Outsourcing programming work is becoming increasingly popular. However, what can be done to ensure that everything within this type of collaboration goes as planned?
From January to December in the U.S., nearly 400,000 openings are filled by people or companies from outside the country. Entrepreneurs admit that the factor that improves the attractiveness of outsourcing is that it allows them to save high financial expenses without reducing the quality of the final products.
From January to December in the U.S., nearly 400,000 openings are filled by people or companies from outside the country. Entrepreneurs admit that the factor that improves the attractiveness of outsourcing is that it allows them to save high financial expenses without reducing the quality of the final products.
Almost 80% of organizations based in different countries worldwide are ready to recommend IT outsourcing. If you want to join them, find out more about IT outsourcing and what principles this type of cooperation takes.
What is IT outsourcing?
Most projects implemented in this model are programming works. It is because these works are costly when it comes to maintaining the development team onsite. So that, for many companies, IT outsourcing is the only way to complete the project.Why is IT outsourcing gaining popularity?
Besides the financial issues, outsourcing is an excellent answer to the constant lack of available and highly skilled developers. But, unfortunately, it isn't easy to find them in the same city. In turn, in the context of highly specialized skills, sometimes it is impossible to hire them in the same country. Of course, there are developers nearby, but they are often either already busy or too expensive.Another limitation contributing to the growing popularity of IT outsourcing is the fact that some projects must be completed quickly, within a strictly limited time frame. In such cases, independently assembling a whole team of programmers with the necessary experience is very difficult or even impossible.
Therefore, if you decide to recruit such a team on your own, you should reckon with a prolonged recruitment process to create an outstanding team. In the outsourcing model, you can choose from multiple offers of programmers who know the technology you are interested in, have experience in similar projects, and are cheaper.
Outsourcing IT will work perfectly when you want to be one step ahead of your competitors. Deciding to cooperate in this model, you can freely choose a team that has exceptional skills. A group that would be hard to reach in any other form or that you could not afford in the classic employment model. Imagine that you operate in an industry where your application will require the complex pairing of its operation with data collecting information about physical activity. In such a situation, you should cooperate with a team experienced in similar implementations.
Moreover, when choosing a reliable technological partner, outsourcing will mean that your project will be carried out by people who have extensive knowledge and experience in the IT field. Therefore, you will be able to count on them for advice on whether it will be possible to implement given functionalities using specific technologies or frameworks. Moreover, you will be sure that the team will implement all the features at the highest level.
Many companies look qualified. However, even short research shows that they have been operating for a few months, and a group of inexperienced programmers runs the company. Check out how many people are employed by the company and what projects are in their portfolio.
Meet the programmers and management team in person. Arrange a meeting online if a traditional visit is not possible. Ask for a brief history of the company and its structure. Ask about anything you think needs clarification. Talk about your plans and see if the company you are about to work with has experience with similar projects or what plan they have for your project.
If you decide to cooperate with an experienced digital agency, you should expect a highly structured process. For example, some software houses prepare materials for their clients in which all stages of the process are explained step by step.
At Applover software house, we divide the project process into five phases:
Case studies will give your insight into the projects the company has worked on. If the team has done a similar project to yours, they will most likely understand your plan and goals very well. Check what previous clients say about the company. Where to look for them? Best on Google or Clutch, where entrepreneurs are willing to share their experiences of working with outsourcing companies.
What if a company has no experience in a similar industry but seems to be a good candidate for a technology partner? You don't have to cross out the possibility of cooperation right away. Instead, check if their previous realizations share similar areas to those you care about. If such verification is successful, then probably the lack of experience will not be a problem.
In the beginning, it is necessary to determine what ways the contact will take place and how the project is managed. For daily communication, Slack works excellent. However, when it comes to video calls, Google Hangouts or Skype are perfect.
We encourage you to use such tools because they provide insight into the project. Furthermore, when you are in constant contact with the team, then, as soon as possible, you will be able to answer any doubts that you will only respond to due to your excellent knowledge of your business.
However, working in the IT outsourcing model is undoubtedly extremely attractive. It allows access to highly skilled programmers and cooperation with specialists who have vast experience. However, if you wanted to hire them in your own company, the costs would be disproportionate to the expected returns associated with the implementation of the project.
Outsourcing IT will work perfectly when you want to be one step ahead of your competitors. Deciding to cooperate in this model, you can freely choose a team that has exceptional skills. A group that would be hard to reach in any other form or that you could not afford in the classic employment model. Imagine that you operate in an industry where your application will require the complex pairing of its operation with data collecting information about physical activity. In such a situation, you should cooperate with a team experienced in similar implementations.
IT outsourcing as an answer to difficult recruitment?
Recruiting an internal team of programmers costs a lot. If the company has no experience in this area, the process can be even more expensive. Accepting people who do not meet the requirements is highly likely if we do not know how to test their skills. It translates into team turnover and high costs before the actual project work begins. If you want to pay only for the job done, from which you can derive real benefits, fixed-price billing will be ideal for you. It is typical for most outsourcing companies.IT outsourcing - what are the benefits for entrepreneurs?
When you decide to outsource your programming work as a business executive, you can take care of the organization's core business with peace of mind. In addition, you will have the time and space to continue giving direction to the company that will lead to its growth.Moreover, when choosing a reliable technological partner, outsourcing will mean that your project will be carried out by people who have extensive knowledge and experience in the IT field. Therefore, you will be able to count on them for advice on whether it will be possible to implement given functionalities using specific technologies or frameworks. Moreover, you will be sure that the team will implement all the features at the highest level.
Which technological partner to choose?
If you want to work with an overseas development team, we recommend that you learn the structure of the company you want to act with.Many companies look qualified. However, even short research shows that they have been operating for a few months, and a group of inexperienced programmers runs the company. Check out how many people are employed by the company and what projects are in their portfolio.
Meet the programmers and management team in person. Arrange a meeting online if a traditional visit is not possible. Ask for a brief history of the company and its structure. Ask about anything you think needs clarification. Talk about your plans and see if the company you are about to work with has experience with similar projects or what plan they have for your project.
How does the team outside my company work?
The way the team organizes its work may be different depending on the organization. Therefore, at the beginning of cooperation, ask the project manager how the partnership looks and what you should expect at the given stages of collaboration.If you decide to cooperate with an experienced digital agency, you should expect a highly structured process. For example, some software houses prepare materials for their clients in which all stages of the process are explained step by step.
At Applover software house, we divide the project process into five phases:
First phase: Brief
It is a document containing questions related to your project. The answers you provide will allow our team to understand what functionalities you expect.Second phase: Initial valuation
Based on the first phase, we create the initial cost of the project and the time frame in which the team will implement them.Third phase: First workshop session
This is the first workshop meeting, which will allow us to obtain more complex information on your project. This phase will result in the project specification, graphic design outline, and functional analysis. The workshop can take place at our or your office. There are also no obstacles to conduct it remotely.Fourth phase: Second workshop
The next workshop is conducted to clarify any ambiguities. The goal here is to write the final project specification and preliminary design of the product appearance.Fifth phase: Kickoff
It is the moment when all team members know the specifics of the project. We set a date for a start. Then, programmers, designers, and project managers start working on the creation of your product.Should my partner be experienced in similar projects?
Check if the team you plan to cooperate with worked with the technology, you're interested in. If you haven't chosen it yet, see if the team has worked with a similar industry or one with which you share similar characteristics.Case studies will give your insight into the projects the company has worked on. If the team has done a similar project to yours, they will most likely understand your plan and goals very well. Check what previous clients say about the company. Where to look for them? Best on Google or Clutch, where entrepreneurs are willing to share their experiences of working with outsourcing companies.
What if a company has no experience in a similar industry but seems to be a good candidate for a technology partner? You don't have to cross out the possibility of cooperation right away. Instead, check if their previous realizations share similar areas to those you care about. If such verification is successful, then probably the lack of experience will not be a problem.
How does the communication with the team look like?
In this type of cooperation, we always emphasize that communication in IT outsourcing is critical. That is why it is so important to ask how the contact will look like. What tools the team uses and how often you will receive summaries. The last part depends only on you.In the beginning, it is necessary to determine what ways the contact will take place and how the project is managed. For daily communication, Slack works excellent. However, when it comes to video calls, Google Hangouts or Skype are perfect.
We encourage you to use such tools because they provide insight into the project. Furthermore, when you are in constant contact with the team, then, as soon as possible, you will be able to answer any doubts that you will only respond to due to your excellent knowledge of your business.
Execute the project internally or outsource?
The answer to this question will never be clear-cut and will depend on your project's specifics, needs, and opportunities.However, working in the IT outsourcing model is undoubtedly extremely attractive. It allows access to highly skilled programmers and cooperation with specialists who have vast experience. However, if you wanted to hire them in your own company, the costs would be disproportionate to the expected returns associated with the implementation of the project.
Ashutosh Jha
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