Data Respons vs HCLTech: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Data Respons (4.2/5) edges ahead of HCLTech (3.7/5) overall. Data Respons is the better choice for nordic and European clients needing embedded work across multiple regulated sectors. HCLTech is the stronger option for global enterprises wanting embedded engineering as part of a massive IT relationship. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Data Respons vs HCLTech: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Data Respons | HCLTech |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 | 1976 |
| HQ | Høvik, Norway | Noida, India |
| Team size | 1,400 | 227,000+ (whole company) |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Nordic embedded specialist with nearly 40 years of history across eight distinct industry sectors, now backed by Akkodis' scale | Embedded engineering delivered by the Engineering & R&D Services business unit inside one of the world's largest IT services companies |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team, staff augmentation, managed services |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded Linux, C/C++, RTOS | Embedded Linux, C/C++, RTOS |
| Industries served | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security | Semiconductor, Telecom, Automotive, Industrial IoT, Healthcare |
Data Respons vs HCLTech: overview
Data Respons
Data Respons was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Høvik, Norway, developing embedded systems across transport & automotive, telecom & media, industrial automation, energy & maritime, medtech, space, defense & security, and finance & public sectors, with offices in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Taiwan and roughly 1,400 employees. AKKA Technologies acquired Data Respons through a compulsory share acquisition completed in May 2020, delisting it from the Oslo Stock Exchange; AKKA itself was subsequently folded into Akkodis (part of the Adecco Group). Data Respons retains a genuinely embedded-focused practice despite the ownership changes, distinguishing it from broader generalist consultancies that added embedded as a side practice.
HCLTech
HCLTech (formerly Hindustan Computers Limited / HCL Technologies) was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Noida, India, with a global workforce exceeding 227,000 employees. Engineering and R&D Services (ERS) is one of HCLTech's three major business units alongside IT & Business Services and Products & Platforms, and within ERS the company offers embedded engineering services with stated strength in safety-critical and high-performance systems, semiconductor engineering, platform engineering, and 5G. HCLTech's scale is unmatched by any other firm on this list, but embedded engineering is a business-unit-level capability within one of the world's largest IT services companies, not a dedicated embedded firm.
Services and capabilities: Data Respons vs HCLTech
| Capability | Data Respons | HCLTech |
|---|---|---|
| RTOS firmware development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Embedded Linux (Yocto/BuildRoot) | ✓ | ✓ |
| FPGA programming (Verilog/VHDL) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware & PCB / electrical engineering | ✓ | ✗ |
| IoT connectivity & protocols | ✓ | ✗ |
| Edge AI / on-device ML | ✗ | ✓ |
| Embedded GUI development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cybersecurity & secure boot | ✗ | ✗ |
| Staff augmentation / team extension | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Data Respons vs HCLTech
| Framework / platform | Data Respons | HCLTech |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| AUTOSAR | N/A | N/A |
| AWS | N/A | N/A |
| Bluetooth | N/A | N/A |
| LoRaWAN | N/A | N/A |
| CAN bus | N/A | N/A |
| Qt | N/A | N/A |
| Verilog | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Data Respons vs HCLTech
| Criterion | Data Respons | HCLTech |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team, Staff augmentation, Managed services |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Data Respons vs HCLTech
| Dimension | Data Respons | HCLTech |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime | Semiconductor, Telecom, Automotive |
| Best use cases | Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity, Medtech products requiring embedded engineering across a multi-sector specialist team | Enterprise clients consolidating embedded engineering into an existing large-scale HCLTech IT relationship, Semiconductor and 5G platform engineering programs needing HCLTech-scale delivery capacity |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Data Respons vs HCLTech: pros and cons
| Data Respons | |
|---|---|
| + | Nearly 40 years of embedded systems specialization across eight distinct sectors, from maritime to medtech to defense |
| + | Nordic regional presence (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) plus Germany and Taiwan offices supports European and APAC delivery |
| + | Now backed by Akkodis (Adecco Group) scale while retaining a genuinely embedded-focused delivery team |
| - | Acquired by AKKA Technologies in 2020 (delisted from Oslo Stock Exchange) and subsequently folded into Akkodis — buyers should confirm which legacy Data Respons teams and processes remain intact |
| - | 1,400-employee scale sits below the largest global engineering firms for very large concurrent programs |
| - | Public pricing and minimum engagement figures are not disclosed |
| HCLTech | |
|---|---|
| + | Unmatched global scale (227,000+ employees company-wide) supports the largest and most complex multi-domain enterprise programs |
| + | Dedicated Engineering & R&D Services business unit with stated safety-critical and semiconductor engineering capability |
| + | Nearly 50 years of company history and existing relationships with more than 100 of the top 250 global R&D spenders |
| - | Embedded engineering is one capability within one of three major HCLTech business units — not a dedicated embedded firm, and depth should be confirmed for your specific use case |
| - | Scale and process overhead of a 227,000-person company is a poor fit for small, fast-moving embedded projects |
| - | Public pricing, minimum engagement, and ERS-specific headcount figures are not disclosed separately from the whole company |
Who should choose Data Respons?
A typical fit: maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity.
Nordic embedded specialist with nearly 40 years of history across eight distinct industry sectors, now backed by Akkodis' scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security.
Who should choose HCLTech?
A typical fit: enterprise clients consolidating embedded engineering into an existing large-scale HCLTech IT relationship.
Embedded engineering delivered by the Engineering & R&D Services business unit inside one of the world's largest IT services companies. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Semiconductor, Telecom, Automotive, Industrial IoT, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: Data Respons vs HCLTech
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Data Respons |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Data Respons |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Data Respons (Not disclosed) vs HCLTech (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Data Respons |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | HCLTech |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Data Respons vs HCLTech
| Use case | Data Respons fit | HCLTech fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity | Strong | Limited | Data Respons |
| Medtech products requiring embedded engineering across a multi-sector specialist team | Strong | Limited | Data Respons |
| Enterprise clients consolidating embedded engineering into an existing large-scale HCLTech IT relationship | Limited | Strong | HCLTech |
| Semiconductor and 5G platform engineering programs needing HCLTech-scale delivery capacity | Limited | Strong | HCLTech |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Data Respons vs HCLTech
Data Respons (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Embedded Software projects. Nordic embedded specialist with nearly 40 years of history across eight distinct industry sectors, now backed by Akkodis' scale.
HCLTech (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need semiconductor and 5G platform engineering programs needing HCLTech-scale delivery capacity. If your situation matches that, HCLTech is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Data Respons vs HCLTech FAQ
Is Data Respons better than HCLTech?
Data Respons (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Data Respons's strongest advantage: nearly 40 years of embedded systems specialization across eight distinct sectors, from maritime to medtech to defense. HCLTech's strongest advantage: unmatched global scale (227,000+ employees company-wide) supports the largest and most complex multi-domain enterprise programs.
How do Data Respons and HCLTech differ in pricing?
Data Respons uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. HCLTech uses fixed project, dedicated team, staff augmentation, managed services pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Data Respons or HCLTech?
HCLTech 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 Data Respons and HCLTech?
Data Respons's primary differentiator is: nordic embedded specialist with nearly 40 years of history across eight distinct industry sectors, now backed by Akkodis' scale. HCLTech's primary differentiator is: embedded engineering delivered by the Engineering & R&D Services business unit inside one of the world's largest IT services companies. They also differ in team size (1,400 vs 227,000+ (whole company)), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media vs Semiconductor, Telecom).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.