Offshore Software Development: A Comprehensive Guide for CTOs

Jun 21
06:15

2023

Thescalers

Thescalers

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In this post, we'll delve into offshore software development, its benefits, and practical insights for integrating it into your development processes.

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The software industry is fiercely crowded,Offshore Software Development: A Comprehensive Guide for CTOs Articles set to surpass a million companies in the coming decade.

Western Europe and American cities are home to many of these businesses, leading to intense competition, rising costs, and a talent shortage. To gain an advantage in this challenging and expensive market, Western companies are increasingly embracing offshore software development services.

But how can you effectively utilise dedicated offshore teams for your business?

In this post, we'll delve into offshore software development, its benefits, and practical insights for integrating it into your development processes.

Offshore software development: the basics

Offshore software development entails hiring a dedicated engineering team and setting up an offshore development centre in a different country.

For example, industry leaders such as Google, Microsoft, and Apple have established their research and development (R&D) centres in Bangalore, known as the Silicon Valley of Asia.

By tapping into the vast talent pool and leveraging the ability to scale rapidly, these companies can enhance their output and elevate their technical expertise without enduring substantial stress, inconvenience, or expenses.

Outsourcing vs Offshoring

Outsourcing is suitable for short-term projects without ongoing iterations, offering cost advantages and risks. Developers are not dedicated to your project and may juggle multiple clients. 

Offshoring allows you to hire developers who align with your business exclusively. An offshore partner handles recruitment, providing you with suitable candidates for your final hiring decision. Offshoring grants access to talent not available locally, overcoming intense competition for top engineering talent dominated by major tech giants.

Who can benefit from offshore software development?

Service-based companies with non-technical core businesses are the ones who often turn to offshore software development to bridge the technology gap.

By hiring competent developers at a fraction of the cost, these companies can maintain and build their technology, implement new ideas, and scale up to handle significant contracts.

Offshoring offers a cost-effective solution, ensuring access to readily available talent and enabling business growth in the ever-changing digital landscape.

The benefits of offshore software development

Access to top engineering talent

Offshore software development offers access to a vast pool of talented engineers. India, for example, produces 1.5 million engineering graduates annually, ready to work with high training pedigree and English language fluency.

Quick scalability opportunity

Offshore teams provide lower recruitment and payroll costs. Scaling an offshore software development team is also faster, with the ability to onboard vetted professionals in as little as four weeks.

Focus on core business

You delegate administrative tasks, payroll, recruitment, and more by partnering with an offshore software development company. This allows you to concentrate on your core business, interact with clients, and grow without the stress of team scaling. 

What are the best offshore locations?

  • India - the IT offshoring capital, offering a large pool of skilled developers with fluent English-language skills. The lower cost of living makes it a lucrative choice for businesses.
  • Eastern Europe - nearshoring to countries like Ukraine and Romania benefits Western European companies requiring real-time collaboration. Despite concerns due to recent conflicts, Eastern Europe still offers skilled developers.
  • Latin America - for North American companies, offshoring to Latin America is popular due to the minimal time difference. However, developer standards can be lower, and experienced talent comes at a premium.
  • The Philippines - a country that has a strong economy and a skilled workforce. English proficiency, cultural ties to the West, and government incentives make this country a great choice.

The ethical implications of offshoring

The ethical dilemma surrounding offshoring development processes is often misunderstood. Here are some key points to consider:

Local job opportunities

Offshoring is driven by the scarcity of local engineers for scaling and maintaining quality. Setting up development centres in the West is challenging due to a lack of available talent. Offshoring does not result in a loss of local jobs.

Globalisation and patriotism

Globalisation benefits economies, and wealth is not a zero-sum game. Offshoring can increase productivity, better services, and improve products, ultimately doing more good than harm.

Ensuring quality

Companies can ensure quality by incorporating separate quality assurance teams in the offshore location or integrating quality assurance practices into the development team's work. This ensures adherence to standards and delivers a high-quality final product.

Managing your offshore software development team

Building and managing an offshore team can bring significant benefits. To ensure a successful partnership with your offshore development partner, consider the following:

Share your vision and mission - communicate your business's vision, mission, objectives, and long-term goals to your offshore team.

Bridge cultural differences - acknowledge and address cultural differences between your local and offshore teams. Foster a unified culture of belonging and emphasise that everyone works together towards a common goal.

Show appreciation and recognition - make your offshore team feel valued and appreciated. Regularly express gratitude for their contributions and ensure they feel included in your vision.

Facilitate communication - proactively address any communication challenges that may arise. Visit your offshore team periodically, organise ice-breaker conference calls, and encourage open team dialogue.

Consider implementing the following strategies to ensure smooth communication between your in-house and offshore teams:

  1. Firstly, utilise e-mails for official communication, sharing schedules, and documenting project meeting notes.

  1. Secondly, leverage instant messaging platforms such as Slack and Skype to address quick clarifications, provide real-time status updates, and resolve queries promptly.

  1. Lastly, implement productivity tools like JIRA, Asana, or Basecamp to track progress, assign tasks, and facilitate efficient collaboration with your offshore team.

If you're ready to embark on an offshore software development journey, please contact us by filling out the contact form. We're excited to get started on your project!