Everyone aspires to rapidly scale and provide their products and services. That is not in dispute. What is probably in dispute is the best strategy to attract and retain great personnel, as well as the many operating models to employ. Outsourcing on a project-by-project basis can help you employ rapidly in locations known for having a huge pool of experienced engineers – but are those engineers right for your company? Are they adding long-term value in the same way as offshoring's team extension model does?
Offshoring does, on paper, provide a slightly different pitch, with the team extension model supplementing your existing one at home with world-class developers from a talent-rich region. This not only allows you to fast scale by using global technical skill pools, but it also provides cost arbitrage in terms of compensation and premises costs. Western European and North American corporations frequently operate in India, Ukraine, and the Philippines. But, how can you make the team extension model work?
Find the right location.
Choosing where to go is one of numerous decisions you must make to ensure the team extension model works for your company. For example, India has a very high level of English speakers and ranks first on the list of the best destinations to establish your new team in terms of language, talent and abilities, and infrastructure. Nearshoring to Ukraine or other central and eastern European regions can allow for a reduced time difference, which is important for firms in Western Europe.
Choose the right partner
A successful implementation of the team extension model depends on selecting the appropriate offshore partner. Has the company built augmented teams in the past remotely? What method do they use for hiring and recruitment? In order to facilitate smooth cooperation between your on-site and offshore engineers, what steps do they take to ensure cultural fit? It is necessary to ask yourself these kinds of questions to ensure that you are making the correct decision.
Ensure continuous engagement
In a competitive market like software development, your engineering teams must be motivated and invested in the products and services they are developing, as well as the organisation itself. The proper partner will most likely deploy a dedicated Chief Happiness or Engagement Officer to ensure that the team extension model runs smoothly while you scale.