Best Software Development Outsourcing UK

BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe: full comparison for 2026

Quick verdict

BJSS (CGI) (4.0/5) edges ahead of SoftServe (4.0/5) overall. BJSS (CGI) is the better choice for NHS and government programmes, large onshore delivery. SoftServe is the stronger option for big cloud and data programmes, Ukrainian rates at volume. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.

BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe: head-to-head summary

Criterion BJSS (CGI) SoftServe
Founded 1993 1993
HQ Leeds, United Kingdom (owned by CGI) Austin, United States and Lviv, Ukraine (London offices)
Team size 2,000–2,500 10,000+
Rating 4.0 / 5 4.0 / 5
Primary differentiator Large UK onshore delivery capacity, now backed by CGI's global network Scale and cloud partner status combined with Eastern European rates
Pricing model Time and materials, fixed price, managed service Dedicated team, time and materials, managed service
Min. engagement Not published Not published
Primary tech stack Java, .NET, AWS AWS, Google Cloud, Azure
Industries served Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Retail, Energy Healthcare, Retail, Financial services, Manufacturing, Media

BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe: overview

BJSS (CGI)

BJSS was founded in Leeds in 1993 and grew into one of the UK's largest independent technology consultancies before CGI completed its acquisition in February 2025. The deal brought about 2,400 BJSS staff into CGI and took CGI's UK headcount past 8,500. BJSS teams are being merged into CGI's metro-based UK operating model. UK clients get the scale and governance of a global group, with nearshore capacity now available through CGI centres such as Portugal.

SoftServe

SoftServe was founded in Lviv in 1993 and is now co-headquartered in Austin, Texas. Revelio Labs estimated about 13,100 employees in 2025, down roughly 3% on the year. It opened its London office around 2014 as part of a Western European expansion and trades in the UK as SoftServe Systems Ltd. Most delivery happens in Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria and Latin America.

Services and capabilities: BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe

Capability BJSS (CGI) SoftServe
Custom software development ✓ ✓
Mobile app development ✗ ✗
Cloud & DevOps ✓ ✓
Data & AI ✓ ✓
Legacy modernisation ✗ ✗
Embedded & IoT ✗ ✓
Dedicated team model ✗ ✓
Fixed-price projects ✓ ✗

Tech stack comparison: BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe

Framework / platform BJSS (CGI) SoftServe
.NET ✓ ✓
Java ✓ ✓
Python ✓ ✓
React N/A N/A
AWS ✓ ✓
Azure ✓ ✓
Kubernetes ✓ ✓
Embedded N/A N/A

Pricing comparison: BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe

Criterion BJSS (CGI) SoftServe
Minimum engagement Not published Not published
Engagement models Fixed project, Managed service, Time and materials Dedicated team, Managed service, Time and materials
Rate transparency Not public Not public
Price tier Mid-market Mid-market

Target audience comparison: BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe

Dimension BJSS (CGI) SoftServe
Best company size Startup to mid-market Enterprise
Best industries Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services Healthcare, Retail, Financial services
Best use cases An NHS trust needs a national-scale digital service., A bank wants a large onshore team with independent testing. A retailer needs a large cloud migration team., A healthcare firm wants a data platform with machine learning features.
Typical project type Fixed project Dedicated team

BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe: pros and cons

BJSS (CGI)
+ Long record on large NHS and government programmes
+ CGI ownership adds financial stability and access to nearshore centres
+ Strong testing and quality engineering practice
- Acquired by CGI in 2025, and integration into CGI's model may change account teams and processes
- Large-consultancy pricing and governance are heavy for small projects
SoftServe
+ Very large talent pool for fast ramp-up
+ Strong cloud and data engineering practices
+ Lower rates than UK-headquartered vendors of similar size
- UK office is mostly a commercial presence; delivery is overseas
- Smaller UK accounts may struggle to get senior attention
- Headcount has edged down since 2024

Who should choose BJSS (CGI)?

A typical fit: an NHS trust needs a national-scale digital service.

Large UK onshore delivery capacity, now backed by CGI's global network. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Public sector, Healthcare, Financial services, Retail, Energy.

Who should choose SoftServe?

A typical fit: a retailer needs a large cloud migration team.

Scale and cloud partner status combined with Eastern European rates. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Retail, Financial services, Manufacturing, Media.

Decision matrix: BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe

Your situation Recommended choice
You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope BJSS (CGI)
You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme SoftServe
Your budget is at the lower end Compare: BJSS (CGI) (Not published) vs SoftServe (Not published)
You need specialist depth in a specific vertical BJSS (CGI)
You want engineers added to your own in-house team Neither lists team extension; ask about dedicated teams
Your product includes hardware, firmware or connected devices SoftServe

Use case fit: BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe

Use case BJSS (CGI) fit SoftServe fit Winner
An NHS trust needs a national-scale digital service. Strong Limited BJSS (CGI)
A bank wants a large onshore team with independent testing. Strong Limited BJSS (CGI)
A retailer needs a large cloud migration team. Limited Strong SoftServe
A healthcare firm wants a data platform with machine learning features. Limited Strong SoftServe
You need hardware, firmware or IoT work in the same contract Limited Strong SoftServe
You want a fixed-price first phase before a longer engagement Strong Limited BJSS (CGI)

Verdict: BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe

BJSS (CGI) (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Software Development Outsourcing projects. Large UK onshore delivery capacity, now backed by CGI's global network.

SoftServe (4.0/5) is worth a look in a scenario like this: a healthcare firm wants a data platform with machine learning features. If your situation matches that, SoftServe is a competitive option.

Related comparisons

BJSS (CGI) vs SoftServe FAQ

Is BJSS (CGI) better than SoftServe?

BJSS (CGI) (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. BJSS (CGI)'s strongest advantage: long record on large NHS and government programmes. SoftServe's strongest advantage: very large talent pool for fast ramp-up.

How do BJSS (CGI) and SoftServe differ in pricing?

BJSS (CGI) uses time and materials, fixed price, managed service pricing. SoftServe uses dedicated team, time and materials, managed service pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.

Which is better for enterprise: BJSS (CGI) or SoftServe?

BJSS (CGI) is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.

What are the main differences between BJSS (CGI) and SoftServe?

BJSS (CGI)'s primary differentiator is: large UK onshore delivery capacity, now backed by CGI's global network. SoftServe's primary differentiator is: scale and cloud partner status combined with Eastern European rates. They also differ in team size (2,000–2,500 vs 10,000+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Public sector, Healthcare vs Healthcare, Retail).

Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.