Why nearshoring software development in Bosnia is the best move you haven’t made yet?

Let’s skip the usual nearshoring lecture. You've probably read enough of those to write one yourself.

Instead, picture this: 

Your dev team is maxed out.
The backlog keeps growing. 
And those local developer rates? 

Well, let's just say they're not getting any friendlier to your budget.

Simply put, nearshoring means partnering with skilled tech teams in nearby countries to build great software, save money, and stay efficient. 

And this is where we come in. 

For the past 8 years, we've been the bridge between Swedish ambition and Bosnian and Herzegovinian technical talent. 

(We'd love to name-drop some of our impressive clients here, but NDAs, you know how it goes.) 🔒

We've helped leading Nordic manufacturers and e-commerce players turn their multi-day processes into minute-long tasks. 

And we've got the success stories to prove it. Just ask us about them over a coffee.

Think of us as your technical Swiss Army knife - but with Bosnian coffee and Swedish efficiency. ☕

We bring you all the tools you need: 

-top tech talent
-cultural alignment
-cost efficiency

Everything wrapped in one reliable package.

What makes this work? 

Let us break it down for you over the next few paragraphs. 

How do we become one?                  

In 2016, over a cup of coffee in their hometown of Gothenburg, our co-founders Nikola and Senad asked themselves this exact question. 

The answer came down to three pillars that have guided ZenDev ever since:

1. Feeling of control
2. Good cost-to-quality ratio
3. Cultural understanding                 
    

1. How do you achieve a feeling of control?

The key to control is presence.

Nikola stayed in Sweden to work closely with clients, while Senad was in Bosnia and Herzegovina, overseeing the technical team and ensuring quality.

8 years and 100+ employees later, we’re still holding to the same principle. Successfully.                 
 

2. What is a good cost-to-quality ratio?

It comes from accessing top talent at competitive rates while minimizing language and time zone barriers.

That is what we offer with software development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Skilled developers at a fraction of the cost compared to other markets, without sacrificing quality.                 
 

3. How do we overcome cultural barriers?                 
 

With 50+ projects behind us, our developers are well acquainted with Swedish culture and way of working.

We overcome cultural barriers through frequent in-person interactions.

Here’s how it looks in real life:

Discussing big ideas, solving challenges together, learning about each other’s cultures.

And yes, enjoying fantastic food (we see you, ćevapi).  🍖  

It’s about building connections that drive better collaboration and successful projects. 

In fact, we held a nearshoring event in Gothenburg last year, where we shared exactly how we apply these principles. 

You can read more about it here.

Bottom line - our growth team is based in Sweden, close to our clients, while our skilled developers work out of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

It is a system that delivers results—for us and our clients. 

Need to meet in person? 

Easy.

With just a short flight, you can reach us—or we can come to you. 

Most European destinations are less than 2 hours away, making face-to-face collaboration simple when needed.
 

 Let's work together→
 

Engineers who get it

Fluent in English, critical thinkers, no “yes sir” mentality. Our developers are true engineers who collaborate and deliver real value. We will challenge you to get the most out of your product.
 

Hungry talent

With no local giants like Spotify, Klarna, or Telenor, our team is eager to work on innovative projects for international clients. 
 

Better quality, smarter cost

You get the same—if not better—talent as your local team for a more competitive price.
 

Close enough to feel local

Just an hour-and-a-half flight away. Bosnia’s tech scene is growing fast, and Sarajevo is a National Geographic top destination for 2025. Talent and culture all in one.

So, as we’ve said, with ZenDev you get technical expertise, cultural compatibility, and cost efficiency—all in one solid package. 

But if you’re still weighing nearshore outsourcing against offshoring or onshoring, let us break down why nearshoring (and working with us) is the smarter choice: 

At ZenDev, we adapt to fit. 

Whether you come to us with a specific project budget or a request to build a team, we know one size doesn’t fit all. 

Here’s how we handle different situations:
 

1. A €20 000 project

For a project with a defined budget, our first step is to understand your hypothesis:

What do you want to achieve with your investment?

We approach this as an MVP (minimum viable product), ensuring you get the most value for your money. 

We’ll propose the best way to use your budget strategically so you walk away with results.

(Curious about how we work on MVPs? We’ve written a whole article about it—you can read it here.)

2. Building a team of 5–10 people

When you need a larger team, we start with a workshop to deeply understand your needs. Depending on the work model you’re aiming for—dedicated team or staff augmentation—we define:
 

1. Way of working
2. Number of people required
3. Tools and processes to use
    

Here’s where we think smart: sometimes clients come to us confident they need a specific number of people. 

After the workshop, we realized fewer team members could achieve the same (or better) results. 

It’s all about optimizing resources while staying effective.

Let's talk→
 

Based on this, we design the ideal team setup. 

This could include roles like product owners, project managers, developers, DevOps, QA, design, or whatever the project demands.

We’ve worked with teams in every possible configuration—some fully in-house, some nearshore, and many blended. 

With the right mindset, there are no barriers. 

Regardless of how the team is distributed, it’s always one team: working together, building together, and succeeding together.

Hiring locally in Western Europe comes with its advantages—proximity and familiarity—but it often limits budgets. 

Nearshoring with ZenDev offers a smarter alternative: exceptional quality at a price point that makes sense. 

It’s not about cutting corners; it’s about balancing cost and quality without compromise.

Plus, nearshoring to Bosnia and Herzegovina is much safer and more reliable than offshoring to remote parts of the world. 
 

You stay in control,

work within EU-friendly standards, 

and avoid the headaches of navigating different time zones, compliance issues, or cultural gaps. 


It’s remote collaboration but with the reassurance of working with a team that understands your business needs.

We know the numbers are what you’re most interested in. 

It’s easy to see why Bosnia and Herzegovina hits the sweet spot. 

You get highly skilled developers who are culturally aligned with Europe for a fraction of the cost. 

With ZenDev, you also gain peace of mind through transparent communication and processes. 🪷
 

Could nearshore software development with ZenDev work for you? 

Let’s grab 15 minutes to chat—no strings attached→