The outsourcing process for software developers to access specialized skills, region-oriented workforce and to exploit cost advantages is known as offshore software development. This very industry is aiming to reach 283 billion USD by 2031. To save cost, improve productivity, equip scalability and focus on core business, offshore staff augmentation could be a nice option.
In this article, we have covered A to Z of offshore software development and how to hire offshore software developers. From the hiring process to key considerations of hiring along with the perks and benefits, we have got you all covered.
How to Hire Offshore Software Developers
Now, you may want to have some essence of offshore staff augmentation process. In this case, there are some important things that you must follow. Otherwise, you may hire the wrong employee. However, these processes include many different categories of factors.
Step 1: Define your project needs.
Before the hiring process starts, you must clarify your project needs. Otherwise, it may get misleading to the person applying. Suppose, you have a goal; then define how you are going to measure that goal. It has to be a very sophisticated and fair scale which you will use to measure.
Next up, you may explain the special requirements; if any. This attracts the potential candidates. Else, if your work requires any special technologies, you may mention that too.
Step 2: Write a clear and concise job description.
It’s time to create a detailed job description which allows potential candidates to apply for the position you’re offering. Carefully, it has to be very detailed and crystal-clear so that no candidate gets confused.
You may explain and define your vision on this job description. This helps prospective applicants learn about your job in advance. So when they apply, they carry a broader view of their mind about the chore.
Step 3: Find potential candidates.
If you do everything nicely mentioned above, you should look for prospective applicants. How to do that? Well, you may try using:
- Freelance platforms: There are many freelance platforms where you can connect with independent developers worldwide.
- Development agencies: Many agencies offer offshore development services. Partnering with an offshore software development agency can be beneficial if you need a dedicated team of developers.
- Job boards: Or, just create a job post and post it online. There are also specialized tech job boards available online that can also be useful for finding offshore candidates with the skills you need.
Step 4: Evaluating Candidates.
Evaluation of the candidates should be carried out based on some key factors. Firstly, reviewing the portfolio is a must. You can get a clear idea about a candidate by only checking their portfolio comprehending if they’re able to do your chores or not.
Holistic approaches like conducting technical interviews regarding the work might be done depending upon the situation. And it is always best to check the references. This may provide you with a persuasive ambience.
Step 5: Negotiating Contracts.
Now, reach an agreement once you’ve made your decision. Decide whether you prefer a contractual or full-time arrangement, and discuss the terms in detail. TYour potential candidate may have preferences or suggestions. Ensure both sides are clear on expectations.
Step 6: Onboarding and integration.
Help your offshore employees to familiarize themselves with your processes quickly. Provide them with comprehensive documentation, including project guidelines, coding standards, and company policies.Despite technological integration, there could be any emotional or psychological assimilation that your work must need. By investing in a thoughtful onboarding process, you can ensure successful integration of offshore employees to your in-house team aligning them with your project goals
Benefits of Hiring Offshore Software Developers
By hiring offshore, you can avail all the perks that support your project works. It’s remote, globally accepted and uninterrupted work from different time zones.
Cost savings
The Cost for a particular job in the US would never be the same in South Asia. People from those particular regions get sold out easily. There’s the point. You can hire from any of the regions from the globe that fits your budget and needs.
Access to global talent pool
You can get the access of nicest professionals around the world and have a soothing experience of offshore staff augmentation. When you hire from a global talent pool; you have a mixture of talent all together. It’s fun working with people around the world.
24/7 development cycles
You can ensure an uninterrupted work efficiency by hiring offshore. Employees will be based on different time zones and their combined work will improve overall projects’ productivity to face the market challenge and customer needs. And in terms of software development, this very efficiency of work is a must need.
Scalability and Flexibility
Hiring offshore allows you to handle growth and adapt to the constantly changing requirements. It enables you to bring in specialized expertise without requiring long-term commitments. You can scale your team up or down based on project needs.
Things to Consider Before Hiring Offshore Software Developers
Before hiring an offshore software developer, you need to consider some of the very basic stuff. Otherwise, you may face overspending, lack of communication with the employee and what not? Scroll a bit more to know about the factors-
Budget Consideration
It’s very important to know whether your budget requirement on hiring employees fits within the estimated cost for the whole project. The budget should include one or more costs; like, salaries, tools or any extra costs.
Communication and time zone challenges
It’s very straining to communicate with your employees who live in another time zone. So, either you can cluster nearby people onto a group of teams and assign them similar works; or can hire project management professionals for managing them.
Otherwise, there will be massive degradation of coordinations. Also, you can establish clear communication channels, set regular check-in times and align expectations for updates to prevent misunderstandings.
Legal and compliance issues
When you’re hiring from a different region, make sure that you know about the hiring policies and regulations for that country. This includes intellectual property rights, data protection, and local labor laws of that country. Being aware of the legal issues beforehand helps you encounter a problem in future.
How to Source Top Offshore Development Teams
In many ways, you may get it done. Hiring offshore is not really a tough task these days. There are some dedicated platforms from which you may hire your potential employee. However you do it, here goes a general directory of “how to” hire!
Top Platforms to Connect With Developers
As mentioned earlier, you can avail some of the dedicated platforms that offer you the best offshore software developers for your future needs. This section includes three different ways along with one bonus suggestion.
Dedicated development platforms
Jumping right into contacting a software development company is the smartest choice you have. It saves time, offers you the right package along with the top-notch crew.
There are many software dedicated agencies available like Vivasoft that offer access to top industry talents. They provide customized solutions to fit your needs and cost-effective development solutions.
Freelance marketplaces
You can try out the modern marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr to manage a specific individual or a team. These marketplaces offer best value for money and have a good return on investment. In terms of hiring, a sound background check is required about their past works.
Networking sites
In this case, LinkedIn is your best friend. You can hire any sort of on-site, offshore employee using LinkedIn as a hiring tool. Just follow the proper way of reaching out to candidates and you’re done.
Country Renowned for Software Development Expertise
You can opt for reaching out to developers around the world. But there are some classes and categories. If you follow blindly and hire from a random country; the result might not be that satisfactory.
South Asia
South Asia has become a very sophisticated software developing mastermind offering skilled talent at competitive rates. If you want to hire from this particular region go for the following choices.
Bangladesh
With a competitive and young tech-savvy workforce, Bangladesh is also letting the world know its position in the world of software developments. The country boasts a numerous number of software development agencies with expertise in various technologies. They offer competitive pricing and a strong commitment to delivering quality software solutions for businesses of all sizes. Companies seeking reliable and cost-effective development services are increasingly turning to Bangladesh as an offshore destination.
India
India honestly became the largest technological hub in south asia in recent times. With tonnes of skilled professionals, the country is ranking all over. Be that software development or anything technological, they’re always on top. On top of that, India costs less. So, it’s always the smartest option of all to look forward to.
Eastern Europe
IT is one of the largest parts of the whole growing economy in Europe. And IT covers software development as well. You can have the experience of working with Europians if you feel right.
Ukraine
It only costs you a solid $59 per hour to get yourself an offshore software developer from Ukraine or any of the countries from Eastern Europe. Compared to North America, it’s way too less in amounts. So, budget-friendliness is always a thing that matters.
Poland
Likewise, Poland could be your next option if you opt for hiring from Europe. Software development is one of the safest and most stable economies in the region.
Southeast Asia
In terms of cost and quality, no one can beat this particular region of the world. Their brain runs like the fastest horse when it comes to tech; precisely, software development.
Philippines
As a matter of fact, it takes only $28 to hire a software developer for an hour from the Philippines; while it takes $59 in Ukraine, and $77 in the USA. Now, the choice is yours.
Vietnam
They have a total of 30-years of legacy in the tech industry. By spending only $14-$15, you may hire a professional offshore developer from Vietnam. However, communicating with them might be difficult as English is not their native language.
Latin America
If you want to go west, Latin America could be a good choice for you. In terms of growing sources of technology experts, you can never abandon this region as they provide nearly all the competitive costs.
Brazil
Brazil is a country that invests in their tech-education considering it a prospective business niche. In terms of costing, you may get a spectrum of different rates. However, Brazil has a very complex tax system that might increase your outsourcing cost.
Argentina
Hiring from Argentina won’t bother your communication as Argentines are well-educated and at least have a literal English proficiency needed for work. Time Zones in South America are also very convincing.
Nonetheless, a rigidly high inflation rate is flying all over the country. And this is why prices are way too high here in comparison with most of the other South American countries.
Why Choose Vivasoft as your Offshore Software Development Partner
There are numerous options that you may overlook in terms of hiring a solid offshore software development partner for your needs. But amongst all the choices, choosing Vivasoft could be the best and worth-it choice. Whether you need a dedicated team, project-based engagement, or additional support to expand your in-house team, Vivasoft offers the expertise, reliability, and seamless integration you need to achieve your goals. We provide flexible engagement models and cost-effective solutions tailored to your business needs.
With Vivasoft you get access to the top 1% global talents and industry specific expertises. Our 24/7 serviceability makes sure that no matter what, your work goes on. Security and compliance are key priorities at Vivasoft to safeguard your data and meet global compliance standards. Despite all the regional and linguistic bearers, Vivasoft is fully oriented to be your best companion in the software development journey.
Best Practices for Managing Offshore Teams
Managing the teams is often quite hectic if you don’t have the managerial skills or are not equipped with proper management. Here are the things that you may want to implement for the best outcome:
Establishing clear communication channels
Selection of the appropriate tools to communicate with the offshore employees is necessary. Create a central hub-like system for continuous updates and resources. Lastly, document important discussions and keep them for future usage.
Setting up project management tools
Choose one of the top grossing project management tools like Trello or ClickUp. Make sure the tool serves your needs. Also, create a project structure and divide works equally to the teams to have the best possible output.
Regular check-ins and updates
Establish a regular meeting schedule so that no important information slips away. It could be weekly, bi-weekly or twice in a month depending on the intensity of the project and requirement of the clients.
Building a collaborative culture
Encourage team members to share insights and support one another. Build trust, provide the required work safety. Try to impart a sense of belonging amongst the workers. Building rapport and camaraderie, even remotely, boosts morale and creates a more cohesive, productive team.
Common Challenges and Solutions
It’s pretty normal to face challenges while working with people all around the globe. But if there’s a problem, then there’s also a solution. Common challenges includes-
Time zone challenges
Hiring offshore means differences in time zones. And working across time zones can make coordination tricky. Use overlapping hours or flexible scheduling for direct collaboration and preventing delays.
Language barriers
Language differences can lead to misunderstandings. Consider using language tools and prioritize clear & simple communication. Also, you can equip employees with certain basic language courses required to operate. Hiring bilingual employees is also a good option here.
Cultural differences
With offshore software development, different work cultures can impact team dynamics. Promote cultural awareness and encourage open discussions about team values and expectations. Groom the employee to stick to the standard work culture.
Ensuring quality and accountability
Maintaining high standards from a distance requires strong structured supervision. For quality assurance, you may set clear quality benchmarks, regular progress reviews and use performance tracking tools.
Conclusion
By this time, you should have learned all the important parameters to hire and efficiently manage offshore software developers. Offshore development offers a valuable opportunity to tap into global talent by saving costs at a great rate. By following simple hiring processes and best practices, you can overcome the common challenges.
Consider the numerous benefits of offshore development as a strategic move to accelerate your project growth. When hiring offshore, focus on finding the right cultural and technical fit. Ensure clear expectations for both parties. And needless to say, partnering with a reputed offshore software developer provider like Vivasoft will make you confident in achieving high-quality results, on-time delivery, and scalable solutions tailored to your business needs.