So are you hearing about all the hype of offshore development and not sure whether it’s the right move for your business? Well experience has taught us the answer is- ‘most of the time’…depending on your requirements. Unless for some reasons you need engineers in face-to-face meetings or you have zero ability to use Zoom, in which case I would be questioning how you still have a business after COVID lockdowns, then it can definitely work for you.
Let me start by addressing the following opinion I have heard from several tech leaders:
“We tried to offshore development and it just simply didn’t work. They were nice people but there were too many bugs and delivery started to slow down after the first few months.”
Well there could be a number of reasons for a situation like this, such as poorly written requirements or bad hiring, however I believe the easiest way to mitigate dropping significant portions of your budget on poor offshore performance is by using hybrid teams.
Hybrid teams with a mix of local and remote workers, managed by local leads, are an absolute game changer. Local leads bridge the cultural gap between the onshore and offshore team members, resulting in better leadership, collaboration and problem solving, whilst also providing closer and more frequent communication, making sure the project stays on track and customer needs are met. On top of that, the leads will provide the necessary mentorship needed to guide the offshore team members on best local practices and industry expertise, so productivity is increased throughout the project lifetime.
Smooth project execution, high customer satisfaction and a team that’s well-trained and equipped to handle the project – what’s not to love?
We are seeing a huge uptick in client demand for hybrid teams in software development. Not only do they provide access to a global talent pool, but they also bring diversity of thought and culture to the table. And let’s face it, what western tech company doesn’t need a little more diversity? A team with members from different backgrounds and cultures can lead to more creative solutions, a better understanding of diverse customer needs, and an all-around more inclusive and enjoyable work environment.
Ok, so you are interested but you need numbers? Too easy. A recent study by Deloitte found that 63% of Australian businesses struggle to find the right tech talent, leading to increased competition for available resources. By tapping into a global talent pool, like the Eastern and Central European regions, companies can access top-tier talent and even lower labour costs. In fact, the 2022 SkillValue report ranking best developer talent by nation highlighted that 3 of the 5 top countries where in Eastern Europe. These regions boast a high concentration of highly-skilled and educated workers, making them a valuable resource for companies looking to expand their development teams.
Source: 2022 Pentalog report based on SkillValue ranking
A study by Buffer found that remote teams have a 25% higher rate of productivity compared to in-office teams. Furthermore, it’s a no-brainer that remote work can lead to decreased costs for businesses, as they no longer have to provide office space and resources for remote workers, whilst also allowing employees to have a better work-life balance and thus increasing job satisfaction. Its no surprise organisations like Canonical (Ubuntu) are implementing remote-first strategies. Let’s also not forget the benefits of having team members in different time zones. With developers placed across the globe, work can be done around the clock, allowing for faster project completion and more efficient use of resources. Essentially efficiency is optimised to the max when you have non-stop delivery, higher productivity, less expenses and happier people.
However, managing remote teams does come with its own set of challenges. Communication breakdowns, different working hours, and lack of morale among team members can happen. But at Pro Coders, we’ve got this covered. We use a combination of digital tools, set overlapping hours and regular team meetings to ensure clear and consistent communication among team members. Our leads also make sure to schedule frequent check-ins with remote workers to ensure they feel connected and supported. We have even been having regular social events, whether it be virtual drinks or online team games, and actually found that it favours some team members that would otherwise be less socially confident in a physical setting. Our company culture is based on collaboration, trust, inclusivity and pride in our work, which helps to foster a strong sense of cohesion among our hybrid teams. We provide trainings, technical and cultural orientations for our staff to make sure that the communication and collaboration are seamless.
So, in a nutshell, hybrid teams offer access to top talent, lower labour costs, increased productivity, and diversity of thought and culture. At Pro Coders, we pride ourselves on being experts at running hybrid models and mitigating the risks associated with remote teams and can certainly see the benefits our clients derive from using them.
Keen to start your own project with a hybrid team?
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