Offshore Software Development: Thinking Outside the Boundaries for Quality development Project Teams
There are many reasons why companies expand their operations overseas, especially with software development where offshore and local talent can contribute strengths that help the company grow. Whether it’s a startup’s dream product or an entrepreneurial venture of a large company’s growing division, as Entrepreneur magazine notes, “Most entrepreneurs are excited to achieve substantial business growth, but managing the pace of that growth can be tricky.” Sonatafy, a US-based company providing distance-limited “nearshoring,” offers regionally located teams with specialties from DevOps to mobile web interfaces written by highly educated software developers.
Software Development as a Global Enterprise
Quality software engineering education is available in nearly every country on Earth at this point, from Bangladesh and India to Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, and Nicaragua. This provides a rich variety of engineers for local companies, and many who are available to fill the needs of companies around the world who face a limited supply in their own area. By focusing on completing their software projects on time and at the right price instead of dealing with hiring delays and team instability, companies benefit from offshore software development and the international engineers benefit as well.
Managing Offshore Software Development or offshore development
One of the biggest challenges in developing software with overseas teams is providing sufficient local management to ensure that the project is successful.
Selecting an Offshore Software Development Provider is Challenging
As is usually the case, careful selection of the offshore resource provider is essential, along with evaluating the capabilities of the team as reflected in their past performance including the complexity of work they have undertaken and completed successfully.
Offshore Communication Challenges
As the current project progresses, keeping clear communication and expectations flowing is essential. If the team is located far away, or has a significantly different culture, this can be time consuming. For example, working with countries 6 or more hours different in time zones and where few speak English on a regular basis except for international jobs, management can be frustrating.
Integrating Offshore Software Development with Company Operations
Offshore organizations providing software development resources can become a regular part of a company’s operations, meeting both internal software application needs and product development challenges.
Offshoring Internal IT Applications
Most companies have a range of internal applications that are used for company-specific purposes, keeping IT personnel busy with development and upkeep. Much of this can be readily specified and transferred to offshore resources for development, with IT personnel providing light guidance and management. Depending on the company, IT may also be helping to produce side projects such as marketing apps or maintaining software development environments that could just as easily be produced by skilled resources on an offshore team.
Using Offshore Talent to Expedite Product Development or offshore Expand Its Scope
Having a relationship with an offshore software development services provider can provide flexibility when projects need extra resources to meet critical timelines or additional features are required on the same timeline. If the work can be partitioned for independent development, it’s a great match where in-house teams can focus knowing less critical work is covered as well.
Team-to-Team offshore software developers Communication
In some cases, projects or modules are developed and coded by a group that rarely has contact with the in-house team except through management or brief introductions. When teams don’t work the same schedule, that’s a practical matter. Closer offshoring, called nearshoring, closes the gap and allows teams to work in tandem more, communicating by more ways than just overnight emails.
Sonatafy: Offshore Software Development Company
If you’re running a business, you know how important it is to have efficient and effective software solutions. But finding the right company to develop those solutions can be a challenge. You want a company that has experience, understands your business needs, and can provide quality service. That’s where an offshore software development company like Sonatafy Technology comes in. Offshore software development companies specialize in developing software solutions for businesses. And they can offer a number of benefits for your business, including cost savings, flexibility, and access to skilled resources. If you’re looking for ways to improve your business operations, an offshore software development company may be the answer.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take a look at how offshore software development companies can help your business succeed.
What is an offshore development company?
An offshore software development company is a type of professional service provider that focuses in custom software application creation and maintenance. With this specialized expertise, these firms are able to provide comprehensive solutions for designing, building, deploying, and maintaining mission-critical web-based or mobile applications. An offshore software development company is typically based in a different country or region than the clients they serve. This allows businesses to outsource their software development needs and gain access to skilled professionals without having to hire full-time employees.
What services do offshore software development companies offer?
Offshore software development companies can provide a wide range of services to help businesses of all sizes. Some of these services include:
Custom software development: An offshore development company can create custom software applications tailored to your specific business needs.
Web design and development: Whether you’re looking to build an online store or a complex web application, an offshore company can handle the entire process from start to finish.
Mobile app development: An offshore company can develop both native and cross-platform mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
Quality assurance and testing: Offshore development companies offer comprehensive QA and testing services to ensure that the software they build is stable, secure, and bug-free.
Maintenance and support: An offshore company can provide ongoing support and maintenance for your software applications.
Why you should hire an offshore development company
There are many benefits to hiring an offshore software development company, including cost savings, access to skilled resources, and flexibility. Here’s a closer look at each of these advantages:
Cost savings: Outsourcing your software development needs to an offshore company can save you significant money compared to hiring full-time employees. This is because you don’t need to invest in infrastructure or pay for employee benefits.
Access to skilled resources: Offshore companies offer access to highly trained and experienced professionals who specialize in developing quality software solutions.
Flexibility: An offshore development company can provide a high level of flexibility, allowing you to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs.
Optimized workloads: By outsourcing your software development needs, you can focus on other areas of your business while an offshore company ensures that the work is done correctly and on time.
Industry expertise: An offshore company can provide comprehensive industry-specific expertise, allowing you to stay ahead of the competition.
Minimal risks: Because you don’t need to hire full-time employees, there is minimal risk involved in working with an offshore software development company.
Faster launch times: An offshore development company can help you launch your software products faster, allowing you to get to market quicker and remain competitive.
High-quality products: The experienced professionals at an offshore development company can ensure that the software they build is of the highest quality.
When should you hire an offshore software development company?
There are many scenarios in which it makes sense to hire an offshore development company.
When you need access to specialized skills or technologies.
When you require a short turnaround time for your software project.
When you need to cut costs without sacrificing quality.
When you want to focus on other aspects of your business while the offshore team takes care of the development work.
When you need extra resources during peak seasons or to manage a large project.
When you need flexible resources who can quickly adapt to changing market conditions.
When you want your software projects to be completed within budget and on time.
Examples of offshore software development company projects
There are many different types of projects that an offshore software development company can handle. Here are some examples of the types of software they can create:
E-commerce websites and applications: An offshore development company can design and build an online store for you, including the necessary back-end infrastructure.
CRM software: An offshore team can develop custom custom relationship management systems that are tailored to your specific needs.
Business intelligence solutions: Offshore teams can create software solutions that help track and analyze data in order to make more informed business decisions.
Mobile applications: An offshore development company can build mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, as well as other popular mobile platforms.
Cloud-based applications: An offshore team can design and develop cloud-based software solutions that are highly secure and scalable.
AI/ML solutions: Offshore software developers can create artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solutions to help your business become more efficient.
Software integration: An offshore team can integrate existing software systems with new technologies and services, resulting in a more efficient workflow.
Big Data analytics: Offshore teams can develop big data analytics solutions that help you make more informed decisions about your business operations.
Security software: An offshore development company can develop custom security software solutions that are tailored to your specific needs.
These are just a few of the types of projects that an offshore software development company can handle. Whether you’re looking for a custom solution or just need to outsource a specific task, an offshore software development team can provide the expertise and resources you need.
Process of working with an offshore software development company
Working with an offshore software development company to meet your needs is a comprehensive process. Initially, the company will discuss your requirements and review any existing documentation and traceability information to arrive at a clear project plan and timeline. Next, they will formulate the resources needed to complete the project, assign necessary roles and responsibilities, set up any infrastructure required and begin bug-fixing or development work as outlined in their initial plan. Throughout the duration of the project, users can monitor progress through regular reporting and reviews. When the project is successfully implemented, you will receive full support during user acceptance testing stages before final sign off is completed. All this ensures that your offshore software development project is carried out efficiently, effectively and within budgets!
Tips for choosing the right offshore software development company
Finding the right offshore software development company to meet your business needs is critical for achieving successful outcomes and long-term profitability.
Start by assessing the scope and complexity of your project as well as technical requirements.
Make sure to do your research and select a provider with experience in the type of project you require. Determine if they’ve worked with similar clients or markets, and check their references.
Discuss your expectations and goals upfront, outline the specific needs of your project and ensure that everyone involved is on the same page.
Make sure you understand the company’s development process and workflow, including how they plan to track and report progress.
Look for a company that has expertise in the technologies you need as well as experience in managing similar projects.
It is important to consider the potential risks associated with working with an offshore software company, such as security and privacy concerns.
Review customer references and testimonials to ensure that the company has a good reputation in the market.
Make sure you discuss all relevant costs upfront so there are no hidden surprises down the line.
Pay close attention to their workflow processes and communication methods, as having a streamlined approach during complex projects is essential for realizing success.
Working with Sonatafy Technology is a smart choice
Sonatafy Technology is the smart choice for any business looking to outsource their software development project. Our team of experienced developers are equipped with the necessary expertise and resources to deliver quality solutions within budgets and timelines. We also offer a range of services ranging from software integration, big data analytics, security software, and more. Contact us today to discuss your project needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Offshore Software Development
What is offshore software development company?
An offshore software development company provides staff who complete stages of the software development process for another company, without constraints regarding geography, language, culture, or time zone.
Why is there an offshore development?
Cost reductions for software development can be considerable, and for projects where the main deliverable is a completed, tested software product, setting goals and evaluating results can be straightforward.
Who are the best offshore outsource development or software development team firms?
Many of the best names are not well known in the USA because they serve the entire world. The competitive market in the US for software development offshore and nearshore services has led to specialization by geography or technology, and other sector divisions that make identifying a leader difficult.
How do offshore developers work?
Typically workers operate as a localized team, self-organizing and communicating through team leaders or other mid-level staff except for occasional group meetings. Since communication overhead can be higher than with onshore teams, interaction tends to be at stages in the development process. Even with Agile development teams, deliverables and course corrections tend to be infrequent, again because of communication overhead.
How do I choose an offshore development company?
Many offshore development companies are eager to make a mark for themselves in the industry, so it may not be difficult to find one that seems compatible. It’s important to dig deeper and talk with other clients, review their process experience, and check any available data on results. A typical company will face the same challenges onshore development teams, so “too good” performance may be suspect. Most of all, the company’s understanding of communication and project management is essential, as well as their ability to provide well-trained and experience workers who are adept at the essential architecture and design phases where software quality tends to originate.
What is offshore employee or offshore software outsourcing?
Typically, an employee of the offshore software development firm whose services are provided through that overseas company.
What does offshore mean?
Outside the boundaries of a company’s current country. For example, an offshore software development firm providing services to USA companies could be in far away in Asia or Africa, or nearby in Latin America.
How do you hire offshore software developers?
The best way to connect with offshore developers is to have HR people in your company who are experienced with contracting this kind of resource. Knowing the ins and outs and pitfalls can save a lot of headaches and even project failures from lack of communication or business practice problems. A similar solution is to work with a company that connects local firms with offshore resources, helping them to keep projects on track and ensure legal and business requirements are in order.
What is offshore outsourcing?
Outsourcing is when a company relocates part of its functions to another entity such as a contracting firm. Software development is a typical application of outsourcing. Offshore outsourcing indicates that the entity is not within the same country, such as a US company outsourcing to a Singaporean or a Mexican one.
What is development software engineering?
As opposed to sustaining or maintenance software engineering which are common uses for offshore software engineering teams, development software engineering builds from architecture and design specifications, writing software modules from scratch. Depending on the role, workers need to understand modern architecture principles or have skill in writing effective, efficient code modules, limiting the “bugs” and increasing the maintainability down the road.
Which degree is best for software developer?
Degreed software developers in the current market benefit from specialized degrees that combine a software engineering or computer science background with specialties in data science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other areas. Degrees in software development and information technology are also helpful. Graduates with degrees in mathematics and business administration with additional coursework in computer science or software engineering will have an advantage in fields that rely on their major interests such as science-based programming for mathematicians and financial software for business administration majors.
What is the difference between a software engineer and a software developer?
A software engineer tends to understand the “big picture” of software and its operations, while the developer understands how to effectively implement pieces of that picture. The roles do have significant crossover, especially as individual careers progress with additional education and experience.
Why is offshore software development beneficial?
Offshore software development typically involves well-defined pieces of a software project, and so can be considered deliverables in their own right, designed, created, and tested, then transferred to the client company. This can help expand the scope of a project, for example having in-house developers create a web backend that interfaces to the company’s systems, while offshore developers create a web user interface that connects the backend to the customers.
What does offshoring mean in business?
Offshoring is an extension of outsourcing, and there is often confusion between the two. Outsourcing employs resources outside the company to accomplish some of the company’s tasks or goals. Offshoring uses international resources specifically to perform outsourced work.
Why do companies go offshore?
Offshoring has received publicity because it can reallocate manufacturing or service work to areas where labor is less expensive, at the cost of local jobs. With the increase in work flexibility, especially in software engineering and IT, due to the presence of reliable networks such as the internet, offshoring can also be a way to access pools of well-educated and experienced technical talent, often at a lower price than locally, especially if the company doing the offshoring is located in a tech-heavy urban environment.
Is offshoring a good strategy?
If the company has taken care to understand the risks and benefits of offshoring and is willing to make the commitment to adapt their business to use offshore talent, it can be an excellent strategy.
What are examples of offshoring?
Examples of offshoring for software engineering are plentiful both in small and medium-sized companies and even in larger firms that eventually establish overseas divisions. One typical case would be a company that manufacturers specialized laboratory equipment, but has a very limited software engineering group that mostly writes firmware for the devices. If the company wants to create software for users such as web interfaces or apps, they could work with in-house marketing and design personnel, then contract for an offshore software development team to produce and test the software. Another example is the allocation of web user interface software to an offshore team, while more sensitive in-house backend software integrated with ERP information systems is built locally.
What are the major advantages and disadvantages of developing systems offshore?
Advantages include:
Cost savings for equivalent skills, although at a distance
Access to highly educated software engineers that may be not be readily available in the local area
The ability to repurpose local teams for higher priority projects or ones that ensure retention
Maintenance and bug fixes by skilled software engineers that might not otherwise be in the budget
The ability to choose more readily between cost savings from of the shelf software, and reduced costs for creating custom software
An article published by American Express notes that by engaging in offshore outsourcing, companies connect with the global economy which can have many additional benefits: “Setting up an offshore presence may enable a company to broaden its customer base to other countries.”
Disadvantages and risks include:
Data Privacy and Data Security issues
Hidden Costs and contracts that aren’t designed for the local legal system
Communication issues both due to time differences and communication methods, and culture
What security issues exist when using offshore developments?
To the extent that offshore developers have access to a company’s internal data and intellectual property as part of the development process, they need to be trusted as well as bound by non-disclosure agreements. Information crossing international borders is sometimes subject to specific legal requirements which should be understood, such as Europe’s GDPA. Companies that are handling US government information or other restricted information may also need to ensure that it can be transmitted overseas as part of the development effort. Other specific security issues exist, but are generally similar to those experienced domestically.
