Nearshore is growing, according to Whitelane. Great news. But it is not a light switch.
The Whitelane BeLux IT Sourcing Study 2026 makes one thing very clear: the use of nearshore delivery continues to grow. In fact, 36 percent of organisations in Belgium and Luxembourg plan to increase their use of nearshore delivery, while only a small minority intend to scale it down. Cost is no longer the primary driver. Instead, organisations are looking for scalability, access to new technologies and greater flexibility
That is genuinely good news. Not only because Luza is based in Portugal and this is, quite literally, our home field, but especially because it confirms what we have seen in practice for many years.
But, and here comes the small caveat, with a smile: nearshore is not a light switch.
You cannot simply turn it on, walk away, and expect everything to work by itself.
Nearshore only works if you take it seriously.
I hear it often in conversations:
“We want nearshore. Preferably fast. And it should immediately be cheaper, better and more scalable.”
That is a bit like saying:
“I want to get fit. Tomorrow. Without a gym. And without sore muscles.”
Nearshore does work, but only if you prepare properly. That means:
- clear governance and decision‑making
- realistic expectations on both sides
- solid onboarding and structured knowledge transfer
- mutual attention to culture, communication and ownership
- and yes, sometimes adjusting course along the way
The Whitelane report also shows that organisations are becoming more critical and more deliberate in their sourcing decisions. Uncertainty is decreasing, precisely because companies are thinking more carefully about how sourcing is applied, not just where.
And that is exactly where Luza comes in.
At Luza, we do not believe in nearshore as a simple volume or “box‑shifting” model.
We believe in nearshore with a human approach.
In practice, this means that we:
- support organisations in the preparation phase, not only in execution
- help design teams, structures and realistic expectations
- actively guide and adjust on both sides when needed
- and are honest when something is not yet ready for scaling
In an earlier blog, I wrote about nearshore with a personal touch. That is not a marketing phrase. It is how we work. With genuine attention for people, communication and long‑term success.
Because nearshore is not about distance.
It is about trust.
Concluding
Yes, nearshore is growing. And yes, that is great news for Luza Portugal.
But successful nearshore requires preparation, guidance and mature choices.
For organisations that take this seriously, the potential is significant.
PS. Getting nearshore right, rarely starts with a contract. It almost always starts with a good conversation. At Luza, we are always happy to have that conversation.
by Nelson Tavares da Silva, Managing Partner at Luza
