Sitting in a boardroom filled with your executive team, deciding about whether or not to outsource a development team can be nerve-wracking. There is a lot at stake. While an application can bring a lot of value to your company, it also comes with a high cost.
Forming a partnership with an onshore development team can be a great option. These agencies are located all across the country and have some of the world’s best developers in-house. While they might have the best talent, you have to know that also comes with a price. However, is it worth it? Here are some things to consider:
You need a high level of security.
As written by our partners at Identity Theft Resource Center, in the two months since the beginning of the year, we have seen over 80 data breaches since the start of 2016. If you are going to be working with the government, health care or any other vertical that values security, you may need to go with an onshore team.
Teams located within the United States will have stricter security protocols, and you will have greater access to the people whom they employ. While your app development team may not be solely responsible for your app’s security, there are aspects of the build that need to be addressed.
When you are working with an onshore team, you will be able to view certifications of the individuals working on your product. You will be able to get background checks on the people as well. Moreover, you will able to meet face-to-face with your team. When you are working with offshore teams, you will not be able to know how they manage their employees.
You need a team that operates with more autonomy.
Onshore teams are more capable of making decisions on their own. Why? It comes down to two variables: communication and education.
When you are working with a team that shares your cultural background, communication is a lot smoother. If you are working with an onshore team, you are working with a team that lives within or near your timezone, you can have more unplanned conversations, and you speak the same language. More importantly, onshore teams will understand the problem and your proposed solution a lot better. They might be potential users of the product.
Working with an onshore team, you will also get a higher class of developer. The education systems in the United States far exceeds most of the countries where offshore teams are located. Developers from the United States are more equipped in problem solving, making them more creative in coming up with more technically correct solutions.
You need to get to market faster and are willing to pay for it.
As we said in the article addressing offshore teams, a lot of the motivations of going with an offshore team come down to costs. Onshore teams cost a lot of more resources up front. When you are working with an onshore team, you will be working with a team that is much more efficient.
As we talked about in this article, you will be working with experts who need less hand holding, have the ability to communicate in real time, and work with developers who can work faster. If your timeline allows for leeway, you might go with an offshore team to save cost. If your timeline does not allow for leeway, you might go with need to go with an onshore team.
In conclusion, the decision to go with either an onshore or offshore team can be complicated with many variables that need to be taken into account. These discussions go beyond your budget. This decision involves in reckoning your business strategy with security needs, executing on vision, and more. Start by having honest and real conversations with your team, and pick the best solution for your development needs.
