is how Softeq transitioned from a rigid in-house solution to a flexible, automated system with Calamari, saving significant budget and development time in the process
The Paradox: When "In-House" Becomes a Burden
For a long time, Softeq relied on a custom in-house solution for managing time off . It made sense initially—developers love control. But as Softeq grew into an international organization with 150 employees, that control became a liability .
Every country added new labor laws. Every location added unique holiday calendars. Suddenly, the company's highly skilled developers were spending valuable hours updating internal admin tools instead of working on client innovations.
The realization was clear: Softeq needed to reclaim their development time.
The Search: Finding Honesty in a Market of Over-Promising
Softeq’s procurement process was exhaustive. They didn't just look at a few options; they tested around 20 different tools .
The vast majority were rejected immediately because they couldn't handle the complex reality of a multi-country workforce . The few enterprise tools that could were simply too expensive .
Calamari won the contract not just on features, but on honesty. In an industry full of sales pitches, Calamari’s transparency stood out.
Calamari immediately stood out because of how client-focused they are! From the first conversations, they gave clear, detailed, and honest answers to our questions (unlike other vendors, who often promised more than they could deliver).
Ekaterina Sheremetieva
Senior Business Analyst
The "Killer Feature" & The Rollback Plan
Softeq approached the implementation with the caution of a seasoned tech firm. They set up a "rollback plan," duplicating time-off requests in their old system as a backup, just in case data didn't sync correctly with payroll .
They never had to use it .
Instead, the adoption was seamless. The integration with Slack became an instant favorite among employees, replacing clunky web portals with quick chat commands.
They work extremely fast, save a lot of time, and make the whole process much smoother - truly a killer feature!"
Ekaterina Sheremetieva
Senior Business Analyst
Behind the scenes, Softeq used Calamari’s API to automate complex absence assignments, ensuring that the system simplified work rather than creating new manual tasks .
The Strategic Win: 15 Minutes to Peace of Mind
The ROI for Softeq wasn't just about "easier holidays." It was about operational agility. The metric that defines their success is staggering:
Creating a new policy now takes about 15 minutes instead of weeks or even months of development work.
Ekaterina Sheremetieva
Senior Business Analyst
By switching to Calamari, Softeq turned weeks of coding into minutes of configuration. This shift had a direct positive impact on the company's budget and freed up their development teams to focus on what they do best: building innovative products for their clients.
Advice for Other Tech Companies
When asked what they would tell peers considering Calamari, Softeq points to the value of reliability and support.
1. Look for a Partner, Not Just a Vendor
Softeq highlights that Calamari’s support team (and specifically their contact, Agnieszka) made them feel "cared for" through fast, professional responses .
2. Complexity Doesn't Have to Cost a Fortune
"Calamari is an excellent product that can meet many complex client requirements... at a very competitive cost."
3. Value Peace of Mind For Softeq, the ultimate benefit isn't a feature—it's a feeling
"he thing that has changed for the better... is the confidence and peace of mind it gives us: we no longer worry about updates or new policies."
Ekaterina Sheremetieva
Senior Business Analyst
