We’re living in the 21st century – this is the Age of Information. If you are a business owner, whether big or small, chances are that you have seen firsthand the benefits of working hand in hand with digital tech.
AI and machine learning, for example, once seemed like a thing of the future but is now more relevant than ever. See this article about machine learning in manufacturing on Business.com if you don’t believe us.
Aside from AI, software development has come a long way and it’s easily accessible to businesses. Utilizing the latest software keeps you one step ahead of your competition.
If your business does not have an experienced team dedicated to learning the latest software, you can outsource to a software development company. Let’s look at the pros and cons of software outsourcing so you can decide which is best for you:
Pros of Software Outsourcing
- Flexibility
In the long run, outsourcing can save some money because you won’t have to worry about the overhead for supporting an in-house software team. Many businesses find that maintaining a project-based relationship with specialty contractors is financially beneficial in the long run.
Another benefit in this area is that working remotely is incredibly common thanks to the ease of online meetings and remote access. Your software team’s location is becoming increasingly irrelevant, giving you a global pool of experts to choose from.
- Efficient Software Development
When you hire an off-site team, they are ready to jump in regardless of what stage you are in. This cuts out the time usually spent on hiring, training, and the tiresome learning curve. This alone is a significant time-saver, especially when facing a looming deadline.
Outsourcing is also efficient because it keeps you available to focus your energy on your core business needs. Sending out chunks of the software development process gives you the time you need to focus on other strategies for continuously growing and improving your own company.
Cons of Software Outsourcing
- You Risk Poor Service
There is always a risk when outsourcing to a company you are unfamiliar with. This is especially relevant with software companies, as it is common for these businesses to run operations in developing countries that offer cheap cost of labor. This increases your chances of working with someone with poor quality service.
Fortunately, you can avoid this by doing your research before committing to a specific service. When looking to hire a team, look up customer reviews and testimonials. Compare their quotes and reviews with competitors. Eventually, one of them will stand out as the best choice.
For example, bairesdev.com assures clients that they hire the most experienced candidates in their niche, so their clients know that projects are in capable hands.
- Language Barriers
Similar to the previous negative, you can’t help that you don’t always know the geographical location of the team you outsource to. In some cases, you may be faced with the additional challenge of having to adapt to cultural and language barriers. If you find yourself in this situation, the best way to handle it is to open up communication by organizing frequent team meetings.
Is Outsourcing Right For You?
While there is no hard and fast rule to determine the best move for your business, outsourcing is a common solution to keep up with software needs. If you are still unsure, try outlining your software goals and needs of your company.
If you truly don’t have time to adapt to new software and could use help, do some research on outsourcing companies until you find the one you feel most comfortable with.