Türkiye’s most comprehensive technology industry ranking — the Bilişim 500 – Top 500 IT Companies Research — has released its 2024 results under the theme “Change Your Perspective”. The report not only captures the accelerating momentum of Türkiye’s digital economy but also paints a promising picture of innovation-led growth. With total revenues reaching 1.1 trillion TL, the sector posted a 56% year-on-year increase in Turkish lira terms and 13% growth in USD terms.
Now in its 26th year, the Bilişim 500 ranking continues to serve as a vital benchmark for understanding how Türkiye’s tech ecosystem evolves, thrives, and scales — both locally and globally.
Record Revenues and Growth Beyond Expectations
According to the 2024 report, the combined revenue of the top 500 IT companies in Türkiye has surged to approximately $34 billion. An impressive 90 companies grew over 100%, with the highest single-company revenue jump hitting 690%.
This level of expansion is significantly stronger than in 2023, when TL-based growth was recorded at 88%. Notably, the report reveals sharp increases in revenue from key strategic areas:
Artificial Intelligence: ~100% growth
Cloud services: 76% growth
Domestic software revenues: 93% growth
Software exports: 99% growth, surpassing 14 billion TL
IT services exports: 78% growth
These statistics underline Türkiye’s fast transition from being a consumer of foreign tech to a major contributor to global digital solutions.
Market Leaders and Innovation Champions Revealed
In terms of company rankings based on revenue:
Turkcell retained its position as the top player in the Turkish IT landscape
Türk Telekom and Vodafone followed in second and third place, respectively
The Bilişim 500 Special Awards honored companies with category-specific achievements:
Logo Yazılım: R&D Investment of the Year
Deeptech: AI Company of the Year
Türk Telekom: Leading Producer in Services
Intertech: Leading Producer in Software
Karel: Top Hardware Exporter
TP: Top Services Exporter
Havelsan: Top Software Exporter
A Sector Fueled by Innovation and Determination
At the award ceremony, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan emphasized the role of digital innovation in shaping Türkiye’s economic future. Meanwhile, BThaber Chairman Murat Göçe explained the inspiration behind this year’s theme “Change Your Perspective”, urging the industry to focus on growth despite global and national challenges.
“We start preparing for the Bilişim 500 event eight months in advance. Determining the yearly theme is the most deliberate part of the process. This year, we wanted to challenge the status quo. The results prove it — companies that dared to evolve and focus on the right strategies have succeeded,” Göçe said.
Software and Export at the Forefront
The report confirms a striking rise in domestic software production, which reached 69 billion TL, with 63% of this revenue coming from sector-specific software. Key growth areas include finance, banking, and defense — all of which benefited from custom-built digital tools.
Software exports continue to be a bright spot. With nearly 100% growth, Turkish software companies are steadily expanding their presence in global markets. Services exports also showed strong performance, signaling growing trust in Türkiye’s outsourcing capabilities.
Global Rankings: Türkiye’s Climb Among OECD Nations
Economist Dr. Hakan Yurdakul highlighted Türkiye’s international performance, particularly in ICT service exports:
Türkiye ranks 8th among 38 OECD countries in ICT service exports
In 2024, Türkiye’s ICT service exports totaled $4.5 billion
Since 2003, the country has increased its ICT service exports 22-fold
Still, there’s room to grow. For comparison:
In Türkiye, ICT services account for 9% of total service exports
In Spain, that figure is 16.8%, indicating Türkiye’s latent potential
Additionally, Türkiye filed over 10,000 patent applications in 2023 — more than Spain’s 8,047. Interestingly, 90% of Türkiye’s patent applications came from local individuals or firms, while only 41% of Spain’s were domestic.
Dr. Yurdakul’s advice: scale, go global, and embrace mergers and acquisitions. “Türkiye has the ambition, but it needs greater internationalization and partnership strategies to climb higher.”
New Entrants and Future Outlook
The 2024 Bilişim 500 welcomed 74 new companies into the ranking — a testament to the dynamic nature of Türkiye’s tech sector. These new entrants often bring agility, specialized services, and cutting-edge products to the table.
With the rise of artificial intelligence, cloud-based platforms, and vertical-specific software, Türkiye’s digital ecosystem is entering a new phase. The focus is now on creating globally competitive solutions, exporting value, and building resilient business models.
From Local Players to Global Influencers
The core message of this year’s Bilişim 500 is clear — perspective matters. Amid economic uncertainty and shifting global dynamics, Türkiye’s tech firms are being called upon to innovate faster, scale smarter, and lead with vision.
Whether through bold R&D, smart partnerships, or relentless market expansion, the companies listed in this year’s report are not just growing — they’re reshaping the narrative of what Türkiye can offer to the digital world.
