Advantages of Outstaffing Software Developers And Why It Makes Sense
Facing a tight deadline on a critical project?
You could hire a team of developers to help. Or, maybe bring in a software development firm. But those options aren’t cheap. And they can be challenging to execute. They also can be huge mistakes—maybe even cost you your job.
I’ve seen plenty of businesses in my time that have used these traditional approaches regret their decisions later on. These approaches can blow up in your face and become a costly nightmare for them—one you’d rather avoid.
Fortunately, there’s an alternative—and a good one at that.
It’s a hiring strategy I’m seeing more and more companies employ. It’s outstaffing (or staff augmentation). Outstaffing is a proven way of hiring skilled resources with strong system build and workflow knowledge.
It’s also a proven way of hiring knowledgeable staff well-versed in industry solutions and methodologies with the ability to apply this experience to a project.
Outstaffing Growing in Popularity
Outstaffing is a great way to gain traction on new projects. Overall, outstaffing is a nearly $29 billion industry, with a projected growth rate of 6% annually.
This hiring approach requires you to evaluate your existing talent, decide what skills you need, then bring those specialized skills in. That can be done on a temporary, project, part-time or full-time contract basis, usually with the help of an agency, to assist with a pressing deadline.
Several factors are driving the growth of outstaffing these days. They include an abundance of IT resources in the marketplace, declining rates, and the narrowing of margins for companies that need these services.
Outstaffing is ideal for situations where a project’s success or failure hinges on ending it on time, within budget, and to specification. It’s also ideal when you have a large project looming ahead but don’t have the resources to handle the project on staff.
Outstaffing vs. Project Outsourcing
Outstaffing differs from project outsourcing in several respects. Project outsourcing lets you execute entire projects using another company’s resources.
A viable long-term strategy, project outsourcing takes the form of “out-tasking” where a project is worked on by a sub-team staff. It is managed by an outside resource and minimizes the total cost of the business. Its benefits include external expertise, cost management, and risk mitigation.
But project outsourcing has its downsides, including lack of control and internal resistance. Plus, assessing the capabilities of outsourcing firms isn’t a snap. Meanwhile, integration with existing processes can be a challenge, especially if they’re unique and complicated.
That’s where outstaffing comes in. It works well in situations where you need to ramp up and down quickly without adding full-time employees. In essence, you’re just adding the skills you need to support your initiative.
Below are seven advantages of outstaffing
Manage resources better
Closely manage IT resources and integrate your staff within a company’s existing business processes.
Fill in the skills gap
Add specialized skills you don’t have and capitalize on internal and external resources.
Better meet project demands
Add or subtract IT resources to meet the requirements of an individual project.
Avoid training employees
Eliminates the need to train an employee and incur the liability of adding another employee.
Meet tight deadlines
Lets you assign the right IT resources to meet a tight deadline and complete a project on time and within budget.
Short-circuits staff resistance
Reduces staff’s uneasiness regarding inevitable changes within your company.
Facilitates adjustment to new workflows
Makes it easier for your staff to adjust to new and lean workflows with the help of a few individuals on a particular project.
Benefits of Choosing Outstaffing
Outstaffing produces enormous benefits. It allows you to add the specific resources you need on scalable, per project basis. It also makes it easy to focus on the big picture and your existing business goals. And it provides convenience, affordability, productivity, and efficiency.
In addition, outstaffing:
- Provides an objective voice and outlook
- Boost company flexibility and agility
- Cuts costs without sacrificing quality
- Adds experienced, knowledgeable professionals
- Saves the cost (and trouble) of onboarding employees
- Improves alignment of precious resources
Outstaffing delivers results. In the right situation, it’s a no-brainer. That’s why more and more organizations are choosing outstaffing as an option to traditional hiring methods.
Ideal for short-term or long-term situations, outstaffing makes sense on many different levels for companies of all sizes. It’s a proven alternative to hiring a full-time developer, a team of developers, or a software development firm and having the move blow up in your face.
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