We all know how hard it can be for a company to find and hire an efficient web development team. And it is not only the price that matters but also the quality of performing and, of course, mentality overlap. Considering the reality that we live in, it becomes more apparent how beneficial it can be to outsource some of the processes. However, still, many companies are facing quite a challenge doing that. This article will provide you with 5 steps to successfully hiring an outsource web development team and list all of the compelling reasons you may need this.
So, according to experts, the most common concerns regarding the cooperation with an outsource web development team are doubts about the quality of performance and results, uncertainty about the ability to control and oversee all the processes, previous bad experiences, and fear of cultural and language barriers. Let’s dive deeper and address them one by one.
– I will not be able to control the workflow thoroughly.
Well, it’s in the web development company’s best interests to work closely with you, first discussing the details of the project meticulously and then letting you in every step of the way. A professional team will proactively update you and consult on giving tasks even more efficiently.
– The quality of the work might be bad.
Usually, that problem is about a poor selection process. Be ready to spend quite some time researching, deep-diving, analyzing resumes, reading reviews, etс. And of course, don’t forget to consult your lawyer to get an alert about anything suspicious and sign a contract safely.
– The first time I’ve tried, it was awful, and I’ve had enough.
If you had one bad interaction with an outsourcing web development agency, it doesn’t mean that the situation will repeat! At the end of the article, we will provide you with everything needed to improve your outsourcing experience.
– I am afraid of cultural miscommunication and the language barrier.
That is the point that we wanted to address the most. Firstly, (and we want to underline it!) everyone speaks English nowadays, especially in IT. So, the concern regarding communication struggles is usually exaggerated a lot. Globalization also made sure that everyone understands the main processes and trends going viral worldwide, and that actually erases almost all of the cultural barriers that we feared so much. Moreover, hiring an offshore development team can be much cheaper than cooperating with the local one, though the quality of work will be the same or even better.
With all that addressed and explained, what are the key benefits of outsourcing web development teams and working with overseas companies?
1. Best experts with relevant knowledge of current interest.
Hiring an offshore outsourcing company, you have an excellent opportunity to work with the best experts in their fields without investing in their education (because that’s what you do with the in-house employees). Also, a company specializing in specific services has a broader skillset and experts that are sometimes really hard to find locally.
2. Cost reduction.
Probably the main benefit of outsourcing web and software development – especially offshore – is significant budget-saving. According to experts, outsourcing can save you up to 70% of the project price. Just look at these numbers: the average developer’s price per working hour in Eastern Europe is about twice lower than the same in the US. And you don’t have to worry about holidays, taxes and rent!
3. Prioritizing your business goals.
Typically the client is most involved in the development process at the very beginning of the project. It is the time to ask all the questions: the main idea of the project, requirements, deadlines, features, etc. When every detail is thoroughly discussed, and everything is settled, all you have to do is get the updates and approve the results. As a rule, it noticeably reduces your mental load providing the opportunity to focus on the main business goals.
4. Rocket-speeding your deadlines.
Outsourcing web development usually boosts the speed of embodying your project vastly. Prominently, it works best when you hire a team already experienced in your niche and has similar projects in their portfolio. That gives you the advantage of validating your business idea, testing, fixing bugs, and conquering the market notably faster.
Now, when you are fully aware of all the benefits and advantages of outsourcing web and software development, we will provide you with all tools necessary for a successful outsourcing experience. Follow our 5 step manual for quickly organizing your workflow and efficiently cooperating with offshore web development vendors:
STEP 1: SETTING UP THE GOAL
The first thing you need to do even before contacting the development team is finalizing your business idea and prioritizing the goals. You need to clearly understand your project’s concept, the impact you want to make, the means of communication with your customers, etc. So, start with creating a general description of the project. Then add specific details: business goals, main features, tech requirements, time frames, and deadlines, etc. Also, try to develop a list of questions for the specialists concerning the details that you are unsure about: it will help speed up the discussion process. And last but not least, estimate the budget you are ready to spend on the project.
STEP 2: CHOOSE THE TYPE OF OUTSOURCING
There are three main types of web development outsource – onshore, nearshore, and offshore. The difference between the terms is quite clear. Onshoring software development is when you are based in Canada and have a team in Canada. An opposite example is nearshoring software development. It is when you are based in Canada and have a team in the US. And the last option – offshoring software development, which is when you are based in Canada and have a team in Belarus. All of the options have their pros, cons, and points to consider. Basically, onshore and nearshore outsourcing provides a way to work with a company closest to home. While the advantages are pretty straightforward – working with skilled teams from your home country or the nearest one and avoiding language barriers – there is one major drawback, which is, of course, the price.
So, it is measurably cheaper to work with web development vendors from abroad when it comes to being budget-oriented. The most popular regions for offshore web development are India, China, and Eastern Europe, and though their costs are highly affordable, it doesn’t affect the quality of services provided. A trend of hiring working remote teams is up and rising, especially in COVID times, and the numerous benefits regarding offshore outsourcing are quite evident.
STEP 3: LIST THE POTENTIAL VENDORS
Once you’ve done your homework with setting up the goals and deciding on the outsource type, you can create the list of potential vendors. Various platforms can help you search for developers: cutch.co, goodfirms.co, Manifest, Dribble, GitHub, StackOverflow, etc. So, here is what you need to do to evaluate the candidates:
- check portfolio and experiences;
- consider the types of projects the company specializes on;
- carefully read the reviews;
- go through their websites and social media.
Once you have the list of vendors fitting all of your criteria, you can start contacting those most interested in conducting interviews. Where to pay attention to? Read in the next step!
STEP 4: INTERVIEWS
Here are some tips on how to efficiently communicate with potential vendors:
- consider the details about the internal software development processes (methodologies used, quality assurance and bug fixing processes, ongoing support process, etc.);
- pay attention to the communication process: how the information is presented, the formality of speech, level of English, etc.
- ask for the work examples: design samples, code samples, CVs;
- let the representative get acquainted with your project, talk about the tech stack, main features, make sure that the company has experience with the related projects in your field.
Basically, that is the moment to ask all of the questions that we have mentioned before. Don’t hurry to sign a contract, and make sure that you and the team are on the same page about every tiny detail of your project. It is best not to try to gather all the information at once: schedule a series of calls, take notes, and then take your time to analyze everything you’ve learned and make the decision.
STEP 5: CHOOSING A VENDOR AND ARRANGING COMMUNICATION
When coming to a decision, do not rush to choose the company that offers you the lowest price or the one that tells you what you want to hear. Any professional team will almost bury you with work-related questions and provide you with a comprehensive analysis of how to implement your goals most efficiently. After making your final decision, you may want to sign NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Then you can talk about the communication process fitting both parties.
- choose comfortable communication tools: Slack, Telegram, WhatsApp, etc;
- arrange the means of control and project management if needed: you may use JIRA, Confluence, Trello, etc;
- create shared space for file storage;
- ask for time tracking and billing if needed
- set time frames;
- discuss the means of giving customer feedback;
- agree on the process of demonstrating and approving intermediate results.
It is highly recommended to schedule regular meetings at the beginning of a working process. Don’t hesitate to ask all the questions you have and speak your mind: you can brainstorm through any unclear moment. That is the key to getting remarkable final results.
We hope that we have cleared all the doubts you’ve had about hiring an outsource web development team. In fact, some of the biggest companies in the world use offshore outsourcing in their work. So, why not to try? Significant budget-saving, best tech experts, business support, great flexibility, and high-security measures are some of the great benefits you can get from outsourcing web development. Set up your goals, choose the vendor wisely, take time to investigate, remember that communication is the key to success, and you will get an outstanding working experience.
The DigitalMara team is ready to help you
Finding your way through software development today may feel like wandering through a maze, but DigitaMara’s professionals are ready to guide you. In addition to expanding your team with our specialists, DigitalMara offers expertise in domains such as omnichannel customer engagement, high-load systems, cloud solutions, and business processes automatization. Get in touch with us, and together we will succeed!
