Many challenges come with setting up a tech startup, especially in the current climate of rising costs, rapidly advancing software technologies and tighter competition. Consequently, it is unsurprising that many startup companies and corporations are turning to offshore software development to support their goals and aspirations.
According to industry estimates, worldwide IT outsourcing is expected to generate a staggering $413.7 billion over the next decade. The growth of offshore software developers in recent years is likely due to startup companies trying to minimize costs while taking advantage of this popular method of collaboration.
It will be discussed in this article who needs offshore software developers, what types of companies need such a service, and the challenges faced when dealing with such software development.
What is offshore software development?
Generally, offshore software development services refer to hiring developers from remote locations that provide lower-cost technical support and support at lower rates than their home countries when it comes to developing software. In most cases, businesses decide whether they wish to take advantage of end-to-end development services or just specific processes, such as designing UI/UX, developing web apps, and developing mobile apps.
In general, South America, Poland, and India are considered to be the most popular countries for outsourcing projects. Generally, offshore software development rates are low in these regions due to the availability of skilled resources.
What is the difference between offshore software development and outsourcing?
It is important to note that outsourcing and offshoring software development are not synonymous, although they are frequently used interchangeably.
Outsourcing is a good option when you need an application in a short timeframe when you don’t need constant changes and updates. The offshoring method is a method of creating a complex or long-term project through the recruitment of developers.
Choosing the right offshore company can make a massive difference in how effectively you can hire and assess the team assigned to your project on your behalf. Ultimately, it is worth remembering that offshore hiring is all about finding the talents you cannot locate in the region where you operate. Consequently, you can get developers from places that are growing in numbers, where they may have an abundance of developers available to you.
Is it wise to hire offshore developers?
In more or less every case, outsourcing development can be beneficial for the company. This approach has been proven to offer several benefits that have stood the test of time, such as:
A direct line of communication with the best developers in the industry
You can easily find qualified professionals with design, development, and testing skills by outsourcing your development team. With the help of a technology company, it becomes significantly easier to find technical experts who are competent in the industry in which you operate and scale up accordingly.
Cost reductions
When you hire developers from overseas, several benefits come with working with an offshore startup development team, such as having to set up no desk, no day-to-day infrastructure, no equipment, and no IT system. Offshoring can also reduce the cost of your operations by reducing the time and expenses you spend on hiring and the hiring process.
Costs of development will be lower
In most cases, the offshore development agency offers flexible prices for its skillset of state-of-the-art, paired with modern technological tools. An example could be that hiring a skilled developer in India would only cost a business between $60 and $100 per hour, depending on the skill level.
Delivering projects more quickly
Collaboration with multiple skilled developers can greatly reduce businesses’ time attempting to speed up their internal development process to cut costs. Using this method, they will be able to deliver the project to the market very quickly, and they will be able to do so with a bit of extra money.
High level of scalability
It is often the case that the development process is complex. A product can never be built with a certain amount of time or resources, so you never know what the process may take. The ease of scaling up the number of developers and the speed with which the delivery can be taken care of are some of the benefits of outsourcing software development.
The latest technology is available to you
Offshore software companies specialize in a wide range of leading technologies and skills, which are difficult for in-house developers to possess. You may be able to hire a developer skilled in a specific technology, but it may be challenging to employ a team of developers skilled in multiple technologies.
Low development risks
You are responsible for ensuring that things go smoothly during the software development and deployment stage when you build the software in-house. As a result, when you partner with an offshore company to develop your product, you rely entirely on them to ensure that the product is tested and that the deployment is problem-free.
Focus on core activities
Custom offshore software development services handled by a remote development team allow you to concentrate on the core business activities.
What are the types of companies that benefit from offshore development?
Having discussed the numerous benefits of offshore software development, let us now focus on who, or rather which types of companies, can benefit the most from this type of software development.
Budget-constrained startups
Startups generally come up with the best digital ideas. However, they do not have the budget. Due to the number of startups in the US alone, which totals 71,153, several startups either never make their product to its full potential or partner with offshore software developers.
Lacking expertise in technology
It is not unusual for founders to lack technical expertise even with the best ideas. As a result, businesses can partner with an offshore software development company with the technical expertise needed to build a product from scratch. The model allows you to find and hire the best team for your company as you will be able to apply the model.
Businesses that want to speed up time to market
Software is a domain in which time is more important than anything else. If you spend a lot of time developing software, there is a chance that your competitor will release something similar, and your idea will be wasted. The advantage of offshore developers is that you do not have to spend time recruiting or training them; your project gets the best team on board from the beginning.
How to hire the best offshore software developers?
Only by hiring the best offshore developers can you enjoy the benefits we discussed and reach the type of companies most likely to benefit. In that case, a wrong move could result in an extended deadline and more money being spent than intended.
When hiring overseas startup developers, you should consider the following:
Expertise
Validating the experience of software development companies is a necessity. The quality of software design and a project’s architecture or code should be considered when you are out on the market.
Validation of the work can be accomplished by carefully considering the previous work and the client’s review of the work before submitting it.
Technology
The company is a software development company specializing in various technologies. Although it is okay to partner with a generalist firm that specializes in multiple technologies, it is recommended that you work with a firm or individual who specializes in a certain technology. As a result, you will receive a dedicated support team from the company.
Costs associated with the development
Finding an outsourcing partner that provides software development services at an affordable price is crucial to finding a successful outsourcing partnership. While you may be tempted to hire the most talented developers in the market, you may be unable to afford the price tag if you do. A team who asks for the lowest price quote might seem to be a lucrative offer, but if you hire one who asks for such a low price quote, you may end up sacrificing quality for a low price.
Ideally, it would be perfect if you hired a team that offered a reasonable cost structure.
Adaptability
If you are considering hiring an outsourcing software development company, ensure that the company will give you the freedom to allocate your time and the size of your team as you please. Rather than sending a contract for months of work, we suggest starting on a sprint model with deliverables instead of sending a contract for a short-term assignment. There is no pressure to have a long-term relationship when you work within a project-based relationship, and you can increase the requirements for the project as the project progresses, just as the project itself moves forward.
Commitment
What sounds good when trying to find an outsourcing partner who can help you with software development? Yes. It is often true that firms that say yes to everything you ask for are much more likely to raise a red flag than not.
To ensure that you’re working with the right team, you want to make sure that they ask you questions, challenge your ideas, and make you think in new ways.
Process and time management
Software development is a complex process that can take a lot of time and effort. However, what needs to be understood here is that to become a market leader, you will need that software, and to do that, you would have to know a timeline of when and how the project will be developed.
Similarly, you would require a team with a system for completing projects in record time without sacrificing quality.
Communication
Communication is a key step in the custom offshore software development process, and to do that. It is essential to examine it from two angles: 1. Fluency, 2. Time. There should be a good communication system within the development company to convey updates on the project. It is also essential to remember that they should be available during your time range or the same time their peers are available.
Lock-in legalities
Founders should also consider the legalities of lock-in.
To begin with, make sure that you retain your IP rights. By doing this, you will be able to take your project if in the future you want to move to another company, and you will be able to. The second thing you should check is the code lock-in terms. After the code has been developed, you should receive it.
What are the cost components of hiring the best offshore software development team?
When hiring an offshore team, there are several factors to consider. The top ones are as follows:
- Hiring and training
- Development
- Management of projects
- Assurance of quality
- Auxiliary costs
- Costs of service
- The cost of infrastructure
In addition to the company’s geographic location, the company’s location shows up on the cost element list.
Partnering with the best offshore development team might seem the best thing to do at the outset, but then you must remember that something might go wrong.
The challenges of offshore software development
The benefits of offshore software development for startups are undeniable, and many definite benefits come with it. However, the model has also caused some businesses to lose time and money due to the model, resulting in some frustration. Here is a list of some of the top challenges we face in our daily lives
Differences in time zones
Working with an offshore development company can sometimes be challenging due to the time difference. The different geographical locations sometimes make communicating challenging, which can sometimes lead to a delay in the development of a product.
Security issues
When you partner with a company not verified by you and have not verified their abilities to handle your private data after the app has been delivered, you can have security concerns about them using the data even after the app has been handed over to you.
It would be worse if they shared your app idea with another client.
Before we even begin working with you at The Synergy Works, we provide you with a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Then, you can rest assured that your idea will be kept confidential. In addition, when we hand over the code to you, we include the entire IP rights along with the code.
The assurance of quality
Getting a hold of a software development company offshore would require you to become an integral part of their workflow, especially if you want to stay on top of their quality assurance process.
At SynergyWorks Solutions, we meet weekly with our clients to ensure that they are aware of the progress of their projects. In addition, we keep the customer informed about the project’s progress at every stage, ensuring it follows their expectations.
When to outsource software development?
If you wish to outsource your software development, you don’t have to worry about where you are in the development process.
The idea comes to you when you are brainstorming.
The best approach is to partner with software consultants if you have a fair understanding of what the app is going to be about but are unfamiliar with the technicalities.
The benefits of software development consulting can be seen in a wide range of ways for businesses. Consult with a dedicated and reliable team for your ideas and products.
During the development phase of a project
With your app idea and structure ready, you should contact your software development partner.
When the software is developed
In addition to the app’s release, you might need maintenance support at some point. It is possible to work with the company to update or maintain your app as needed.
What is the best way to manage your offshore developers?
Managing a team of in-house developers can be challenging, and it isn’t easy to imagine how challenging it could be to manage an offshore development team. One of the main reasons behind the top offshore software development challenges is the development team’s management, which is a significant factor on the list.
It is nonetheless possible to eliminate all challenges with proper team management. Here are a few tips for you.
Coordinate your efforts
There will be plenty of occasions when you will fall prey to a mistake, be over-assumed, or lose out on important things because you got lost in translation. To ensure the project’s vision aligns with the team’s capabilities and processes, take some time to align your vision with the team’s before the project gets underway.
Agree on tracking tools
It will not be your in-house development team with whom you will partner but an offshore team. As a result, it becomes even more critical to establish tracking tools where you can monitor tasks and the time spent on them.
Get rid of micromanagement.
Be aware that the team is not an employee team in your company. As a result, you will only have limited control over them. To achieve this, it is beneficial to contact the team when you need something or need an update from them.
It is essential to understand that there are several factors to consider when hiring software developers from offshore.
As a result, this approach is an excellent way to save money and time when delivering items. For startups, as well as established companies that don’t have a technical team, this model is perfect for them.
As a result, finding the right partners aligned with your team’s culture and understanding your vision can be challenging. These partners need to work in your time zone and understand your vision. To find the right offshore software development partner for your project, this guide can help you in your search.
FAQs
What is offshore software development?
Offshore software development is hiring a development team from abroad and opening an office for them. A company’s remote employees are also permanent employees based elsewhere than its local employees.
What is the difference between offshore and onshore software development?
Outsourcing software development within a country is known as onshore development. An offshore software development project is one in which a company based in another country takes on the role of developing the software.
An example is if your company is based in the United States, any company that is a part of the United States would be considered an onshore company. It is considered offshore if a company is located in a different country like Canada, India, or other countries not part of the European Union.
Why should I offshore my software project?
It is important to note that offshore development comes with several benefits. There are many benefits, including direct access to top-tier developers, lower development risk, faster project delivery, increased scalability, and faster budgeting.
How can I handle security confidentiality with the offshore team?
Signing an NDA before your first call with the team ensures that they will not tell anyone else about your idea. Besides that, you can have a contract that ensures that once the project is over, you will be able to get your IP rights and codes back once the project has been completed.
How can I monitor the project’s progress?
As part of the development process, the development team could set up a platform for collaboration, to which you would both have access. Then you will be able to see how the project is progressing, so you can keep an eye on it. As soon as you have scheduled meetings, you will regularly be informed about the project’s progress.
How can SynergyWorks Solutions help with offshore software development?
In our experience, it is safe to assume that you have gathered several essential factors to consider when choosing an offshore development partner, even though it can be a good choice.
There is a solution to your problem; it is just what you need. The brand you have chosen can offer you the opportunity to work with a company with more than 1,000 subject matter experts working across various time zones, depending on the need. This company makes digital products across many industries, with over 10,000 products made to date.
SynergyWorks Solutions is one of the best enterprise software development company Several entrepreneurs from various industries have achieved their dreams of building digital empires with help from SynergyWorks Solutions. While keeping our clients informed about how the project is progressing, we work around their time zones. We can provide experts in every time-tested and emerging technology at competitive prices for your software projects. Plus, what else? We deliver quality apps before the delivery deadline for Domino’s, Adidas, IKEA, and many other top-rated apps in the Play Store and App Store. Keep your competitive edge and rule the market with our help.
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