When it comes to software outsourcing, the conventional form of hiring a full team which either works on multiple projects or on a single one (if dedicated) is what’s most frequently discussed. Owing to the sprawling popularity of software outsourcing (also spearheaded by a popularity in remote work environments), agencies that specialise in delivering offshore development teams have now expanded their models to now also include staff augmentation.
Referring to the ability to add one or two key resources, staff augmentation can accommodate the need for subject matter expertise to help solve key problems, or to improve processes. Additionally, staff augmentation can also be the answer to meeting an increase in workload, with temporary staff that can assist to meet deadlines on time.
As businesses compete within fierce markets, their digital presences can make all the difference between winning customers – or losing them to the competition. In this article, we discuss what staff augmentation is, its benefits for fast-paced businesses that already have a partnership with a software outsourcing agency, as well as how to hire the right candidates – even for short-term projects.
So, read on to know more!
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Staff augmentation involves adding team members (who are often subject matter experts in their respective fields) to existing teams. Staff augmentation can be done for the purpose of meeting key resource challenges, such as:
Likewise, software staff augmentation is also implemented for the same use cases, as it provides business leaders the flexibility to hire experienced talent, but without mandatory long-term commitment. With a software outsourcing agency that they can trust by their side, staff augmentation for existing projects can be undertaken with minimal downtime, with overall time-to-hire rates being low.
As a result, software staff augmentation can be highly scalable, as businesses have the opportunity to add relevant team members faster than normal, even though this isn’t always guaranteed.
During occasions where one or two resources are urgently required, staff augmentation can be highly beneficial. This is made even more streamlined if you and your software outsourcing partner have discussed this prior, having laid out a plan in the event an extra resource or subject matter expert may be required during times of urgency or growth.
Simply brief your outsourcing partner what you require, and have them allocate a resource they may already have on standby, or source one through a job listing. The latter option may take longer, but with a plan that’s laid out in advance, this can be expedited.
Unlike a conventional offshore software development team, staff augmentation offers greater flexibility, allowing companies to add extra resources and/or subject matter experts for short-term and one-off projects alike. Many consultants, for example, are hired by software outsourcing companies on a retainer basis, so that they can ‘augment’ multiple development teams with their domain expertise. Such professionals include penetration testers (for cyber security) as well as SEO specialists, all of whom are available as and when required for their agency’s clientele.
Established and long-standing software outsourcing agencies are generally hubs for highly advanced IT talent, being home to numerous development, design, cloud management, cyber security and even marketing professionals. With many on standby thanks to a retainer, your software outsourcing partner can cater to most project requirements – on short notice, that too.
Start by assessing what business problems or bottlenecks currently need solving. Chances are that you may already be aware of these, but take your evaluation a step further by discussing with relevant team members in greater detail. Following this assessment, your teams can craft a set of job requirements that need to be shared with your software outsourcing partner, so they have the criteria they need to look for suitable candidates.
Again, all screening and interviewing needs to be done with your business’s end objectives in mind, and whether your new team member will be able to meet necessary KPIs in order to justify their cost, as well as successfully contribute towards key growth and revenue initiatives.
While the initial advertising of the vacancy (if required) and screening need to be done by your software outsourcing partner, business owners/leaders can steer interviews – with objectives at the forefront, needless to say.
Upon hiring relevant team members as part of staff augmentation efforts, it is highly likely that they may have to function as part of a remote team, owing to the hybridised nature of most IT working environments. Misconceptions and gaps in understanding are common occurrences during the initial stages of collaboration, so it is imperative that these are identified and subsequently rectified, in order to meet expected standards.
Working remotely makes error correction all the more important, as a lack of in-person presence could lead to team members working in a vacuum, with misconceptions in mind. This can affect final outcomes, with mistakes that make it through to final versions likely costing companies large sums of money to rectify, test and implement a second time.
As a rule of thumb, establishing methods of communication (be they messaging applications, task management tools or daily video conferencing sessions) can give team members a touchpoint that they know they can rely on, to raise any concerns.
As with any other hire, team members who are part of staff augmentation efforts also need to be periodically evaluated from a performance standpoint. Long-term team members can be evaluated through performance reviews, while short-term hires can be evaluated based on whether they were able to meet KPIs and other targets that were initially laid out for their roles and responsibilities.
Staff augmentation is an approach that is more flexible than conventional software development outsourcing, as it affords companies the flexibility to include subject matter experts and emergency resources alike, on short notice as well as with temporary contracts. Nearshore staff augmentation delivers added convenience, as companies that need outsourced staff within close proximity can now ensure they can even meet their resources in person.
Providing a wide and dynamic talent pool, leading software outsourcing companies can match much needed resources with little downtime, especially if they already have someone retained and on standby. However, companies need to have a clear understanding of the calibre of professionals they require, ensuring that their candidate of choice will take end business objectives to heart in due course of their responsibilities.