Hybrid and Nearshore: Emerging Trends Transforming Managed IT Services in Europe

With IT environments growing more complex, European companies seek greater agility, faster innovation, and closer alignment between internal capabilities and external expertise. Recent insights from IDC Research sponsored by Comarch (Feb 2025) underline two emerging trends in managed IT services: the increased adoption of hybrid IT management models, which blend internal IT resources with external specialists, and a marked shift toward nearshoring, which leverages geographically and culturally aligned service providers.

In this article, you will learn:

• How hybrid IT management and nearshoring are redefining managed IT services
• The strategic advantages of combining internal resources with nearshore providers
• What makes nearshoring a smarter alternative to traditional offshore models
• Practical ways to effectively implement and maximize value from hybrid-nearshore strategies

The Rise of Hybrid IT Management Models

As IT complexity grows, more European enterprises are shifting toward hybrid IT management—combining internal resources with external expertise to stay agile while retaining control. According to IDC, 60% of companies already use selectively managed services, and nearly 50% engage in co-sourcing partnerships, with both models expected to grow in the next 18 months.

This shift is largely driven by a desire to modernize IT environments without losing oversight. While some organizations still hesitate to outsource due to concerns over data security and service quality, hybrid models offer a middle ground: they allow companies to keep business-critical functions in-house while delegating routine or specialized operations to external providers.

Common Hybrid IT Outsourcing Models

Currently, the most popular managed IT services models among European enterprises include:

• Selectively Managed IT Services: Outsourcing only specific IT functions, such as network management or service desk support, while retaining core architecture in-house.
• Co-sourcing: Internal teams collaborate closely with external providers, sharing responsibilities and jointly managing IT tasks.
• Out-tasking: Delegating specific tasks or processes rather than entire IT functions.

Benefits of Hybrid IT Management

Hybrid IT management models not only offer more control—they provide a strategic approach to innovation, enabling companies to navigate change effectively and remain competitive. Some of their key benefits include:

• Strategic Control with Built-In Agility: Companies can keep critical systems in-house while quickly scaling or modernizing through external partners, balancing control with flexibility and the ability to respond quickly to technological changes.
• Stronger Operational Resilience: By diversifying IT functions across internal and external resources, hybrid models minimize operational risk, reduce downtime, and ensure continuous service delivery even during disruptions.
• Reduced Dependency: By avoiding full vendor lock-in, organizations stay in control of key operations and reduce risks tied to over-reliance on a single provider—while still benefiting from specialized external support.

Nearshoring: Why Proximity is Power in IT Outsourcing

Western European companies tend to choose providers that are closer to home, with 47% partnering with domestic suppliers and over 29% selecting nearshore solutions, according to IDC. While offshoring still dominates among large enterprises with over 5,000 employees, the situation is changing quickly—IDC data shows that 42% of these organizations plan to shift to nearshore providers within the next 18 months, marking a significant strategic change in service provider selection. So, what’s driving this sudden shift?

Cultural and Time Zone Alignment

Based on IDC findings, up to 46% of companies consider cultural alignment very or extremely important when choosing a managed IT services provider. In reality, similarity in those aspects may determine the success (or failure) of the entire partnership. Working with teams in similar time zones improves day-to-day collaboration. Add in shared business culture and language compatibility, and communication becomes smoother, faster, and more effective.

Simplified Compliance and Regulation

Operating within similar legal and regulatory frameworks reduces complexity and risk—especially compared to offshore providers in regions with very different compliance landscapes.

Improved Integration and Responsiveness

When external teams are just a few hours away, site visits, real-time troubleshooting, and hands-on support become easier to coordinate. This leads to faster implementation, fewer delays, and better alignment with internal teams.

A Better Fit for Hybrid Models

For companies already blending internal and external teams, nearshoring is a natural extension. It supports tighter integration, faster feedback loops, and stronger partnerships—all essential in a hybrid IT setup.

How Nearshoring Complements Hybrid IT Models

Nearshoring and hybrid IT management models aren’t just compatible—they amplify each other’s strengths. Combining internal teams with nearby external partners creates a setup that’s more agile, responsive, and easier to manage.

Nearshore providers operate in similar time zones and understand the regional business culture. This makes collaboration feel more like an extension of the internal team—which is perfect for hybrid co-sourcing models where roles and responsibilities are shared. It also reduces delays, improves responsiveness, and supports faster, real-time decision-making. 

That’s why it’s worth looking for a provider capable of delivering both models—like Comarch, which facilitates hybrid-nearshore collaboration through regional hubs and multilingual teams across Europe.

Maximizing the Value from Hybrid-Nearshore Strategies

Selecting the right provider is certainly important, but to get the most out of hybrid-nearshore collaboration, you can’t forget about those factors:

Set a Clear Collaboration Structure: Define exactly how internal and external teams will work together. Clarify responsibilities, communication flows, and decision-making points to avoid confusion later on.

Leverage Geographic and Cultural Proximity: Take full advantage of overlapping time zones and cultural alignment to shorten feedback loops, resolve issues faster, and accelerate your workflow.

Treat Nearshore Partners as Part of Your Team: Include them in planning cycles and strategic reviews. The more context they have, the better and faster they can contribute.

The Future of Managed IT Services

European enterprises are moving away from traditional outsourcing in favor of models that offer more balance and better fit. Hybrid-nearshore setups do exactly that—they allow companies to keep control over core systems while extending capacity through trusted, regionally aligned partners such as Comarch. Proximity speeds up collaboration, simplifies compliance, and makes communication easier. Hybrid models add the flexibility to split responsibilities in a way that’s both effective and easy to manage.

As pressure builds to modernize IT without creating operational disconnects, hybrid-nearshore models are emerging as both practical and scalable solutions—offering a way to support innovation without losing sight of business context.

Interested in learning more about current IT outsourcing trends? Get access to the complete IDC research and discover how to future-proof your business.

Key Takeaways

60% of European companies already use selectively managed services, and nearly half rely on co-sourcing, reflecting the growing preference for hybrid IT models that balance control with flexibility.

42% of large enterprises plan to shift from offshore to nearshore providers within the next 18 months, marking a clear move toward regional proximity and cultural alignment.

46% of organizations prioritize cultural alignment when choosing a managed IT services provider—recognizing its impact on day-to-day collaboration.

Hybrid-nearshore models offer a scalable alternative to traditional outsourcing by improving responsiveness, reducing risk, and enabling faster decision-making without losing control over core operations.