September 22, 2015
Yes, you should outsource your software development when you struggle with finding good developers locally and/or have software development budget challenges. However, you should NOT outsource JUST to save money. And you shouldn't outsource your software development if you are not prepared to participate in and give the attention to what a professional expert software development process requires. A good software outsourcing company won't want your business unless you can get your game up to their level.Some people believe that you should NOT outsource your software development . A more accurate, but less provocative assertion is "Don't Outsource to Just Save Money". For a realistic primer on the costs see this blog post about the total cost of software outsourcing.
But you SHOULD outsource to get professional, expert service for developing your software and maybe, just maybe save some money in the process. Certainly you will save time and remove risk of delays when you hire a great software outsourcing company. The trick is finding one quickly and efficiently, and knowing one when you see it.
Too many companies thought they were outsourcing when all they really did was hire cheap developers working in some far-off exotic country who didn't have the technical skills and communication ability required for effective software development. When that didn't go so well plan B was to simply hire more of them since they were a third of the cost of hiring a developer here!
This kind of cheap "outsourcing" was a dream for the CFO and a nightmare for everyone else.
Plan C is to declare that outsourcing your software development doesn't work and to hire local developers only. Or try to. But the cost of plan C to businesses can be astronomical in high salaries and enormous delays in finding, hiring and keeping enough developers that can work as a team and develop the software you need and when you need it to solve your critical business challenges and/or capitalize your customer opportunities.
True outsourcing is hiring a company that can deliver a service better than what you can do with your own employees, even if you can find and hire them. The trick is finding a good software outsourcing company quickly and to know how to work with them once you get started.
What To Look For When Outsourcing Software
What you need to look for in a great software outsourcing company is the ability to recruit, train and retain great developers. The company needs to have a positive, problem-solving culture that encourages the developers to deliver excellent software. And to do that the developers also need excellent English skills and the ability to communicate and collaborate with you the customer.
And daily communication and collaboration is required for modern Agile/Scrum development methodologies. You must be prepared to participate in this methodology through daily video calls or productivity will drag. Time zone alignment with the location of your outsourcing partner is important so each of you can have a workday with normal hours. Workday overlap and proximity for travel are the main reasons nearshoring - to Latin America for North America, Eastern Europe for Western Europe and Southeast Asia for Australia and New Zealand - has become so popular. You should expect travel in one direction or the other at least quarterly to maintain good communication for critical software outsourcing engagements.
You SHOULD outsource your software development with a great software outsourcing company if you are prepared to work with and be guided by them. Where can you find these great software outsourcing companies? Just about everywhere in the world!
You may run into a good software outsourcing company online or through referrals from friends and associates. But that approach is often hit or miss, and mostly miss, as you try out different companies. Clients tell us the process can take 4 to 6 months and sometimes longer.
Don't Search For Outsourced Developers on Your Own
You don't have to go it alone. Contact Accelerance to learn about a free shortcut to reduce your search for a great software outsourcing company to just 6 days.