QuEST Global vs Data Respons: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Data Respons (4.2/5) edges ahead of QuEST Global (3.9/5) overall. Data Respons is the better choice for nordic and European clients needing embedded work across multiple regulated sectors. QuEST Global is the stronger option for multi-vertical enterprises needing embedded engineering alongside broader R&D. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
QuEST Global vs Data Respons: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | QuEST Global | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 | 1986 |
| HQ | Singapore | Høvik, Norway |
| Team size | 20,000+ | 1,400 |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Very broad engineering-services scale (90+ delivery centers, 18+ countries) with embedded/silicon engineering as one capability among many verticals | Nordic embedded specialist with nearly 40 years of history across eight distinct industry sectors, now backed by Akkodis' scale |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Primary tech stack | Embedded C/C++, RTOS, Semiconductor/silicon engineering support | Embedded Linux, C/C++, RTOS |
| Industries served | Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Energy, Healthcare, Rail, Semiconductor | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime, Medtech, Defense & Security |
QuEST Global vs Data Respons: overview
QuEST Global
QuEST Global was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Singapore, having grown into a large product engineering and lifecycle services company operating in more than 18 countries with over 90 delivery centers. The firm serves a very broad range of industries — aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, hi-tech, healthcare, rail, and semiconductors — with embedded engineering as one capability within end-to-end silicon and embedded engineering services offered to chipmakers and industrial clients. Reported employee counts vary substantially by source, from roughly 21,500 to over 32,000, reflecting the difficulty of pinning down an exact figure for a firm this size.
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.
Services and capabilities: QuEST Global vs Data Respons
| Capability | QuEST Global | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| 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: QuEST Global vs Data Respons
| Framework / platform | QuEST Global | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| FreeRTOS | N/A | N/A |
| Zephyr | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | ✓ |
| 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: QuEST Global vs Data Respons
| Criterion | QuEST Global | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: QuEST Global vs Data Respons
| Dimension | QuEST Global | Data Respons |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Energy | Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media, Energy & Maritime |
| Best use cases | Semiconductor companies needing end-to-end silicon and embedded engineering support, Multi-vertical enterprises consolidating embedded work with other engineering domains under one vendor | Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity, Medtech products requiring embedded engineering across a multi-sector specialist team |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
QuEST Global vs Data Respons: pros and cons
| QuEST Global | |
|---|---|
| + | 90+ delivery centers across 18+ countries support very large, globally distributed engineering programs |
| + | End-to-end silicon and embedded engineering services offered directly to chipmakers, not just downstream product companies |
| + | Broad vertical coverage means one vendor can support embedded needs across multiple business units |
| - | Reported employee counts vary widely by source (21,500 to 32,000+), making exact capacity hard to verify |
| - | Embedded/silicon engineering is one capability among many verticals rather than the firm's central specialization |
| - | Scale and process overhead of a firm this size may be a mismatch for small, fast-moving embedded projects |
| 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 |
Who should choose QuEST Global?
A typical fit: semiconductor companies needing end-to-end silicon and embedded engineering support.
Very broad engineering-services scale (90+ delivery centers, 18+ countries) with embedded/silicon engineering as one capability among many verticals. Minimum engagement starts at Not disclosed. Works best with clients in Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Energy, Healthcare, Rail, Semiconductor.
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.
Decision matrix: QuEST Global vs Data Respons
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | QuEST Global |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | QuEST Global |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: QuEST Global (Not disclosed) vs Data Respons (Not disclosed) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | QuEST Global |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | QuEST Global |
Use case fit: QuEST Global vs Data Respons
| Use case | QuEST Global fit | Data Respons fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductor companies needing end-to-end silicon and embedded engineering support | Strong | Limited | QuEST Global |
| Multi-vertical enterprises consolidating embedded work with other engineering domains under one vendor | Strong | Limited | QuEST Global |
| Maritime or defense programs needing embedded systems with Nordic regulatory familiarity | Limited | Strong | Data Respons |
| Medtech products requiring embedded engineering across a multi-sector specialist team | Limited | Strong | Data Respons |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: QuEST Global vs Data Respons
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.
QuEST Global (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need multi-vertical enterprises consolidating embedded work with other engineering domains under one vendor. If your situation matches that, QuEST Global is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
QuEST Global vs Data Respons FAQ
Is QuEST Global better than Data Respons?
Data Respons (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. QuEST Global's strongest advantage: 90+ delivery centers across 18+ countries support very large, globally distributed engineering programs. Data Respons's strongest advantage: nearly 40 years of embedded systems specialization across eight distinct sectors, from maritime to medtech to defense.
How do QuEST Global and Data Respons differ in pricing?
QuEST Global uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not disclosed. Data Respons uses fixed project, dedicated team 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: QuEST Global or Data Respons?
QuEST Global 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 QuEST Global and Data Respons?
QuEST Global's primary differentiator is: very broad engineering-services scale (90+ delivery centers, 18+ countries) with embedded/silicon engineering as one capability among many verticals. 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. They also differ in team size (20,000+ vs 1,400), minimum engagement (Not disclosed vs Not disclosed), and primary industries served (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive vs Transportation & Automotive, Telecom & Media).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.