Hiring an offshore development team can prove challenging, and if not done right, it will be a disaster for all stakeholders in the future. While offshore development has numerous benefits like reduced costs, access to a large talent pool, team scalability, and minimum managerial involvement, you still have to be cautious when you hire offshore developers. Why? Commonly offshore and hiring teams never come across each other physically to assess character, the company’s workplace, and the environment so it is susceptible to all sorts of scams. There is also a possibility that the offshore team might be incompetent or so overburdened that they never really start work on your project.
Hence, before you hire offshore developers for your next project, look for the following traits for guaranteed success:
1. Experience and Proven Success
The most important trait to look for when you hire offshore software developers is “experience”. You can assess a company’s competency and capabilities based on experience and successful projects. For this, hiring teams can explore the website and social media accounts and also ask for the company’s portfolio. If the offshore development company has a good track record and a satisfied customer list, then you know that the company can deliver your project.
2. Customer Service and Communication Skills
How responsive are the company’s representatives and the extent of their understanding of project deliverables have paramount importance. Communication is the key to a successful project and that must be demonstrated from day one by both client and vendor. If you wish to hire an offshore dedicated team then you must be aware of the differences in time zones and language. However, authentic offshore development companies have excellent English communication skills and can work within your time zone with dedicated teams. Punctuality in meetings and deadlines is also necessary and can be assessed before you hire the team for your project.
3. Modern Tech and Development Tools
Modern problems require modern solutions. There are plenty of programming tools and technology available for developers that can be leveraged to create a high-performing and efficient solution. But, does your offshore team possess the tools and tech required for your project that will benefit you in the long term?
The above question must be answered by your offshore team. If your software project must incorporate machine learning then your offshore team must have relevant experience since Machine Learning is not everyone’s piece of cake! Similarly, other modern technologies like AI, Blockchain, IoT, AR, VR, and Big Data also need expertise and experience for successful incorporation. Modern frameworks, programming languages, and tools also offer advanced features that make the software more interactive and high-performing and have become the need for clients and vendors to compete in the existing markets.
4. Flexible Hiring and Pricing Models
According to a report by Statista, 36% of companies outsource their software development projects to save costs. However, if costs are not kept in check, projects can become expensive. For instance, a project is outsourced for $30 per hour with an estimated completion time of one month but is instead completed in three months. This disturbs the company’s budget and its cost-saving intent. Here, flexible pricing and hiring models play an important role. There are normally three hiring models offered:
- Staff Augmentation: Client hires required resources temporarily to be part of the team
- Dedicated Teams: Client influences the project scope with a managed team
- Full-Project Outsourcing: Development is completely delegated to the vendor
There are also three pricing models most commonly used
- Fixed Price: A fixed amount is settled for the entire project or monthly/annual basis
- Time and material: Close client supervision for payment of resources spent on the project
- Time and material with a cap: Setting a limit to keep the budget in check
Whenever you are hiring an offshore developer, ensure that you get the right hiring and pricing model. An offshore company that does not demonstrate flexibility in its cooperation models may not benefit you with project development.
5. Ownership of Intellectual Property
The best offshore software developers must have knowledge of confidentiality agreements. Since many software products are built around unique and innovative ideas, the client does not want it to be marketed to other individuals or companies later on. Hence, a mutual understanding and agreement in the early stages of product development is essential.
6. Conclusion
The article explores the 5 top traits to look for when you hire web developers for a successful partnership between the client and vendor. With rapid evolution of the digital landscape, companies move out to different regions in search of skilled resources and cost-savings. However, to reap the benefits of offshore outsourcing, stakeholders must be cautious in their approach to evaluate the offshore company. Hence, before hiring an offshore company to work on your project, look for the above mentioned characteristics and evaluate the risks.
