Why has outsourcing software development become so popular? You guessed it: it connects you with some of the most experienced specialists in the industry. But, because you’re reading this, you’re probably already aware of it.

Keep reading if you want to learn more about the most common advantages of outsourcing software development that can turn into downsides, and what to do to avoid that. Let’s dive in!

Reduced costs

Usually, companies hire an outsourcing provider with appealingly low prices in order to lower software development and maintenance costs, however, this choice can rather result in increased costs.

Here’s how to do it:

• Low prices can result from savings on effective needs analysis, requirements gathering, and management. When an outsourced project is in full flow, this could result in project scope changes.
• A company that is new to the market or has transitioned away from team development is likely to charge less than its competitors. However, because such a firm lacks experience with major outsourced projects, overall costs may rise as a result of missed project deadlines and failure to stay within budget.
• To save money, an outsourcing company can hire inexperienced developers, however, this will result in many reworks and missed deadlines, resulting in double costs.

To prevent higher expenses, pick a professional company that has skilled project management to acquire and process your requests and plan how to meet your software development goals.

You can analyze a possible vendor’s expertise in BA, software development, and other areas you want to outsource by looking at their qualifications, case studies, and client references.

Focus on your main business

If a software development outsourcing company fails to build efficient project management and collaboration, their everyday work may require strict monitoring from you, pulling your attention away from your core business.

Find an outsourced business that provides professional development and project management methods and is autonomous enough to not bother you with the daily routine to prevent micromanagement. You can keep track of the project’s development by reviewing periodic reports.

Access to cutting-edge technology

Outsourcing can help you gain access to the newest tech trends you need for building your product or corporate software but don’t have in-house. Offshore contractors may offer such expertise at a significantly lower cost, but poor language skills, cultural norms, and inconvenient time zones might make working with them difficult.

Check if the company has enough experience working with companies in your country and has positive references from them to reduce collaboration issues. However, it is impossible to totally remove language obstacles and cultural differences.

Reduced development time

A promised enhancement in the speed of enterprise software or product development can be achieved in the wrong way, such as by neglecting full quality checks. Such circumstances can lead to poor software architecture, poor code, and security issues, as well as low solution adoption and ROI.

For instance, iterative development can be considered to prevent quality issues while also reducing development time. This method enables the solution’s first basic version to be delivered in a short period of time. The software can then be enhanced by adding new features every 2-6 months.

Code quality

For some reason, quality issues can be a serious risk for companies wanting to outsource software development projects.

For one aspect, language, cultural, and time zone differences can cause directions to be misread, resulting in a totally different end-product than you had in mind. Furthermore, when outsourcing development projects, customers must clearly describe expectations, establish quality standards, and meet on a regular basis to discuss the project’s progress and direction.

As you evaluate potential vendors, you’ll want to choose a partner who can provide quality assurance and make sure that your vision is executed according to your specifications.

To conclude

Before committing to the wrong vendor, it’s critical to understand and analyze the risks, obstacles, and potential downsides of outsourcing software development. The first steps toward finding a perfect-fit provider who adds real value to the company are strategic planning, proper research, and communication.

After all, software development outsourcing allows you to cut expenses, focus on your main business, gain access to cutting-edge technology, and minimize time to market. All of this is subject to one condition: choose your vendor carefully so that the outsourcing benefits do not become disadvantages.