February 4, 2016
For years, outsourcing and lower labor costs have been nearly interchangeable. However, outsourcing comes in many forms, be it offshore, nearshore or onshore, and can achieve a number of different objectives such as reducing geopolitical risks or covering multiple time zones.
At Accelerance we know outsourcing does more than reduce costs and improve the bottom line, we believe outsourcing can also help identify new top-line revenue streams through creating more opportunities for innovation. Utilizing outsourcing as part of your strategic innovation and R&D plans can help keep you ahead of the competition in today’s fast-paced global business environment. With that in mind, here are some of the main reasons to consider outsourced R&D.
Your Outsourcing Partner May Have More Expertise
Your company might be an expert in web application development and streamlining user experience, but the complexity of today’s business environment could demand skills your team doesn’t have. Maybe you’ve never built a native mobile app before, or you’re just tired of hearing the same ideas from your staff.
Whatever the case, outsourced development partners can provide a new channel for generating ideas while also finding the right people with the right qualifications for the job.
You Might Be Short on Internal Manpower
Even with all the right tools for the job in-house, your internal teams might not have the time to take a step back from executing and evaluate the big picture. In fact, many companies cite the lack of time to be creative and innovative as one of their primary barriers to successful R&D. When it comes time to build a new version of your app, outsourcing its development could uncover ideas your team hadn’t considered. Additionally, with your partner handling updates to your existing projects, your internal teams have more time to think about what’s next, keeping them focused on your long-term goals.
Yes, It Can Also Save Costs
I know, we said outsourcing wasn’t just a cost play and we don’t think it is. However, costs are still a high ranking factor for outsourcing success within the technology industry. While western companies often find favorable pricing benefits when working offshore, it’s more important to find an outsourcing partner with a culture and a commitment to innovation. You expect your employees to be the best and brightest in the business, utilizing their research and development acumen to stay ahead of the competition, and you should have the same expectation of your outsourced developers.
If you do decide to go offshore, you’ll want to make sure that your intellectual property is adequately protected.
It May Get Your Product on the Market Faster
Just as many companies say they lack the time internally to be innovative, market conditions may be moving faster than you’re able to with your current resources. Using outsourced software developers as part of your R&D process can increase your collective brainpower without dramatically increasing your staff of operating cost. By using your outsourcing partner to scale your activities you can keep up with the fast moving software development market so you don’t get left behind by the competition.
More questions? Check out our 10 Tips to Consider When Outsourcing R&D. At the end of the day you’re looking for an outsourcing partner with a history of innovation that can produce great ideas and boost your own software development process. If you’re not sure where to begin, contact us and we’ll help you get started on the right foot for free!