SeaTable\u2019s low-code database platform. Image: SeaTable<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Though Seafile doesn\u2019t engage in SeaTable\u2019s day-to-day operation, it plays a key role by developing the database platform from Guangzhou, a setup that\u2019s common amongst global tech firms that want to tap China\u2019s affordable, quality engineers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe China team gives us a piece of software\u2026 that everyone can download from the internet, from the repository, and we the German team run with that. The repository is kind of like the separation line. Everything on this side of the repository is managed by Jonathan and Daniel and everything on that side is managed by us,\u201d explained Ralf.<\/p>\n

A repository, in computer programming, is a centralized digital storage that developers use to make and manage changes to an application\u2019s source code.<\/p>\n

SeaTable\u2019s SaaS version is fully operated by the German joint venture and stores data in Europe. All customization and services happen at its German office, which handles everything from installing the software, running upgrades, managing backups, troubleshooting, reading and interpreting logs, to optimizing system performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cManaging the system are German nationals or European nationals. Apart from the fact that SeaTable is developed in China, it\u2019s about as European as it can get,\u201d the founder added. \u201cIt\u2019s ironic that we all have hardware manufactured in China\u2026 but Chinese software has a difficult position in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n

The German brothers admitted that SeaTable\u2019s way of marketing isn\u2019t the \u201csafest\u201d. While some customers are fine with its Chinese roots, others, including a ministry in France, have reservations about software originating from China. But this proactive approach sometimes leads to amicable discussions on new forms of cross-border collaboration that leverage software development in China on the one hand and localization efforts in the target countries on the other.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome customers I speak to are totally oblivious of the Chinese origin of SeaTable and it\u2019s me who discloses it to them. We don\u2019t want to engage in discussions and then at the very end it comes up like SeaTable is Chinese and then they say, look, you should have told us earlier,\u201d said Ralf.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we are very proactive about that and many customers find this interesting because, in the early 2000s, the typical joint venture model was that European and American companies went to China and looked for a Chinese partner to build their business in China. Now we are an example of a Chinese company coming to Europe to form a joint venture. People realize that oh, this is actually interesting, so they are curious to learn more about that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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