5 Strategies to Adopt When Outsourcing Software Development

Why has outsourcing become the talk of the town over the last few years? There are numerous reasons, but the two main forces behind software development outsourcing rise are the acceleration of digital transformation and the extensive adoption of remote work that pushed businesses to look for experienced specialists with similar business needs. Not only does outsourcing software help enterprises save money, but it enables software deliverables faster. At the outset, the task of looking for reliable outsourcing services may look intimidating, which is perfectly understandable; still, you needn’t worry, as the below-stated research guide consisting of 5 strategies will help you go through the process smoothly. But before we go ahead, here’re some compelling reasons why you need to employ outsourcing. Let’s get started:

Why do You Need Outsource Software Development Services?

• Whenever you go with outsourcing services, you tap into the vast talent pool of experts from various fields. By way of illustration, for any talent requirement such as .NET developers, JavaScript developers, or any other expert, you get presented with a variety of resources.
• Outsourcing software development saves a lot of time, helps you customize your services, and saves a considerable amount of money.
• Another reason for choosing outsourcing services is that it takes away your load of in-house employees to focus more on core business competencies. In other words, it frees up a business from one aspect so that it can focus on more critical tasks.
• Since outsourcing is believed to increase efficiency, the project is delivered quicker and becomes more accessible once the efficiency is increased.

Top 5 strategies to ensure business success:

1. Clearly Define Project Goals

Before you start working on the solution, it is crucial that you clearly define your project goals and objectives. The first step in determining these goals is to prepare a comprehensive problem statement that describes the problem and its causes. Then, identify business goals that can be achieved through software outsourcing (e.g., reducing costs). Next, define the scope of work for your solution by identifying features or functionalities needed from third-party vendors such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 or Oracle PaaS cloud platforms like Cloud.

2. Clearly Define Project Plan and Timelines

The first step in adopting an outsourcing strategy is clearly defining the project plan and timelines. This includes defining the project goals and objectives, project plan and timelines, team members, communication channels, quality control processes, and risk management.

Project planning can be done using various software applications such as Excel or Word. An excellent way to define your project plans is by creating a Google Sheet with all your information organized in columns so that you can easily add new columns when necessary. Besides, you need to understand what tasks need to be performed by each team member during their work hours (e.g., developers vs. testers).

3. Ensure that the Outsourced Team has Quality Control Processes

Quality control is an integral part of any software development project. It’s especially critical when you outsource your development to a third party, as it can be challenging to ensure that the chosen team has good quality control processes.

Quality control involves testing, bug reporting, and bug tracking—all of which are necessary for every stage of development, from collecting requirements to testing and production release. Without these processes in place on an ongoing basis, it is possible that defects could slip through undetected or that security vulnerabilities could be left unfixed for months on end (or even years).

4. Ensure to have a Point of Contact for all Communication

• Make sure you have a Point of Contact for all communication.
• Ensure they have a direct line to the developers, project manager, and client.
• Be sure your POI is always available to respond directly to emails and phone calls from all parties involved in your project.

5. Perform your Due Diligence on the Partner

As you begin to select a partner, you should do your due diligence on their track record. The best approach is to check for references and find out about the quality control measures they have in place. Also, there shouldn’t be delays in getting things done, and that communication between both parties should be good.

The following action would be to ensure that the company has good project management skills and customer service abilities when dealing with customers who might be unhappy with the product or service offered by your outsourced software development company (ODC).

There’re various other strategies that you must consider when you go for outsourcing software development:

• Onshore-Offshore Blended Delivery Model for reducing costs
• Rapid Application Development Framework for faster time to market
• Test-Driven Development for a better-quality of software
• Agile Software Development Methodology for iterative development
• Leverage DevOps automation tools for Continuous Testing, Continuous Integration, and Continuous Delivery

Conclusion

According to Deloitte, cost reduction remains the top priority for companies that outsource software development. Outsourcing software development can be cost-effective and yield exceptional business results if you choose your resources wisely. Remember, your company’s principal intention should be to find a trustworthy third-party outsourcing partner that brings positive outcomes for your business and provides budget-friendly assistance. We hope this post will guide you in selecting the right outsourcing partner. Also, besides the listed benefits of outsourcing software development, some risks are involved in this unique process. Defining your goals from the get-go is the right approach to avoiding risks.