The ability to forge strategic relationships with industry giants like Amazon, Microsoft and Google brings significant value, both reputationally and as a springboard to continuously drive innovation.

That’s the view of Itai Zak, Executive Director of iGaming at Digicode, who offers useful insight into how these alliances have such a profound influence on the business. 

In a recent interview, you talked briefly about collaborating with top-tier igaming companies, as well as forging partnerships with some Fortune 500 firms. How difficult is it to forge these kinds of partnerships and what value do they bring?

Forging partnerships with top-tier igaming companies and Fortune 500 firms requires both time and a deep understanding of the unique needs of each partner. It’s not just about building technology but about building trust and mutual respect. At Digicode, we’ve positioned ourselves as a reliable, independent partner by demonstrating our ability to solve complex challenges across various markets and jurisdictions. This reputation has allowed us to form these strategic relationships.

The value these partnerships bring is significant. Collaborating with leading tier-one igaming companies enables us to access cutting-edge technologies and vast resources. This collaboration allows us to offer our clients more innovative, scalable, and cost-effective solutions, such as optimising cloud infrastructures to reduce IT costs. By working with these top-tier partners, we ensure that our clients benefit from the highest industry standards and advancements. 

Working closely with Fortune 500 companies elevates our standards and pushes us to continuously innovate and refine our approach, which ultimately benefits our entire client base. Whether we are supporting a B2C operator in multiple jurisdictions or helping a tier-one supplier deliver groundbreaking games, these partnerships ensure that we are always ahead of the curve, offering unmatched expertise and value.

Being associated with industry giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon is no bad thing for Digicode’s reputation as an expert in its field. Can you tell us about any other ways that these relationships have had a positive impact on your business?

Our partnerships with tier one igaming companies significantly enhance our ability to address complex challenges and deliver high-quality, tailored solutions. The association with industry giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon also plays a crucial role by providing additional technological resources and support. For example, one notable case study involved working closely with a leading tier-one online gaming operator, where we successfully optimised their cloud infrastructure and reduced their annual IT costs by 20%. This demonstrates how our strategic alliances and our focus on igaming companies drive value and support our clients’ growth.

For example, one of our most notable case studies involves working closely with a leading tier-one online gaming operator. The client was facing escalating IT costs and performance challenges with their existing infrastructure. We conducted a thorough assessment of their cloud architecture and identified key areas for improvement. 

By implementing more efficient cloud storage solutions, improving scalability, and using the latest cloud-native tools, we significantly enhanced the operator’s infrastructure. Additionally, we optimised certain components related to their CRM, which improved data flow and enhanced the speed and performance of their websites. This was critical for ensuring a seamless user experience, especially during peak times. 

As a result, we were able to reduce the client’s overall annual IT costs by 20%. This not only provided immediate financial relief but also equipped them with a more flexible and scalable platform to support future growth.

These partnerships allow Digicode to deliver significant operational and financial value, as well as innovative solutions that are tailored to our client’s unique business needs.

You’ve also previously talked about how tailored solutions set Digicode apart from the competition when it comes to bridging the gap between the unique business needs of your clients. How much work goes into achieving that and what are the main challenges you have to overcome? 

A significant amount of work goes into bridging the gap between the unique business needs of our clients, and it’s something that truly sets Digicode apart. Our approach starts with understanding the client’s business from the ground up, not just from a technical perspective but from an operational, compliance, and strategic standpoint as well. Every client, whether it’s a leading B2C operator or a tier-one supplier, has its specific challenges, and we tailor our solutions to address those needs precisely.

One of the key elements that sets us apart is our innovative business model, which moves away from the industry’s typical revenue share approach. Instead, we provide pre-defined costs tailored to each client’s unique needs and complexities. This enables us to act as a true partner, offering full transparency and ensuring that our clients retain complete ownership of their intellectual property. Our clients can confidently innovate, knowing that the features and functionalities we develop specifically for them will not be part of a shared system used by other clients, including competitors. It’s a highly client-focused model that drives us to deeply understand their business processes, address pain points, and deliver tailored solutions that bring value from the outset of the partnership.

The main challenge is ensuring we deliver both flexibility and efficiency without compromising on quality or innovation. For instance, when redesigning a platform or optimising a cloud infrastructure, we must balance scalability with cost-effectiveness. A perfect example of this was our recent collaboration with a tier-one online gaming operator, where we were able to reduce their annual IT costs by 20%. This was achieved by redesigning and optimising their entire cloud environment using the latest technology, which also improved their CRM’s performance and the speed of their websites.

Our partnerships play a huge role here, allowing us to leverage cutting-edge technology to overcome such challenges. Additionally, our operational models are designed to fit the specific needs of each client. Whether we manage the project end-to-end or integrate it into an existing development cycle, we ensure that the solutions we provide are tailored to meet their immediate business needs and long-term goals.

Ultimately, the challenge is in aligning our deep technical expertise with the ever-changing regulatory landscapes and the specific requirements of our clients’ jurisdictions. But that’s where Digicode’s extensive experience comes into play—our understanding of the industry allows us to navigate these complexities efficiently and deliver results that drive growth and innovation.

You’re currently exhibiting at this week’s SBC Summit Lisbon. What are you looking forward to most about the event and is it likely to be used as a launchpad for your Digital Integration Hub?

We’re looking forward to the SBC Summit in Lisbon, as it’s one of the most prominent events in the igaming industry. It offers us a great opportunity to connect with industry leaders, explore emerging trends, and engage with potential partners and clients. We’re particularly excited to showcase how Digicode continues to lead in innovation, especially through our tailored solutions that directly address the evolving needs of our clients.

The SBC Summit will indeed serve as a key platform for the launch of our Digicode Integration Hub (DIH). The DIH is a critical component of our overall igaming solution, offering a scalable, flexible, and modern hub for integrating third-party services like content providers, payment processors, and marketing systems. This is a game-changer for operators looking to streamline their operations, reduce integration times, and stay competitive in the long term. We anticipate a lot of interest in the DIH and are eager to demonstrate how it can benefit operators and suppliers alike.

However, it’s important to note that the DIH is just one piece of Digicode’s full suite of offerings. We provide a comprehensive range of igaming solutions, including the design and development of unique games tailored to specific markets, the personalization of player experiences, as well as sportsbook and casino platforms, among many other services. Our goal at SBC is not only to launch the DIH but also to emphasise that Digicode is a full-spectrum technology partner, capable of supporting all aspects of our clients’ igaming operations from game development to platform optimisation and beyond.

What other aspects of Digicode’s business will you be showcasing in Lisbon and what would be your message to delegates to encourage them to visit your booth?

At the SBC Summit Lisbon, we’re thrilled to showcase how Digicode stands out as a one-stop boutique for all the technical and product needs of igaming brands, operators, and suppliers. Our comprehensive suite of services covers everything from migrating outdated platforms to advanced and scalable systems to developing innovative and engaging new games. We also excel in the fast, smooth, and seamless integration of third-party value-added services, PSPs, and game providers into operators’ platforms.

Moreover, Digicode provides robust enhancement and support for existing sportsbooks, casinos, lotteries, and any other iGaming vertical. This all-encompassing approach underscores why we are the preferred and trusted partner for navigating the complexities of the iGaming industry.

Our powerful and experienced team of over 400 professionals who live and breathe the iGaming industry enables us to deliver exceptional solutions and support that drive our clients’ success.

Our message to delegates is simple: Digicode is your ultimate partner for every aspect of your igaming needs. Visit our booth to explore how our one-stop boutique approach, combined with our industry-leading team, can help streamline your operations, enhance your offerings, and propel your business forward. We look forward to connecting with you, sharing our insights, and discovering new opportunities for collaboration.