by Scio Team | Jun 17, 2020 | Nearshore, Outsourced Engineering Team, Successful Outsourcing
Contrary to popular belief, software development isn’t just a Silicon Valley thing. Mexico has exploded onto the tech scene with game-changing companies creating software across the full spectrum of industries.
With a rapidly growing talent pool and shared timezone, these companies can easily integrate into your day-to-day processes, save you money, and deliver top-quality software. When it comes to software development, Mexico stands tall by helping engineers and devs accomplish some truly remarkable tech innovations.
1. Scio
Founded in 2003, Scio’s passion for creating world-class software combined with their desire to provide a full lifecycle approach earned them a Top 10 Places to Code award, a 5-Star Web App Development Services review from Liveli Enterprises, Top Software Development Companies Of 2020 according to DesignRush.Microsoft, AT&T, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are just a few of the Fortune 500 companies that trust Scio to deliver their software needs. Scio’s specialty is working with established companies looking to augment their staff or scale-up existing software. Whatever your needs, Scio has the development team in place to quickly bring it to market, within budget, and precisely to your specifications.
The Scio Advantage:
Deep technical knowledge and experience that scales with your business. True agility in the form of real-time collaboration and faster review cycles. Flexible engagement models to help you build and support your application in unique ways. High-performance collaboration with aligned goals so both teams can achieve greatness.
Services:
- Staff Augmentation
- Custom Software Development
- Software Testing & QA
- Mobile & Web Development
- Maintenance & Support
Customer Quote:
“Scio offers a team of well-vetted, professional developers. In addition to being timely and proactive in their approach, their unique backgrounds make for a professional relationship and improved outcomes. They continue to be a great long-term partner.” — Manuel Romero
Website — Twitter — Case Studies
2. PSL Corp
Self-described “purpose-led” software development company that aims to provide top quality agile development services nearshore in Mexico and Latin America. They are Colombia based with four offices there and have satellite offices in Mexico City and New York City.
Services:
- Agile Custom Software Development
- IT Outsourcing
- Comprehensive Outsourcing of Quality Assurance Support
- DevOps Transition
- Cloud Architecture Design and Implementation
- Software Reengineering
Customer Quote:
“They have an advanced software development process, and I like the fact that they are an employee-centric company like we are. Their reliability, quality, and technical ability is excellent” — Tom Holt
Website — Twitter
3. BairesDev
A San Francisco based technology solutions and software development company founded by developers back in 2009. They recognized a wealth of IT talent growing in Latin America and quickly expanded operations to Argentina, Columbia, Brazil, and Mexico. Their mission is to help get companies talent they need at the right time so they can scale quickly. Time to market is something critical to their core values.
Services:
- Custom Software Development
- Software Testing & QA
- Cloud Computing
- Mobile & Web Development
- Maintenance & Support
- Blockchain Consulting
Customer Quote:
“BairesDev has helped us develop a secure bitcoin-based cryptocurrency platform with engineers that are qualified and proficient in crypto. We are extremely satisfied with their collaboration and achievement. We are happy to have given BairesDev a chance to earn our trust” — Willie Wang
Website — Twitter
4. Unosquare, LLC
An Inc. 5,000 fastest-growing company, Unosquare bootstrapped their own growth on the idea that talent, transparency, quality, availability, flexibility, and value matter most. They have a global presence with offices in the US, UK, and Mexico and specialized in BFSI, life sciences, and high-tech industries.
Services:
- Software Development
- Technology Project Consulting
- Digital Transformation Strategies
Customer Quote:
“Not only did Unosquare give us solid guidance on the project, it innovated on its own” — Nick Cutillo
Website — Twitter
5. iTexico
ATX based iTexico bridges the gap between Mexico and Texas with their nearshore specialization. Founded in 2010, iTexico has found its footing through offering cheap labor and real-time collaboration. They advertise talent available “right now” and strive to make the hiring process as quick and painless as possible.
Services:
- Software Development Services
- UI/US Design
- QA
- Mobile
- Cloud
“The main impact was their speed and quality of delivery.” — Michael Baron
Website — Twitter
Summary
When looking for top-notch software development, Mexico has a world-class talent pool and the technical expertise you need to get your software developed on-time and under budget. You have many choices, but a review isn’t enough to find out if a company fits your budget, culture, and software vision. For that, you have to dig deeper and ask the right questions.
If you’re in the market for custom software, reach out to start a conversation with us.
by Scio Team | May 26, 2020 | Nearshore, Successful Outsourcing
When you’re toying with the idea of outsourcing software development outside of the US, Mexico may not be the first country that springs to mind. Especially considering that Southeast Asia has dominated the outsourcing market for over a decade thanks to its cheap labor force and predominantly young population.
However, cultural differences, language barriers, and time zone challenges are ongoing challenges when it comes to outsourcing, leaving US firms looking for alternatives. Despite the US media conjuring up various political agendas, Mexico has quietly grown its engineering workforce behind the scenes in an effort to position itself as a technology and software development heavyweight.
With the increasing participation of Mexican engineers in software development work, US companies are beginning to take notice. So we thought we would provide you with some guidelines for how to hire Mexican developers for your software projects:
Why Hire Mexican Developers?
Latin America has the second-highest growth rate of software developers in the world, and Mexico specifically has invested heavily in STEM programs. If you’re not familiar with STEM programs, it’s a curriculum built to educate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Mexican government also built over 140 new colleges, of which 120 now specialize in engineering and technology. Each year, thousands of information technology students graduate from universities across the country, such as the prestigious Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Mexico is simultaneously growing its English speaking population, which makes them a growing epicenter of highly sought-after job candidates.
How Do You Hire Mexican Developers?
Bring A Mexican Developer To The US
One route you can take is finding a Mexican software developer that wants to move to your location. If you’re in the US, you’ll need to adhere to USMCA, which is the United States-Mexico-Canda Agreement. It goes into effect on July 1st, 2020, and will act as a NAFTA 2.0 and facilitate an updated trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
When it comes to hiring for software development Mexico and Canada adhere to TN Visa requirements. The Visa is granted to those with qualified positions in one or more of sixty categories. Here are the steps:
- Ensure your role is a TN approved occupation. According to Nearshore Americas, the category “Engineer” includes software engineers.
- Offer the applicant a job. This step requires an official job offer letter and a contract term not to exceed three years. The offer letter must include start and end dates, salary, and job description on a company letterhead.
- Ensure the candidate meets TN education requirements. The applicant is required to prove they qualify for the minimum education requirements for the TN role. In most cases, this means a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree in a field related to the occupation.
- Assist the applicant in gathering all the necessary documents. Passport, signed job offer documents, diplomas and transcripts, equivalent studies letter, and a DS-160 application before booking the interview appointment.
- Apply and attend the interview at the US Embassy or consulate in Mexico. All documents must be submitted and any fees paid. Instructions for applying for a TN Visa can be found at the US Department Of State’s website.
- Upon approval, apply for admission at a Customs & Border Protection designated US port of entry. This depends on the applicant’s final destination.
Keep in mind, some of these steps may differ depending on your role, destination, and educational background. The US Embassy or consulate in Mexico will always have the most up-to-date information.
Hire A Nearshore Software Development Team
If dealing with immigration lawyers and consulate visits seems too much work, there is a faster, easier way to begin leveraging engineering talent in Mexico – that is, nearshore software development. This is outsourcing software development with a firm in Mexico rather than going through the arduous steps above to sponsor a job candidate. Instead, you can hire a vetted software development team to work remotely for you from Mexico.
Working with a Mexican software development team has several advantages, ranging from:
- Sharing time zones which makes it easy to integrate them into your day-to-day operations
- Considerably more affordable development compared to North American, European, and Australian developers
- More than 300 flights each day from major US cities to Mexico making it easy to visit them
- Cultural affinity and high professional standards
- All HR work (recruiting, benefits, vacation time management, etc.) is done for you by the firm you work with
Both routes have pros and cons, but if you need help sooner than later and need the power of a team versus an individual, then a nearshore software development team is the way to go.
Wrapping Up
If you’re looking for a software development team that works using an Agile process and offers a one-stop-shop for all your development needs, then consider us at Scio. Whether you’re a startup, a Fortune 500 company, or something in between, we’re ready to support your every software development need.
What are you waiting for? Contact us today.
by Scio Team | Dec 17, 2019 | Agile Methodology, Customer Experience, Project Management, Successful Outsourcing
If you search on the Internet for “agile project initiation” you are going to find a LOT of templates. People want structure and easy answers, so of course, these simple answers rise to the top of every search. Many (if not most) of the templates offered are pared-down formats from the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) Project Initiation Documents (PID). There is nothing basically wrong with the idea of using templates or most of the templates offered, except – they tend to become prescriptive when they should be taken as guidance.
From the Agile Manifesto: “…we have come to value:
Working software over comprehensive documentation,”
With that in mind, we should ask – why do we document agile projects? Often, the answer is – because it is required (by someone) when in reality the answer should be – to communicate. But again, that simple answer fails to guide us to the necessary outcome:
- Documentation should be a natural part of agile project initiation, but not the goal. It should proceed from on-going discussions between stakeholders, the product owner and the development team that is developed in Sprint 0, but it must not end there. The conversations and the documentation of outcomes must continue through the lifecycle of the project and the product.
-
Initial documentation is just a strawman
Documents gathered from product owners and key stakeholders are starting points, not final documents. Documents developed by a designated team member to fill out a template are strawmen to be examined, discussed, questioned, and used as a base for the ongoing development of understanding within the entire project team.
- Living documentation formats should be preferred over static. In smaller projects, it may not be necessary to manage documentation formally, but in most cases using the same concepts as those used for source code management is a valid guideline. Properly maintained, living documentation answers the questions, “when was this decision made? by whom?” and gives a revision history that tells the story when necessary, but only makes it apparent when needed. It needs to include simple artifacts of these discussions – photographs of whiteboards, screenshots of modified mockups, etc. – in preference to notes developed after the fact and out of the sight of the team.
- During Sprint 0, the aim must be to develop enough trust among the project team members to allow questions and dialog to form the base for a common understanding of those items that are included in most PID templates. If initial documentation is “handed down from on high” to team members without open, trusting discussion – it cannot be internalized by the team and it will not respond to the inevitable changes that will come as discovery and learning continue throughout the project. Agile software development embraces change by allowing the project team to recognize the inconsistencies and discoveries that will come out during development, surface them and deal with their impact through discussion and collaborative negotiation.
And before we get too far away from it – there are some really strong ideas in the Agile Modeling page on Agile/Lean Documentation. Honestly, though, there is a lot of information in that reference that should really be digested as a part of understanding agile, not as a guideline for a new project. For that purpose, this short piece is a better resource. But, if the outcome of project initiation is not a bunch of filled out PID templates that we can all take back to our cubicles and file away – What is it?
Agile Project Initiation is All About Communication
With the ideas we have mentioned in mind, we have to acknowledge that open, trusting, collaborative communication does not happen automatically in an agile project team. There are natural stages that every group will go through before they can have the kind open discussion needed without fearing it will harm relationships and respect. Discussions need to be wider than the project infrastructure, technology, and user stories, without the feeling an individual is stepping over the boundaries by asking about non-functional issues. We might need to know:
- Does the culture and background of key user profiles matter to the software development team?
- Does the role of key subject matter experts (SMEs) in product development for an organization make a difference to who needs to be included in discussions?
- Are we using a Lean Product Development model with the inclusion of stakeholder users as part of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development?
- If we are working in a DevOps implementation, how does that change our standard production procedures?
There are all sorts of questions that are not (and cannot be) included in standard PID templates but could be critical to a specific project. If we don’t discuss our viewpoints and ask questions, we run the risk of assuming we have a common understanding and making decisions based on those assumptions. Every project, every team, every organization is different. In the best case, we can open ourselves up to collaborative discussion by getting the team together, face-to-face during project initiation, for dialog and team building using team games and facilitation with a bias to being productive, explorative, and fun. Using these techniques, we can strengthen the bonds and shared risks necessary to maintain a successful project throughout its lifecycle.
In cases where face-to-face project initiation is not possible (hopefully more rare than the rule), much can be accomplished with video/voice meetings if they are relatively short and like agile documentation, structured just enough to ensure the meetings reach necessary outcomes and allow for continued direct discussions among stakeholders in the team when needed. There is nothing much worse than sitting in a meeting where a long, passionate discussion between two team members seems to be sucking all the air out of the room – and the meeting outcomes are lost.
This piece is relatively short and again, more of a guideline than a prescription for agile project initiation, as it should be if we are to “eat our own dog food.” Bottom line:
- Don’t be afraid to pull out a template when you start your next project, or when you look at it – crumple it up and throw it away so you can start your own list based on what you know and don’t know.
- What you think you know or don’t know are assumptions and should be treated as such both during project initiation and throughout the project. Only a discussion with open questions between team members can validate ideas and give us a basis for moving forward. And the assumption that is understood as valid today may not be completely correct at another time.
- Documentation must be limited to what is necessary when it is necessary and maintained throughout the project as living knowledge. Agile documentation should not be the domain of one person or one role. It must be available and dynamic – allowing everyone on the team to contribute when necessary – in a wiki-style rather than as a bunch of locked Word documents.
- Agile project initiation should focus on both the productive side – bringing together the information needed to organize the project, initialize environments, and the functional user stories needed, as well as the people/team side – developing the understanding, trust, and communication necessary to work collaboratively throughout the project. Ignoring either side is perilous. Assuming the job is done at the end of Sprint 0 is fatal.
Scio is a vendor of agile, nearshore services for software development projects with our customer base in North America. We can provide project-based or dedicated teams as required for each situation. We would be glad to discuss how our broad base of experience and skills could help you be successful with your next project. Contact us for more information.
by Scio Team | Dec 10, 2019 | Customer Experience, Nearshore, Project Management, Successful Outsourcing
As a provider of nearshore successful software development services, Scio has a proprietary interest in assuring the success of our customers’ outsourcing projects. But of course, in that respect, we’re no different than any service provider. So, it could easily be said that this article and more that will follow on this critical subject have a built-in bias we can’t ignore. We want you to understand our experience, our
business model, and how it shapes our approach to providing outsourced services. We hope that understanding will lead you to explore working with us and to hire our team. So yes, this is an exercise in self-interest…. But that said, we also have an interest in promoting improvement in our industry and the knowledge of critical success factors (CSFs) for the outsourcing of software development. This certainly isn’t a new subject – both the buyers and the sellers of outsourcing services have been trading tips, CSFs, and white papers on the subject for years. A quick Google search will turn up thousands of papers from professional societies, trade journals, buyers and suppliers in the field. But it is a sufficiently rich subject, with ongoing learning and improvement, to continue the conversation among participants. Do we have important information to add? We believe we do and we’re willing to expose our knowledge and experience so you can judge for yourself. To begin the discussion, let’s set a few common terms in context:
- Outsourcing is a broad subject and different industries approach it from different angles. In basic terms, we’re only discussing the outsourcing of software development, but many of the lessons learned in outsourcing across other industries do apply. The term comes from tying together the words used to describe “outside resourcing” – bringing resources from outside a company to meet business needs. With that in mind, outsourcing can describe the contract of work to a provider in the same building, city or country, just as well as it can describe the outsourcing of work to a provider in a different country or a different continent.
- Information Technology (IT) Outsourcing is generally considered to be a subsector of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) that involves operation, management and maintenance of IT services and infrastructure within an organization. Although technical skills are necessary to maintain aspects of IT operations, generall software development is not the primary driver of IT outsourcing contracts.
- Offshore or Offshoring is a term that, like outsourcing, has many meanings specific to the industry where it is used. For our purposes, it means the use of service providers with working hours that have very little or no overlap with their clients. Generally, these providers are on different continents with completely opposite work periods. A great deal of successful software development outsourcing is done by offshore providers so it is not intended to have a negative connotation. But, in many software development projects, communication and collaboration are key and in that respect, using offshore services requires special adaptations that both the client and the provider must be aware of and enforce.
- Nearshore or Nearshoring in our context refers to the contracting of work to providers in a different country that shares significant working hours overlap and often shares a border, region or continent. Scio is a nearshore provider of software development services to North American clients. Our services leverage the benefits of a nearshore relationship with our clients so the situations where we work best tend to exploit those advantages. Successful software development outsourcing relies to a large degree on the relationship between the client and the service provider and the requirements of the work itself. Some software development can leverage nearshore advantages better than others. Some providers have adopted practices that lower the risks inherent in software development outsourcing, regardless of their physical proximity to their client teams. Regardless, understanding the differences between offshoring and nearshoring of software development projects is an important subject for all participants in the industry. There is no “one size fits all” as evidenced by the growth of both nearshore and offshore development centers within large outsourcing consultancies.
- Agile Software Development is a methodology that is widely used across the software development industry. It is based on the idea that software development projects should be composed of short, iterative cycles producing valuable software incrementally while allowing for the evolution of the results based on constant consultation and interaction with the client and user base. The methodology itself is constantly improving and allows for adaptation to many situations. Because of this flexibility, the agile practices adopted for one project or practiced by a development team will vary, but overall the basic principles as they apply to client and team interactions and software quality during a project are expected to remain.
- Scrum Software Development is an extension of the agile framework for software development down to the team level. It includes descriptions of roles, processes, and ceremonies that strengthen agile principles and give structure to the software development process. Like agile, it is an adaptable methodology but it does include more detail specific to the software development process. Scio provides software development teams using a proprietary implementation of agile and scrum. Not all software development projects require agile or scrum, but most can benefit from some level of integration with the methodologies.
- Distributed Agile Teams are a part of the outsourcing of software development when you use either nearshoring or offshoring of a part of your agile team. In agile/scrum methodology, a premium is placed on open and frequent, face-to-face interactions between the development team and the product owner from the client-side. But, agile is also practical and adaptable, so there are practices that help to overcome the team isolation and improve interaction when parts of your team are remote. Scio is a provider of distributed agile teams for software development and integrates the practices necessary to assure success in these situations in all our projects.
What is a Successful Software Development for You?
It is hard to discuss “success” without knowing what it means to clients in general and it is almost impossible for a specific project to be “successful” unless all participants understand what it means from the start. In simple terms, most people would say without thinking it means providing software on time, on or under-estimated costs and that delights users – but that simple definition ignores all the trade-offs and pitfalls that need to be avoided or mitigated and the stakeholders who must be satisfied to arrive at a successful outcome. In researching the literature on this subject, an
IEEE literature review came upon the subject that found some interesting results:
Top 5 CSFs for Success in Software Development Outsourcing
- Contract Flexibility
- Trustworthy Relationship Management
- Competitive Bidding
- Consultation and Negotiation
- Quality Management
Last 5 CSFs for Success in Software Development Outsourcing
- Time Management
- Culture Awareness
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Data Security and Privacy
- Detailed Specification of Product and Project
These results came from a specific set of criteria concerning the basis of the outsourcing contract and relationship, as well as the contract and contract management – rather than a soft assessment of project outcomes, so it is probably not what you might think at first. But consider the elements of the top 5:
- Contract flexibility, like agile practices in software development, this allows the project to evolve in various ways to reach a successful outcome. It is a realization of the simple fact that at the outset of a project, and throughout the development cycle, participants don’t know what they might discover or how they will work together. A flexible contract, instead of locking them into a tight box, provides a framework for realizing opportunities not foreseen at the beginning of a project or dealing with unexpected issues that might derail the project. A good contract focuses on the objectives of the outsourcing relationship rather than operational details.
- Trustworthy relationship management gives everyone involved the ability to bring issues up without fear and mistrust. It allows open negotiation during the development process without bringing everything to a screeching halt. Again, it acknowledges the established truth of software development – there are things we don’t know and opportunities we haven’t considered that will be discovered as we move forward. We won’t be able to consider them if we don’t have a relationship of trust between the players.
- Competitive bidding, when it is done not just on price, but on a range of weighted factors, helps to increase the feeling of trust and control between the service provider and the client. Everyone understands what is important from the outset or has explored the issues until a successful conclusion is reached. Blind bidding, where bids are submitted, but no discussion or negotiation occurs among the top bidders and the potential client do not build this level of understanding however. No amount of paper and diagrams can substitute for the level of understanding that can be reached in direct, verbal negotiation.
- Consultation and negotiation are a realization of the fact that constant communication is necessary in all software development projects to insure the development is on track to meet the goals set out in the beginning of the project or, where needed, the teams can negotiate in good faith to reach alternative outcomes that better fit the situation as it has developed. Virtually all software development projects need both a mechanism to ensure open communication and negotiation.
- Quality management, not just against a set of detailed requirements (that is number 15 in this list after all). When everyone is involved in quality, it becomes a key to reaching a successful outcome. But as the agile methodology guides us, only if the management of quality is a continuous process throughout the incremental software development process. If it can only provide feedback at the end of prescribed phases or the end of the project, the risk of going off-the-rails becomes too large and failure to reach the necessary outcomes of a project area almost assured.
Now, of course, you are likely to see a different list in your head or have a specific list of CSFs in mind for a project. But list brings up an important consideration – what weight should you put on the need to deal with change and to work successfully with your vendor throughout a project or relationship? And it is important to understand, this is a result of the frequency of a CSF being identified among several papers, not the weight it was given in any one paper, if indeed weights were given. So the number of times a CSF was mentioned in the surveyed literature produces the order of the list.
Nearshore? Offshore?
We find these kinds of communication problems come up in many aspects of the provider/client relationship in outsourced software development. Agile and scrum development practices address these problems well, but in the case of offshore services, the agile model becomes stretched in ways that require adaptations that can be costly or distracting in the course of project operations. That is not to say that nearshore distributed teams, a model we use frequently, do not require specialized planning and adaptations, but it is part of our standard practice package, not something we do on a one-off basis. We find all projects benefit from attention to better communication and tighter relationships between our teams and their product owners. And we have that built-in advantage of nearshore; our development team is working in real-time with the client team. There is a lot more to discuss successful software development outsourcing – and we will be doing just that as we continue to provide information from the field.
by Scio Team | Dec 3, 2019 | Agile Methodology, Outsourced Engineering Team, Successful Outsourcing
Are you having a difficult time upgrading your services and software products? Do you feel like you are wasting time and resources on starting up your game plan?
A lot has changed in the tech world in the past few years. More and more, companies are realizing the importance of having a strong software development team in order to remain competitive. If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you need a software development company, here are seven reasons that might make you change your mind.
1. Save Time and Cost – You need to update your existing applications but don’t have the time or resources to do it yourself.
The software development lifecycle can be tedious and time-consuming. You have to plan, implement, test, and document your project before moving on to deployment or maintenance of the finished product – all in addition to an ever-changing industry environment where anything could happen at any given moment! But there’s no need for that anymore thanks to modern technology; nowadays we emit a minimum viable product (MVP) which saves you money by launching products faster than ever before possible while validating customer feedback early so they focus their efforts on what really matters: features people want rather than wasting countless hours perfecting things not needed yet (or perhaps even never)!
2. Integrated Agile Method
The July 2017survey of Forbes showed that 92% of the 500 senior executives interviewed believe organizational agility is critical for success. This goes hand in hand with statistics showing how 85% of software developers are using Agile methods at an increased rate – more than ever before!
Rapid development and deployment at the most critical time are what Agile provides. The goal of this approach, as you may know by now, is to benefit production software engineering teams looking to move quickly while still meeting expectations, and developing products that work well in the current environment – it’s all about getting things done!
Software developers who use true Agile ensure that you’re always in the know about your product’s progress, and can quickly adapt to changing demands.
3. In-house Experience: don’t have the in-house expertise to develop certain types of software.
The experience of developing your product is important. The lack in some cases can lead to problems for the company, especially if they are a startup with no previous projects under its belt and need help from an experienced team who has already been through this process before so that investment costs don’t pile up too quickly while also ensuring good teamwork and an MVP that hits the market as soon as you need it.
Fortunately, seasoned IT professionals of software developers can serve as an in-house team and work on your products. Their presence and expertise can significantly aid in your project’s success.
4. Software development projects can often be complex and time-consuming
Software development projects can often be complex. This is due to the many factors that need to be taken into accounts, such as the functionality of the software, the user interface, and the overall design.
Time is another important factor to consider when developing software, as we said before. It is important to ensure that the project is completed within the allocated time frame, as this can often be a determining factor in the success of the project.
There are many different aspects to consider when developing software, and it is important to take all of these into account in order to create a successful project.
Software development companies are able to provide you with a team of qualified professionals. Stack Overflow’s 2018 survey projected that three-quarters of more than 85,710 professional developer respondents have bachelor’s degrees in computer science and engineering – which is an impressive statistic!
By outsourcing your software development needs to a pool of educated IT and technology professionals, you will have more flexibility with your time and resources.
5. Strategic Focus: You want to focus on your core competencies and leave software development to the experts.
Hiring the right software development company is crucial to creating a successful product. Anne Latham, founder, and president at Uncommon Clarity says that hiring wisely will provide focus by limiting what direction an organization can take in their work, so when it comes down to deciding how to move forward with developing a product, choosing correctly is key.
By aligning your product with the expertise of developers, you can focus on what’s most important. Developers know their field and will work to make sure there aren’t any complications or issues when it comes time for launch; so with a clear and focused strategy, your product launch can be successful.
6. Advanced Technological Resources: working with an external developer gives you access to new ideas and perspectives.
As the world of technology continues to evolve, it’s important for software development companies not only to have a strong understanding of what their clients need but also to be able to work with them on an ongoing basis so that innovation can happen regularly.
By outsourcing software development services, you can have the assurance of getting fresh perspectives from innovative experts. As a result, your product’s success is secured.
7. Risk management
Many businesses view risk management as an unnecessary expense that cuts into profits. However, the truth is that risk management is essential to protecting your business from catastrophic losses. By taking proactive measures to identify and mitigate potential risks, you can save your business money in the long run.
One way to reduce risks is to invest in app maintenance services. By keeping your app up-to-date and free of errors, you can minimize the chances of it crashing or malfunctioning. This can help to prevent customer dissatisfaction and lost revenue.
Another way to manage risks is to be mindful of potential threats. This includes things like cyber-attacks, natural disasters, and even employee theft. By being aware of these risks, you can take steps to mitigate them. For example, you might invest in cyber security measures or insurance policies.
Ultimately, taking proactive measures to reduce and manage risks can save your business a lot of money in the long run. So don’t view risk management as an unnecessary expense – view it as an investment in the future of your business.
Benefits of Working with a Nearshore Software Development Company
Nearshore software development companies have become a popular option for businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve. By outsourcing their development needs to a nearshore company, businesses can tap into a pool of talented developers at a fraction of the cost of hiring in-house. In addition, nearshore companies are often more flexible and responsive than their onshore counterparts, making them ideal partners for businesses that need to move quickly. So if you’re still on the fence, send us a message and we’ll be happy to discuss how our team can help yours stay competitive in today’s tech world.
by Scio Team | Oct 1, 2019 | Outsourced Engineering Team, Successful Outsourcing
To keep up with evolving technologies and operate more efficiently, businesses now require software applications. While some companies acquire ready-to-use applications, many decide to develop their own custom software for a number of reasons.
Custom software refers to building an application exclusively for a specific need. Organizations can hire custom software development companies to create applications with certain features tailored to fit their needs and requirements.
While there are numerous ready-to-use applications or off-the-shelf software, some companies cannot always rely on them as they can be rigid and limiting.
Businesses often have specific requirements, and these requirements result in outsourcing software development companies to build a customized app for them.
In the end, having a customized software app benefits them greatly. To help you understand better, here are some of the advantages of having a customized software development app.
1. Unique application
Organizations have their own business processes that set them apart from other companies. If you have customized software matching your specific needs and working perfectly with your business model, the workflow will improve and generate excellent results.
It also provides your company with an efficient support system that is unique to your business platform.
2. Better security
Businesses can have better security with their own software development app. Security is very crucial for companies like e-commerce sites featuring online transactions as they involve private data such as accounts and addresses.
Customized software can be integrated with an efficient security system, and with it, businesses can have improved online security.
Custom software apps have higher security measures compared to off-the-shelf software which could be vulnerable to hacking. People with technical skills can deliberately use sensitive information and spread data online for their personal interests.
CRN reported that close to 31 million records were exposed online early this year. With a custom software app, businesses’ sensitive information is secure.
3. Greater adaptability
Businesses can easily adapt to changes with customized software apps. Business procedures need to change rapidly as they continue to evolve with the latest trends in technology.
Therefore, the software you use should also be open to new processes and can be easily altered as needed.
With custom development software, new changes can easily be integrated into the existing app. Meanwhile, it also allows the business process to have more room to grow without experiencing any downtime.
4. Lower costs
You can have lower costs with customized software apps. While you may find ready-to-use applications less expensive compared to customized software, they can incur more costs in the long run.
Custom software may come with a higher upfront cost, but unlike ready-made apps, it does not have recurring costs. It is more ideal for long-term use; therefore, it actually saves you more money in the long run.
5. Exclusive ownership
One of the perks of having a customized software app is that you own its license, unlike ready-to-use apps. When using another person’s product, you are bound to its features and updates which limits your growth.
On the other hand, when you invest in your own software app, you can enjoy the benefits of the licensed software and maximize its potential based on your business’ needs. This also allows you to have absolute control of the software.
6. Improved work process
Customized software apps promote a better work process for different departments. With the different responsibilities of each department, the work process can be difficult to manage, so integrating a customized app that will fit all departments can significantly improve the business operation.
It helps coordinate all the departments and leads to better results. At the same time, it also makes collaboration between the users more efficient.
7. Reliability
Companies that track their business processes regularly can benefit from custom software development. Custom apps also act as a reliable support system. Hence, it makes the workflow easier to monitor and manage.
This way, businesses can deliver quality services on time as long as they have a dependable system in place.
8. Long-term maintenance
Compared to off-the-shelf software, a custom app does not have any limits when it comes to software maintenance. For example, if the manufacturer of the ready-made app you are using decides to discontinue the software, you are left with no choice but to comply.
The only solution is to buy and invest in other software. However, if you own the software, you can dictate any modifications or updates without any complications.
Conclusion
Using a customized software development service can help you get your business operation in order. At the same time, you can create an efficient, faster, and more reliable work process.
It all boils down to hiring a reliable custom software development provider to help you set-up an ideal application that will generate the best results for your company. Do you need a reputable company to provide with your software needs? Contact us today!
We find these kinds of communication problems come up in many aspects of the provider/client relationship in outsourced software development. Agile and scrum development practices address these problems well, but in the case of offshore services, the agile model becomes stretched in ways that require adaptations that can be costly or distracting in the course of project operations. That is not to say that nearshore distributed teams, a model we use frequently, do not require specialized planning and adaptations, but it is part of our standard practice package, not something we do on a one-off basis. We find all projects benefit from attention to better communication and tighter relationships between our teams and their product owners. And we have that built-in advantage of nearshore; our development team is working in real-time with the client team. There is a lot more to discuss successful software development outsourcing – and we will be doing just that as we continue to provide information from the field.
