With so many software outsourcing models and types out there, businesses, especially those that are new to partnering with a suitable provider, may find these topics overwhelming. However, we’re here to tell you that it really isn’t as complicated as it seems; simply selecting the combination of software outsourcing types and models that are best suited to the unique requirements of your organisation is all you need to do as a business leader, in order to build great software, while staying within budgets and timeframes.
Which is why, in this article, we elaborate on how embracing a hybrid approach of in-house, outsourced and freelance software development can benefit your business – instead of emphasising too much on what sets each of them apart. We’ll also discuss best practices on successfully collaborating with any outsourced or freelance team, so all team members are aligned and on the same page.
Interested in outsourced or freelance software development? At EFutures, we can accommodate any software development model, budget and timeframe – whether it’s with a single resource, or a fully-fledged, multi talented team.
Simply let us know what your needs are, and we’ll be happy to offer a quote as well as steps on how to get started!
Contrary to much of the buzz that surrounds software outsourcing and the benefits that it offers, it is still very much viable to have a software outsourcing team serve as an extension to an already functioning in-house team.
Here, we explore two key ways that such an alliance will be beneficial for the businesses that follow it.
One of the most crucial goals of any IT outsourcing company in general is to alleviate pressure from business teams, by taking responsibility for tasks that may be contributing to bottlenecks. As a result, outsourcing partnerships can enable in-house business teams to delegate tasks that may be common or repetitive, so they can instead focus on areas that demand their strategic competencies.
A software outsourcing company or even freelance software developer for that matter won’t only lift some pressure off the minds of in-house software development teams, but will also create a pathway to employ talent without any geographical boundaries. In other words, organisations now have the autonomy to incorporate highly skilled professionals that may have expertise for a specific industry, or have experience working across a certain region. This also applies to compliance obligations that regulatory bodies may demand.
With top software outsourcing companies being home to world-class talent, the normalisation of virtual work environments can enable organisations to add skilled experts to their team, without having to worry about where they are located. Previously, this wasn’t possible (or greatly restricted at best), since international resources would have to be considered as in-house employees, and be sponsored for relocation.
Now, this is seldom a necessity, thanks to the leverage that software outsourcing companies offer – even if it’s completely offshored partners that are situated halfway across the world, in a different continent and time zone.
In-house software development teams and their businesses as a whole also have the leverage to hire short-term resources, through an ongoing partnership with a reliable software outsourcing company. For sudden surges of work, such a partnership affords businesses the convenience of simply reaching out and requesting for a resource, while the agency does all the hard work to screen the right individual, and add them to the team.
This is also ideal for intermittent bouts of work that may not justify hiring a full-time team member, be it in-house or via outsourcing. What’s more, top software companies in Sri Lanka also specialise in fast turnaround times, whereupon incorporating any team member can be done in as little time as possible.
Irrespective of which software outsourcing model your business settles for, this list of collaboration best practices will always enable software outsourcing agencies and business organisations to communicate effectively, and deliver on time.
This is common knowledge for any team, task or project, without any doubts. However, a schedule becomes all the more imperative for software outsourcing arrangements, as teams are distributed remotely. This also applies to days when it seems like there isn’t anything to discuss verbally, over a call. Even though it may seem so, it is still advisable to meet, as team members may be able to express certain concerns verbally that they otherwise may not be able to express as comprehensively, over email or IM.
Owing to geographical distance, problems may happen, primarily surrounding working styles, as well as how ideas are communicated. No matter what the problem is, it is important to address them as soon as they are identified, since persistence can enable such problems to snowball and worsen as time goes by.
This is also applicable to problems that may initially seem too small or trivial; again, the snowball effect could render these to be much bigger in the future, and possibly even harder to solve.
Such problems include (but aren’t limited to):
Metrics need to be stationed at every stage of the software development lifecycle, so deliverables can be tracked in terms of cost, time, as well as quality. Establishing similar metrics for each team member is useful, as it can enable project managers and business leaders to determine whether resources are up to par, or whether any coaching is needed for them to improve.
No matter which software outsourcing model you choose, or whether you use a combination, building great software always boils down to steady communication, transparency, and the prompt handling of any problems as soon as they arise. Whether your business uses an individual freelance developer or a complete offshore team, your teams have the capability to leverage by incorporating subject matter experts, without having to worry about geographic location. This makes software and IT outsourcing in general a highly valuable partnership for any business, irrespective of size or the industry they operate in.
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