A Build Operate Transfer Success Story of SaaS Company

In the rapidly evolving global SaaS landscape, the build operate transfer model has emerged as a cornerstone for companies looking to scale without the initial friction of local legalities. As a top-tier omni-channel B2B technology provider, our client required a strategic partner capable of navigating complex cultural and operational waters while maintaining a headcount of elite technical experts.

1. Client Overview

The client is a European SaaS scale-up and a leading provider of B2B technology solutions for the gambling industry. Its platform supports a high-traffic ecosystem, processing millions of transactions every day, where performance, uptime, and security are non-negotiable.

Upon partnering with Reco, the client set a clear objective: Build a dedicated team of 10 high-level technical experts within 24 months, operating in a hybrid model across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, fully aligned with global engineering standards and company culture.

2. Client Requirement

The client aimed to establish a dedicated development hub in Vietnam to supplement their global teams. However, they faced significant hurdles:

• Market Knowledge: Lack of familiarity with Vietnamese labor laws, tax regulations, and cultural nuances.
• Talent Scarcity: A need for “top 1%” developers with fluent English and expertise in specialized tech stacks (.NET, ReactJS).
• Operational Risk: The requirement for a build-operate-transfer model that guaranteed long-term stability and high-performance output.

Since 2023, Reco has delivered high-quality Vietnamese tech professionals at senior and leadership levels to the client, including: 

• .NET developers
• Tech Lead
• Full-stack tester
• Back-end developers
• Front-end developers (ReactJS)

3. Reco’s Approach

To fulfill these high-stakes requirements, Reco implemented a tailored build-operate-transfer process, prioritizing quality, stability, and scalability over volume hiring.

3.1. Dedicated HR Consultancy Support

Unlike standard recruitment, Reco assigned a specialized internal team to oversee the project’s lifecycle:

• 1 Team Lead (10+ years experience): Provided strategic oversight, governance, and delivery assurance.
• 3 Senior HR Consultants: Specialized in senior tech hiring, compliance, and market benchmarking
• 1 Dedicated Account Manager: Ensured constant communication and alignment between the Irish HQ and the Vietnam team.

This structure allowed Reco to function as an embedded extension of the client’s organization, rather than an external vendor.

3.2. Competitive Retention & Benefit Framework

Understanding that elite talent requires elite treatment, Reco designed a differentiated benefit package to attract Vietnam’s top engineering talent:

• Financial Security: 100% probation salary and social insurance paid on full gross salary.
• Premium Benefits: Family health insurance from day one and annual international company trips.
• Global Integration: A unique policy allowing the entire team to work onsite in Europe once a year to align with the headquarters’ culture.
• Stability Loans: Financial assistance for home and car purchases to encourage long-term commitment.

We built a custom talent pool for the client and implemented a strict 6-month probation period to accurately assess technical quality and cultural fit. This ensured that only the most resilient and skilled experts remained in the build-operate-transfer pipeline.

3. The Outcome

By utilizing the build-operate-transfer model, the client achieved seamless integration into the Vietnamese market and secured top-tier developers with high English proficiency and high-level tech stack. The BOT team is now stable and efficient with 0% turnover rate, ensuring seamless scale-up aligned with the original roadmap. 

The BOT solutions provided by Reco allowed the client to focus entirely on product innovation while we handled the complexities of local operations. They successfully tap into Vietnam’s top technical talent with zero friction.