For many years, in-house development teams have been considered superior to remote ones. However, the costs of maintaining an in-house software development team can be considerable. It's a viable model for organizations with a constant need for developer support, but outsourcing is always the better option for businesses looking for a flexible alternative.
Even a busy in-house team will have limited insights into development scenarios. By contrast, remote teams are likely to have worked on many projects across multiple industry sectors. This makes them a rich resource that can prove far more beneficial to your development projects. Read on for a breakdown of five key advantages remote teams have over in-house when it comes to development projects.
1. Reduced Expenditure
The cost of managing an in-house development team can be high. Building an in-house team from nothing can be particularly expensive. In addition to the cost of ongoing salaries and benefits, you'll need to inject large sums of money into IT infrastructure. Cost savings are one of the main reasons companies choose IT outsourcing over in-house arrangements.
2. Access to the Best Expertise
Software developers are incredibly sought-after. If you're looking to recruit locally, you may struggle to acquire suitable talent at a cost you can afford. Even if you manage to secure the right people for a multi-disciplinary team, expect to pay over the odds to retain them.
Sometimes, finding suitable candidates for an in-house team will prove impossible. Many companies are forced to embrace a hybrid team model when faced with this situation, with remote developers working alongside in-house teams. When outsourcing, you're not restricted by a limited pool of candidates. Instead, you have access to an almost unlimited network of suitable candidates.
3. No Onboarding or Recruitment
If your project is time-sensitive, attempting to put together an in-house team may derail timelines before things get off the ground. Outsourcing your development tasks to a third-party provider significantly reduces your lead time, making it far more likely you'll achieve crucial milestones.
Recruiting for in-house roles takes time. First, you'll need to draft job descriptions and share them with hiring managers and recruitment agencies. Next, you'll need to undertake extensive candidate selection and arrange interviews. Even if you land an interview with desirable candidates quickly, you'll then need to negotiate salary packages and contractual agreements.
The process doesn't stop with a candidate signing on the dotted line. In many cases, companies require new starters to undertake an onboarding process to bring them in line with their company values. This isn't a significant problem if you have some breathing room before your project needs to get underway. However, if you need to hit the ground running, outsourcing makes sense.
4. Increased Productivity
Even the most dedicated in-house developers may struggle with productivity. Day-to-day distractions and engaging with general office activities can severely limit efficiency. When you arrange for development projects to be handled by a third-party provider, you don't have to worry about any of this.
A remote developer is there to work solely on the objectives set out for them. You can be clear about your output expectations from the off. Should remote teams fail to meet these expectations, you can choose another provider with relative ease. It's far more difficult to replace an in-house team that isn't meeting expectations.
5. Maximum Flexibility
This is another area where remote teams outpace in-house ones. Unlike office-based departments, remote teams can work around the clock to keep your projects on track. Even larger companies with established in-house teams can benefit from integrating remote ones into their workflows. When internal teams clock out for the day, external teams working in different time zones can pick up the slack to ensure minimal downtime.
