Outsourcing Software Development in a Budget Crunch

The current economy is putting the strain on businesses far and wide, pushing leaders to find ways to save money without sacrificing customer service or business growth. In many cases, outsourcing is the answer. Under normal market conditions, outsourcing is often used for routine tasks like accounting or fulfillment. However, with budgets getting tighter and tighter, more complicated and mission-critical tasks are also being outsourced. This includes software development.

Once considered a function that could only be served by full-time employees with extensive organizational and domain knowledge, software development is now seen as the execution of a strategic initiative that can, indeed, be fulfilled by an external provider. That is not to say that outsourcing software development is simple and straightforward. In fact, with technology becoming more central to most every business on earth, a poor software engineering engagement can be a disaster for the business.

To understand how to succeed with outsourcing software development in a budget crunch, it is critical to understand the benefits and drawbacks of software engineering outsourcing as well as which questions to ask to set your engineering plan for success.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Outsourcing Software Development

⁣

Benefits

There are several benefits of outsourcing software development. In fact, one of the most cost-effective ways to accelerate your development pipeline is to outsource engineering to a partner that can scale resources as needed to ship more code to production. Consider the following benefits.

• Flexibility

When you outsource software development, you gain flexibility. Because you are not limited to a specific pool of in-house engineers, you can work with a development team that is best suited for your specific needs. This flexibility allows you to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and requirements. Companies like Acklen Avenue that live and breathe the agile framework are able to adapt and respond to changes without losing velocity. Additionally, if your company experiences changes in its own staffing needs, you can easily scale back or ramp up your outsourcing project as needed. This flexibility can be very helpful during times of growth or contraction.

• Scalability

Outsourcing software development can help your company scale up or down as needed. If your backlog requires a quick expansion of resources, you can easily add more developers to your project. Conversely, if your company is downsizing, you can reduce the number of developers on your project without having to lay anyone off. This scalability gives companies a lot of options when budgets are constrained or when the economic environment is uncertain.

Another scaling consideration is the stage in the product lifecycle. In order to get an MVP out the door as quickly as possible, you may need more resources than you will later in the lifecycle, or post-launch. Conversely, once a market has been proven, you may need to scale up quickly to meet the demands of the expanding customer base. Many of our clients start with one team and scale up to two or three teams based on priorities and budget to capture time-sensitive opportunities.

• Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Outsourced software development is less expensive than hiring in-house engineers. Cost savings are due to a variety of factors, including elimination of training and benefits costs, lower salary levels, as well as the fact that outsourced developers can be vastly more efficient. Specifically, a well implemented agile process can lift the productivity of a software development group. In addition, outsourcing allows companies to take advantage of economies of scale, which leads to even greater cost savings.

• Focus on Key Projects

When a company has in-house engineers, it is often difficult to say no to new projects and initiatives as priorities pile up across the organization. This can lead to engineering departments becoming bogged down with too many projects, which can impact their ability to deliver high-quality products.

By outsourcing software development, companies can avoid this issue and focus on the projects that are most important to them. This focus can help companies achieve their goals more quickly and efficiently. Additionally, outsourcing forces companies to be more selective about the projects they take on, which can lead to higher-quality products.

Drawbacks

There are also some drawbacks to consider. While each of these drawbacks can be managed, they often cause hesitation in outsourcing for organizations that could benefit the most from leveraging a software development partner. These drawbacks include:

• Loss of Control

By outsourcing software development, companies lose a lot of control over the process and the final product. This lack of control can lead to missed deadlines, lower-quality products, and a general loss of transparency in the development process. With proper project management and guidance, plus open communication from your provider, this can be mitigated.

• Timeline

Outsourcing can be difficult to manage and requires a lot of coordination between the vendor and the client. Inexperienced partners may require excessive handholding and coordination, causing delays in the start of the project. It can also take time for the vendor to get up to speed on your company’s specific needs and preferences. A thorough onboarding process with a qualified partner can eliminate these issues quickly.

• Communication

Communication can be especially challenging when working with a vendor. Without effective means for collaborating, delays and disruptions can impede progress. Open communication also helps educate the vendor on your project requirements to prevent misunderstandings in translating needs to delivery.

Timezone and language can drastically hamper communication, but working with vendors like Acklen Avenue that have teams that speak fluent English and work in US time zones will erase this logistical communication issue altogether.

• Capability

Vendors often lack the same level of domain knowledge as in-house engineers, which can lead to problems with quality and timelines. Additionally, specific skill sets may be required, leading to a longer search for a suitable vendor. This can lead to wasted time and frustration on the part of the organization needing engineering work completed. Seek a vendor with years of experience building software in your particular field, or a process that accounts for it, and you will find the knowledge and skills needed to get the job done right.

Key Considerations when Budgets Drive Outsourcing

When budget constraints force you to outsource software development, it is important to ask the right questions. This ensures that you recognize as many of the benefits of outsourcing with as few of the drawbacks as possible. Here are five questions we recommend you consider as you embark on outsourcing development during a budget crunch:

1. Is this a long-term or short-term solution?
2. How do we confirm that outsourcing actually meets our budget goals?
3. What is our process for finding the right development partner?
4. Who is responsible for project management or managing the relationship with the partner?
5. How will we ensure quality before pushing a release to production?

Each of these questions will have a different answer depending on the needs and goals of your company. However, each should inform the next, creating a framework at the start that keeps your team aligned. For example, measuring your investment against milestones or releases can ensure that you are not overspending in a budget crunch.

Finding the right partner

Finding the right outsourcing partner starts with understanding your business needs. What are your top priorities? What projects need to be completed in order to achieve your goals? Which areas of your business would benefit from improved software? Do you have a specified budget or desired business outcome to factor in?

Once you have a clear idea of where you are starting, where you are trying to go, and what you need to get there, you can start looking for a partner that has the right engineering skills and experience. Here are a few questions we recommend discussing with a potential partner as you search for the right one:

1. What is your experience with this type of project?
2. Can you provide examples of your work?
3. Do you have the right skill set for this project?
4. How do you manage projects?
5. What is your timeline, and how do we ensure that it meets our needs?

You need to find a partner that you can trust and that has the right skill set for your project. You need to make sure that the vendor is able to scale with your company as it grows. You also need to be clear about your expectations in terms of quality and timeline. Lastly, you need to be prepared to manage the communication and coordination between the vendor and your company. By keeping these things in mind, you can ensure that you find the right partner for your project and avoid some of the common pitfalls associated with outsourcing software development.

To learn more about Acklen Avenue’s ability to deliver software on time and budget, contact us.