Outsourced developers have evolved from small tasks to full-fledged technical partners who help validate the concept and business model, design the process, write the code, perform testing, and provide final maintenance. A dedicated development team can become a trusted partner often involved in the project on an ongoing basis.
Since the scope of work of a dedicated team has changed a lot recently, business owners are conscientious when choosing dedicated developers. It is an investment that will pay off for many years. This article will share some tips and tricks for those looking for a dedicated software development team.
The main problems when looking for a dedicated development team
- Not understanding what selection criteria to set
Overloaded with options, business owners do not know where to start their evaluation. There is always the possibility of getting a “jack of all trades” – a team offering many IT services without experience. Another risk is choosing a team that is good at the technical aspects of software development but has poor management and communication skills.
- Determining the region to choose
While markets are more or less unified regarding developers’ technical expertise, many dynamic variables differ from country to countries, such as time zones, language proficiency, hourly wages, and overall market maturity. The US and Canada are considered premium markets as the average hourly rate for software developers starts at $80 per hour, which is relatively high. In contrast, in Ukraine, the hourly rate for a dedicated development team is much lower.
- Not understanding how to evaluate a potential contractor.
In the end, even if the business manager has defined the selection criteria, there is still a chance of having wrong expectations. Sometimes the product owner is not familiar with the complexity of the task and tends to underestimate the challenge. In other cases, software development teams may overestimate the task, taking advantage of the business owners’ lack of experience.
How to research IT outsourcing companies
Although it is commonly believed that these issues can be solved only with experience, in-depth research can clarify all problematic aspects. Brights specialists shared this valuable information with us, and here are the main steps they highlighted:
- Familiarize yourself with the market
Firstly, you need to identify the country to look for offshore. Several aspects need to be evaluated.
- Hourly costs.
The hourly rate of a junior software developer is much higher in the US or Western Europe than in a dedicated development team in Ukraine, for example.
2. The difference in time zones.
When working with outsourced developers, you will have to deal with time zone differences – from 2 to 10 hours or even more. However, time issues can be easily mitigated if the work is done by a development team that has extensive experience in offshore markets.
- Check the information about the software provider.
Usually, answers to questions related to technology and management are provided by a dedicated development team. It isn’t easy to understand whether they are transparent about actual practices or tell business owners what they want to hear. Do not rely only on words – it does not hurt to get a second opinion. To do this, you can contact the company’s previous clients. If the provider mentions specific companies and personalities, contact them via LinkedIn or Facebook. Ask them if they have worked with this company and ask about their overall impression.
You can also check various online platforms that offer reviews and ratings, especially for software development service providers. These websites rate the quality of companies based on feedback from verified customers. Here are the most popular ones:
Clutch.com is an independent platform that evaluates the expertise of outsourcing providers in software development, testing, web design, and marketing. The Clutch team verifies reviews’ authenticity by contacting the reviews’ authors.
GoodFirms.co – Similar to Clutch, GoodFirms aggregates the leading software development service providers from different local markets and compiles TOP lists for specific areas of development. The evaluation is based on the company’s portfolio and client feedback.
ITFirms.co – here, developers should contact the team of moderators directly and send a complete overview of their professional activities. After personal approval, the team considers the request and adds the company to its directory.
Also, ensure that the dedicated development team’s products have made it to the market. For example, if they are mobile app developers, look at their products on Google Play or App Store.
How to start working with outsourced developers
For every successful project, there are several basic steps to follow. Skipping at least one of them can lead to management difficulties and long-term complications.
- Outline your idea and business model
Ensure the team understands your business model and is invested in what they do. It would help if you had an honest technical partner qualified to develop a product that can succeed in the market.
- Define all your expectations in advance
A dedicated development team needs to get a vision of your project. To do this:
- Lay out all your expectations before starting work.
- Tell them what tasks you have had before and show them the results to better understand what they should aim for.
- Outline all your functional and operational requirements.
- Outline all possible risks
Ask your software development outsourcing provider to assess possible risks upfront to understand what additional monetary costs you may face along the way. You also want them to offer a strategy for dealing with problems that may arise.
- Go over the management side of the project.
Determine what tools will be used for communication and management, schedule all meetings in advance, and determine what systems will be used to control and monitor the process. Make sure that you and the outsourced developers also agree on all the terms and conditions and that they are specified in the contract.
Conclusion
Partnership with a dedicated team is one of the most effective tools for optimizing the company’s business processes. With proper collaboration, this team can be used to implement current tasks and as a strategic asset for productive business development. Many companies even maintain a leading position in their segment thanks to the qualified distribution of operational tasks.
If you doubt whether to hire a dedicated development team, remember that you are investing in the future. Experience shows that real experts are proactive, and their solutions may surprise you. However, before choosing a third-party vendor, you should carefully consider your business goals, the resources required, and the duration and scope of the project you plan to implement.
