Global Blue • Case Study
Scaling Global Engineering Capabilities Through a BOT Partnership
Global Blue is a leading provider of Tax Free Shopping, Payments and Post-Purchase solutions, helping retailers, brands and travellers across the world create seamless shopping experiences.
As the organisation continued to expand its global operations and technology footprint, the need for additional engineering capacity became increasingly important to support product innovation, operational excellence and long-term growth.
11 (2 teams)
5+
Infrastucture & Support Engineering
01
The Challenge
Engineering capacity at scale — without compromise
As demand for Global Blue’s services increased, so did the complexity of its technology landscape.
The organisation needed to strengthen both its software development and application support capabilities while maintaining the high standards expected by customers and partners worldwide.
Beyond simply adding resources, Global Blue was looking for a long-term solution that would allow teams to integrate seamlessly into existing operations, scale alongside business needs and support future organisational objectives.
KEY PRIORITIES INCLUDE:
- Expand software development capabilities to support product innovation.
- Strengthen application support to ensure operational continuity.
- Access specialised engineering talent efficiently and at pace.
- Maintain alignment with existing teams and delivery processes.
- Create a foundation for long-term sustainability and future team ownership.
02
The Solution
A Build-Operate-Transfer model built for longevity
To support these objectives, Global Blue partnered with Nearshore Portugal through a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.
The goal was not simply to augment capacity, but to establish dedicated engineering teams capable of operating as a natural extension of Global Blue’s organisation while creating a clear path towards long-term ownership.
Nearshore Portugal assumed responsibility for talent acquisition, onboarding, operational management and team development, allowing Global Blue to focus on delivery, innovation and business growth.
Over time, the teams became fully integrated into Global Blue’s operational and technical environment, supporting both software development and application support initiatives.
PARTNERSHIP EVOLUTION
1. BUILD
Nearshore Portugal worked closely with Global Blue to define team structures, required competencies and delivery processes.
A dedicated recruitment strategy was implemented to identify highly qualified professionals for software development and application support roles. Onboarding processes were designed to ensure alignment with Global Blue’s technical standards, business objectives and ways of working.
2. OPERATE
As the partnership evolved, dedicated teams were established and integrated into Global Blue’s delivery organisation.
Working through Agile methodologies and closely aligned with internal stakeholders, the teams contributed to ongoing development initiatives while ensuring operational stability across critical systems and services.
Throughout this phase, Nearshore Portugal provided ongoing talent management, operational support and coordination, helping maintain team continuity and delivery performance.
3. TRANSFER
As Global Blue’s internal capabilities matured, a structured transition plan was implemented for the Application Support Engineering team. The process included knowledge transfer activities, leadership handovers and operational transition planning designed to ensure business continuity and a seamless transfer of responsibilities. The transition was completed successfully, demonstrating the effectiveness of the BOT model and the strength of the partnership built over several years.
03
Delivery Impact
Through the partnership, Global Blue successfully expanded its engineering capabilities while maintaining operational continuity and supporting ongoing business growth.
The collaboration enabled the organisation to:
- Establish dedicated software development and application support capabilities
- Expand delivery capacity to support evolving business requirements
- Maintain operational stability across critical services
- Create a scalable engineering presence in Portugal
- Successfully transition application support capabilities into Global Blue’s organisation
More importantly, the partnership provided a sustainable model for long-term growth, combining immediate access to talent with a structured path towards future ownership.
Why the Partnership Worked
Several factors contributed to the success of the collaboration:
Long-Term Partnership Approach
The focus extended beyond staffing requirements to creating a sustainable engineering capability aligned with Global Blue’s long-term objectives.
Cultural and Operational Alignment
Teams were integrated into Global Blue’s environment from the beginning, allowing them to operate as a seamless extension of existing delivery organizations.
Flexible Delivery Model
The Build-Operate-Transfer approach provided the flexibility to scale teams efficiently while preserving future strategic options.
Focus on Talent Quality
A rigorous recruitment and onboarding process ensured that engineering professionals possessed both the technical expertise and collaborative mindset required for long-term success.
Partnership Overview
Client
Global Blue
Industry
Tax Free Shopping, Payments & Post-Purchase Solutions
Delivery Model
Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)
Team Size
11 Engineers
Focus Areas
Software Development & Application Support
Partnership Started
2019
Location
Portugal
Adam Klimiuk
Head of Service Delivery
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“We have partnered with Nearshore Portugal to expand our existing teams and build new ones, all focused on delivering Global Blue’s Tax Free Solutions worldwide.
Over the years, Nearshore Portugal has assisted us in engaging numerous highly skilled IT professionals to meet our rapidly growing demand.
Our experience with them in all aspects of talent management has been seamless.“
Looking to Scale Your Engineering Capacity?
Whether you need to expand an existing team, build a dedicated delivery capability or establish a long-term nearshore operation, Nearshore Portugal helps organisations access specialised engineering talent across Software Development, Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering and Enterprise Systems.
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