How to Overcome Web Development Challenges Through Outsourcing
Exceptional user experience really matters. If your website or app is failing to deliver this each and every time a visitor lands, then the consequences are likely to be huge. Competition is fierce and web users are now accustomed to an intuitive, seamless experience.
You know that investing in an experienced, talented web development team will be worth every dollar. However, this is easier said than done since there are multiple recruitment challenges in the area of web development. High attrition rates, scarcity of talented developers and the high cost of recruitment, training and career development are all factors that need consideration.
Here, we consider the pros and cons of outsourcing web development to an offshore team and show you how to arrange the best quality outsourced talents to work on your site.
Today’s web development recruitment challenges
Every business needs a web presence, even if you are not running an e-commerce site. It’s where potential buyers are at the very least researching their purchasing decisions, assessing potential products and services, and checking out what different companies have to offer. This is why great user experience – and, consequently, having a team of great web developers – matters.
Web development is multidisciplinary. Different talents are likely to be needed to manage projects, complete front-end development, do back-end development, complete quality assurance tasks and more. Recruiting for these positions is not straightforward.
Web development recruitment is costly. If you have a growing business, it may also feel risky to onboard an in-house team when your business’s needs are likely to change quickly. Finding the local talent with the right knowledge, expertise, and experience is also not straightforward.
Outsourcing web development is popular because it provides a flexible, agile, low-risk solution.
How does outsourced web development work?
Outsourcing web development means approaching a third-party provider to build a team from their talent bank that is capable of delivering the website services you require within your budget. Small to medium organizations often choose this path, but it is also a suitable choice for larger organizations that want to focus their in-house resources on core business.
Outsourcing agencies listen to your requirements and provide the personnel you need. They handle recruitment, training, and onboarding on your behalf. They also provide the resources needed for talent to operate such as IT, IT support, office space and admin support. Many outsourcing companies bring teams together to work from their own hubs. Team members may also work remotely.
What are the pros and cons of outsourcing web development?
Outsourcing solutions provide great opportunities but need to be considered carefully.
Access to talent
If you struggle to recruit in your local area, then outsourcing will certainly benefit you. Most outsourcing companies have hubs and talent pools specializing in IT in the Philippines or in nearby countries. This is because, in this region, there is a wealth of highly qualified, fluent English-speaking personnel who are skilled and experienced in the sector.
Productivity
A web development team from an outsourcing company comes ready made and ready to go and, in the short term, they are likely to be more productive. The team members should be experienced and highly skilled, and therefore capable of achieving great results in a shorter time than building an in-house team from scratch.
Communication
Working with an outsourcing company will mean that your web development team is working in a different office and probably in a different time zone. This clearly makes communication more difficult. Working with a good outsourcing company that prioritizes visibility and transparency of working is therefore optimal.
Costs
As mentioned above, recruitment is costly. You need in-house resources to handle recruitment and onboarding, training and development, and retention incentives. Handing these tasks over to an outsourcing company will reduce costs.
Outsourcing agencies are handling web development recruitment for multiple businesses. Working at scale reduces cost per talent, and these savings are passed to you. Not needing to provide the office space, equipment and resources for an in-house web development team will also save money.
How to optimize the experience of outsourcing web development
To get the very best results from an outsourced web development team, you need to choose a provider carefully and foster a great relationship. Here are five suggestions on how to proceed.
1. Be clear on your goals
Setting clear objectives for the project is an important first step. Knowing what you need from a web development team will help you understand what you are looking for in an outsourcing agency. Communicating clear expectations with them from the outset is the foundation of a good working relational relationship, too.
2. Research experience and expertise
Check the background of every agency you consider. Do they have proven experience? Are they willing to put you in contact with previous clients? Can they demonstrate customer satisfaction?
3. Look for scalability and flexibility
One of the biggest advantages of outsourcing is that it should be a scalable and flexible solution to building a web development team. Therefore, you need to look for a partner agency that operates a large talent pool and is open to providing exactly the resources you need when you need them.
4. Check for access to the right talent
You need to know that an outsourcing agency can provide a complete team, including talent to lead your project. Can the agency provide specialists in all the right areas?
5. Search for a supportive and communicative partner
Your outsourced team needs to operate as an extension of your in-house team. Check what communication channels your potential partner organizations offer and set clear expectations before agreeing on a contract. Once you begin working together, ensure that you maintain very regular communication to keep your goals on track.
Outsourcing web development represents an opportunity to be competitive, even with much larger or more established businesses. Together, you and your outsourced team can create the exceptional user experience your website needs. Just be certain to invest well in outsourced web development through careful consideration of an outsourcing provider. Remember that the relationship will be a partnership that needs your continued input.
