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You have probably done your research on IT outsourcing and know what it has to offer for businesses. Naturally, you might now consider entrusting your software development project to a company providing such services. However, with so many types of outsourcing companies to choose from, selecting the right one can be a challenge.
Currently, the market offers a wide range of outsourcing options, and different forms of software development. These IT outsourcing options include working with local, nearshore, and offshore teams. Performing in-depth research is crucial before making a final decision, and this process requires time.
Different Types of Outsourcing
You must understand that IT outsourcing is a broad topic with various classification alternatives. When the performers' location is taken into consideration, geographical factors are one of the criteria that classifies IT outsourcing. We can subsequently categorize outsourcing into three main categories:
- Local outsourcing (working with a company within your country);
- Nearshore outsourcing (outsourcing to a country nearby, like Eastern Europe if you are in Western Europe);
- Offshore outsourcing (finding a team in Asia, such as India).
Local Outsourcing (Onshoring)
In an ideal world, local outsourcing would be the best solution. By hiring someone local, you'll be able to meet with the manager or team in person and learn about their operation.
Additionally, you would be able to monitor the services onsite if necessary. However, disappointment often sets in once you’ve made a short list of local outsourcing companies’ prices. Local outsourcing is frequently the most expensive outsourcing method.
When deciding whether or not to invest in this option, keep in mind that high rates do not always guarantee high-quality results. Something could always go wrong, no matter what you're paying.
Many businesses find this one of the most rational reasons to outsource, which has caused the industry to flourish even more over the past few years.
Nearshore Outsourcing
Businesses choose different types of outsourcing based on their requirements and the type of work they perform. Working with a partner in a country near your home country is known as nearshore outsourcing.
For example, American companies may outsource nearshore to Canada or Mexico. However, an example of offshore outsourcing could be your third-party suppliers in Asian countries like India or the Philippines, Latin American countries like Argentina or Brazil, or European countries like Ukraine.
Geographic proximity makes travel and communications easier, since a nearshore team is often located in the same time zone. With nearshoring, a business has access to a wider variety of high-quality service providers and outsourcing partners than it does with in-house talent or outsourcing within the U.S.
However, nearshore outsourcing has a smaller talent pool than offshore outsourcing.
Offshore Outsourcing
Clearly, the most significant advantage of offshoring business processes is the reduction of labor costs. Outsourced employees in certain Asian and African countries may, for example, only earn half the typical wage paid in North America and Europe (or even less).
Additionally, managing long-distance projects isn't quite as difficult as it used to be. This is thanks in large part to video-conferencing platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, as well as collaboration tools like Monday.
Nevertheless, it is vital to regularly speak with your offshore outsourcing partner's management team and have a mutually acceptable reporting mechanism in place, so you are always informed of their performance.
Note that it can be difficult for companies that utilize offshore outsourcing to handle time zone differences when meetings are necessary, or if there is a need for a quick turnaround.
The Better Outsourcing Alternative
What's the best option for outsourcing: onshore, nearshore, or offshore? As your choice should be driven solely by your business needs, this is the wrong question to ask. Instead, you should ask: What suits my business’ scope of work?
Onshoring is a practical solution for businesses that don't want to have their own offices (or don't want to expand their current ones). If you want to avoid unnecessary problems with office management and recruiting but still want to constantly communicate with the development team and meet in person whenever you like, this is your path.
Although offshoring is a rather challenging option in many countries, it is also among the most common choices. Offshore development is a viable solution for small companies that want to save aws much money as possible, and use this saved money to grow their businesses.
However, this type of outsourcing is riskier than others, since there can be time and language differences to be cautious of. If you want this to work, you must establish a relationship with your remote team from the very beginning of your time together and stay on the same page throughout it.
For those who want a balance between price and convenience, nearshoring is the right choice. The cost of this type of development is lower than onshore or local development, while also being almost as convenient. Ultimately, the choice is yours!
Tips Before Choosing An Outsourcing Option
We recommend compiling a list of all the skills you need. It will be easier to narrow down the list of potential countries to partner with when you know what skills or expertise your future team should possess.
To refine your outsourcing destination map, you will need to consult international skills rankings, such as Skill Value or Top Coder. Note that strong oversight is essential for successful outcomes. Whether you choose onshore, nearshore, or offshore outsourcing, it is imperative that you:
- Maintain visibility into your partner's workflow
- Can track progress towards specific objectives (both intermediate and long-term)
- Maintain a level of control over their process
Conclusion
Over the past five years, outsourcing has made great strides. Many companies have entered the industry, leading to a more refined, reliable, and competitive environment.
It might seem difficult to select the perfect option among a myriad of nearshore and offshore options, but it will likely pay off in the long run. Once you select a variant that matches your expertise, cybersecurity, and business management needs, you won't have to worry about business outcomes anymore.