Top Five Tips for Outsourcing your Software Development

With the economy crossing the geographical boundaries and technology evolving by multifold, enterprises are finding it increasingly difficult to develop the whole gamut of software solutions in-house. Today, it has become pivotal to maintain a competitive edge by regularly optimizing their operational efficiency, enhancing customer service, and bringing new products & services to the market.

All these things need a right team of software developers to not only ensure the product’s quality but also focus on the overall business goals and objectives. Moreover, outsourcing the software development can be a key to this as it helps to focus on the core strategies of your business. The outsourcing partner can help overcome the challenges by providing your project with unified skills and expertise from a varied array of their previous projects or clients.

Outsourcing development is an excellent way to reduce your operating costs, scale up and leverage external skills and talents. Here is a checklist of outsourcing recommendations, which you can follow to ensure smooth sailing:
1) Establish Outsourcing Goals and Scope — Once you’ve made up your mind to outsource your project, decide what exactly you need to outsource. Analyze the project to check what things you can in-house and which skills you don’t have.
For a successful outsourcing strategy, it is significant to identify both short-term and long-term requirements. You must have a clear vision for the outsourced project, prepare responsibilities and expectations in writing for the overseas team. Without a well-defined scope, clear goals, roles, and responsibilities, the outsourcing engagement may seem like a blind leading a blind.
2) Choose the Right Partner Right — Spending a little more time while choosing a software partner will help save you from future challenges. Do research and shortlist at least five promising strategic software partners to choose from by the following:
Service models and cooperation approaches
• Domain expertise
• Project portfolio
• Client feedbacks
• Clutch reviews
3) Focus on Value over Cost — Though outsourcing saves costs, it is the only reason why companies turn to it. The approach here is not to take outsourcing as a cheap way to offload the work instead it should optimize the business to save time for strategic focus.

4) Prepare an in-house Team — Your company may need to adapt to many management and organizational structure changes during an outsourcing engagement. Get an in-house team ready to work efficiently with new remote colleagues. Explain the team the ways to work with the remote unit, possible communication models, the tools for collaborative software and project management and more.

5) Define a Communication Model — Business goals can change or evolve, and if you don’t discuss your goals with the outsourcing provider. Establish proper communication channels like video conferencing, messengers and regular meetings with the offshore team.

Conclusion — Outsourcing team can ensure quicker, cheaper and easier development of technology products but understanding the risks and defining a strategy for outsourcing provide a successful roadmap to your business goals. Avoid the general outsourcing mishaps and reap the benefits of having a strategic partnership.