Here are some of the challenges of software development outsourcing that you should not neglect.
Challenges of Software Development Outsourcing
1. The Time Zone
If you have outsourced someone within your country or the country nearby, you may not have to face this complexity. But if you have gone for offshore outsourcing, surely you will understand the pain of staying in two different time zones. It may happen that when you are about to end your office timing, the outsourced team is about to start their day. Hence, getting a schedule can get really tough. You may have to compromise a bit in such a situation. The outsourced team may have to compromise a bit to get somewhere in between to work together.
2. Communication
Another major problem that may happen is that of communication. Suppose you need to discuss something with your office employee over a couple of data. In that case, you can quickly meet him or her and examine the data manually. But what happens when you need to do the same with the outsourced team? First of all, you need to check whether the person is free for a conversation or not. Secondly, you need to rely upon the network because you will be having a conversation with the person over a call or over a video conferencing. If something goes well, then only you can have proper communication.
3. Lesser Control
When the employees are there working in the office, you can have better managerial control. You can cross-check from time to time to understand the progress of the project. But this case is not the same in the case of an outsourced team. You have to rely upon the team’s words, and you cannot have much control over them. You need to have extreme patience as you cannot check out the project’s progress at your convenience. Incorporation of different tools might save you a lot of time and nerves. So, that you will be able to check the process of your outsourced team anytime without interrupting anyone.
4. Cultural and Language Barriers
At times, several cultural barriers lead to a delay in the project quite often. It may happen that you have hired the team due to their professional skills. But later on, you realize that the team cannot understand the language that your office team is comfortable in. Similarly, your country’s holiday calendar can be exactly the opposite of that of the outsourced country. That’s why you might be interested in discussing such things with the hired company. They can supply you with the holidays’ calendar, discuss terminology, and other necessary productive work items.
5. Unaware of the Company’s Ambition
When an employee joins a company, there is an induction process that takes place. In this process, HR describes the aim and the focus of the company. When a project is started, full-time employees can understand the project’s ambition in a much better way. Thus, they can deliver a result that is very much focus-driven. As the outsourced staff and team are not much aware of the company’s aims and ambitions, they work based on their own perspective. The project that is delivered is mostly from the team’s point of view. You may also supply them with the project business details helping them understand your goals and values. If you don’t have one, it’s a great idea to hire a business analyst who will help your outsourcing team jump on your project and give you more insights into the niche you are in and tools in demand. Also check: Software Innovations We’re Excited About In 2020 Thus, though outsourcing a software development team helps save money, it will also make you rethink some of your business operations. But this does not mean that you shouldn’t outsource the team. Understanding the challenges mentioned above will help you in making proper strategies that can combat these challenges. For example, it is vital to send presentations and videos about your company’s aims and ambitions to the outsourced team. This way, they can realize what the company exactly wants and can work over the project accordingly. Similarly, practicing control over the team through deadlines and sectional reviews can help maintain a productive process. Thus, the challenges can be controlled with proper strategies to properly get the outsourcing process’s benefits.
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