How to choose a reliable outsourcing company? How to work with an offshore team? Do I need to outsource my project at all? Read on to get the answers!
In today’s globalized and competitive business landscape, building a skill-based team is paramount for success. By assembling a team comprising individuals with diverse skill sets, businesses can harness innovation, drive productivity, and gain a competitive edge. One effective strategy for building such a team is through offshoring, which allows organizations to tap into a global talent pool.
The Global Offshore Services Market is projected to reach $410.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 14.5% from 2020 to 2027, indicating the increasing popularity and effectiveness of offshoring.
Vault Outsourcing. (2024, August 30). 6 Steps in Building a Skill-Based Offshore Team.
Contracting with an overseas software team is considered an excellent way to both reduce costs and accelerate the development process. Although offshore team management can be a daunting task, you can make it a breeze with the appropriate tips.
Let’s figure out first what does it means to have an offshore team!
Offshoring is a flexible model where firms hire skilled and professional candidates in different regions to meet specific capacity needs or address skill gaps within their teams. External experts work alongside your in-house staff, bringing their expertise and skills to your projects.
Offshoring allows you to scale your workforce up or down based on demand. It will enable you to tap into a pool of specialized professionals with the expertise you need for specific projects. It is cost-effective and more practical than hiring and training full-time team members and enables you to respond quickly to market changes, client demands, and new opportunities without worrying about capacity.
According to a study by Harvard Business Review, diverse teams are 45% more likely to improve market share and capture new markets, emphasizing the significance of cultural diversity in team success.
Vault Outsourcing. (2024, August 30). 6 Steps in Building a Skill-Based Offshore Team.
Now you’re asking yourself, what are the very first considerations that a company should take to carry out the software development process in the smoothest way possible. Here are some simple practices to help you work with offshore developers effectively.
- Clearly communicate your vision and expectations: The outsourced team has to clearly understand what is expected from them and what the requirements for the future product are.
- Define the scope and schedule of the project in advance: It’s important to describe desired results, schedule delivery dates, identify job roles and key responsibilities.
- Communicate frequently: The team should understand that the client is easy to approach, which will, in turn, eliminate possible conflicts in the future.
- Provide instant feedback: Make sure to provide instant feedback and address all the questions, concerns, and ideas of the outsourcing team.
- Make effective use of overlapping hours: Discuss everything daily with the offshore team. This helps to eliminate delayed decisions and develops a healthy working environment.
From traditional jobs to key skills
Businesses in the 21st century are operating in an extremely competitive landscape, where quickly responding to change is a prerequisite for survival. In this new age, businesses have started moving away from job-based models towards a new operating model, skill-based organizations.
Skill-based organizations prioritize human capabilities and arrange teams according to skill, rather than roles. This approach gives businesses more agility, as they can quickly pivot to reallocate talent where necessary when responding to change in real time.
It’s more dynamic, and it’s the way forward. In fact, a recent Deloitte survey shows that 89% of executives say that their organizations will be moving toward a skill-based approach. Plus, those that have already adopted this approach are achieving better business results than those who have maintained a job-based approach to team building.
Sydney Evans. (2023, May 5). How to Build a Skill-Based Team for Your Business.
Thus, it’s worth considering finding a robust offshore development team that has sufficient skill and experience to handle tasks. However, the process of managing offshore development teams is not easy since there may be various challenges, such as time zone differences, lack of physical interactions, inefficient communication, etc.
Here are the 7-step process of building a skill-based team
1. Define the objectives and set the communication channels
Start by clearly defining the objectives and expectations for your offshore team. Then, determine the specific tasks and responsibilities you want the team to handle. In addition to implementing robust communication tools and practices to ensure seamless interaction between your onshore and offshore teams.
2. Choose the right offshore provider
Selecting the right offshore provider is crucial. Look for offshoring firms with a proven track record in the IT industry. Evaluate their expertise, infrastructure, technology, and security measures. Once the team members are assigned, align them with your firm’s processes, software, and standards.
3. Establish clear processes and workflows
Standardized processes and workflows are critical to maintaining consistency and quality. Develop detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all tasks and ensure the offshore team adheres to them. This includes documentation standards, quality checks, and timelines for deliverables.
4. Foster a collaborative culture
Building a high-performing team requires fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusion. Your offshore team will have several ideas and best practices gained from their experience. Please encourage them to participate in decision-making and contribute to the process of improvements. Recognize and reward their contributions to keep them motivated and engaged.
5. Monitor performance and provide feedback
Regular performance monitoring and feedback are vital to maintaining high standards. Use key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the team’s productivity, quality of work, and adherence to timelines. Provide constructive feedback and support to address any issues and encourage continuous improvement.
6. Ensure data security and compliance
Data security and regulatory compliance are paramount in the IT industry. Take the help of your offshore team to implement stringent data protection measures and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
7. Build long-term relationships
Finally, aim to build long-term, trust-based relationships with your offshore team. Treat them as an integral part of your organization and invest in their growth and development. A stable, experienced team will consistently deliver high-quality work and contribute to your firm’s success.
Ready for change?
Building a skill-based team is a strategic imperative for businesses seeking sustainable growth and competitive advantage. Offshoring offers a powerful solution to access diverse talent pools, specialized expertise, and cost-effective resources. The key is to treat offshore teams as extensions of your in-house staff and foster a collaborative and inclusive culture that drives long-term success.
If you are looking for a dependable offshore provider, look no further than Tamem. With our extensive expertise and dozens of successfully completed projects, we can help you find the best talents and skilled candidates for your project following the best offshore agile software development practices during the development process. Call, send us a message or fill in a form and our customer support representative will get back to you!