Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez
It makes sense to say that a well-budgeted IT department with enough resources is critically important for any business, mid-level and beyond. If your IT people are equipped to do their job, everyone can take advantage of top-quality technologies like enterprise-level systems, expertly managed networks, and secure cloud computing that could push productivity and effectiveness through the roof. And obviously, these benefits flow right down to the bottom line. It’s hard to overestimate just how vital a fully staffed, adequately funded IT infrastructure is for improving your company’s performance. Yeah, we’ll say it: IT is the cornerstone of modern business, and ensuring it’s properly managed is your key to success.
However, for a lot of IT professionals out there, the reality is… different. Small IT departments often face some daunting challenges, ranging from the increased focus on personnel and operations to the escalating pressure of project management, trying to constantly do more with fewer resources. Things like juggling multiple tasks with limited staff can lead to a lot of frustration, and implementing new technologies and systems as quickly as possible can become quite Sisyphean. Tech advancements, after all, happen at such a breakneck speed that it can be hard for SMEs to stay on top of them all. That combined with a minimal budget for technology and limited training opportunities, these teams often find themselves struggling to leverage new software and solutions into their daily operations.
The result is a constant battle to work faster and smarter. The lack of resources (from a budget standpoint to personnel) can cause a lot of issues getting projects off the ground or implementing new approaches, and finding innovative ways to keep everyone on the same page is a challenge if the person responsible for IT wants operations to run smoothly. All this without mentioning the abundance of issues and complaints that plague the IT team working in this kind of environment—from dealing with printer malfunctions to handling user requests, this job might seem never-ending. So yeah, a lot of concerns need to be addressed if an IT department is going to remain effective at delivering services efficiently. So, what to do?
Seeking help
Convincing management to invest in software development partners and other resources can be tricky for a small IT department, considering the financial constraints they typically face. The key, however, is explaining the long-term value of bringing in some extra help. A team not only can save money by having development partners offload specific non-core tasks, but also will save time by utilizing that same expertise in areas with shortages in talent. To this end, outlining exactly how this support would impact the bottom line is of utmost importance when making your case before the correct people. If management sees there’s an immediate improvement to both resources and output, their support becomes easier to secure.
So, if an IT department wants to get the attention of management and convince them to invest in the technology necessary to make this work, there are a few steps they can take to increase their chances. First, compiling a persuasive presentation highlighting the areas where you feel these new investments will bring the greatest return is a great start. Sharing any positive outcomes from similar projects you’ve seen in other organizations that demonstrate cost/benefit could also work. Finally, building relationships with stakeholders and discussing use cases within your organization so they can visualize how it will have real, tangible benefits for the company is your trump card. With a combination of proactive research, clever business reasoning, and solid data, any IT department can make a solid case for investing in the correct talent, and adequate resources.
However, what kind of help should you look for? Well, if you want to see an immediate change for the organization you work for, Nearshore partnerships can be an incredible option for small IT departments seeking software solutions done quickly and well. By hiring a Nearshore partner to build software for you, whether it’s custom-built or COTS, the development process can be much smoother and faster—no more worrying about the hassle of finding your own qualified engineers, who then have to learn systems from scratch. Nearshore partnerships also provide great access to outside talent, giving your team all the support they need while avoiding language barriers and closing the time zone gap to synchronize every effort during the project. And with cost-effectiveness being another major perk of Nearshoring, you’ll quickly see why it’s an unbeatable option when it comes time to revitalize your IT department and bring the solutions that your organization needs.
Finding help
If you already decided to work with a Nearshore partner, and you need to convince management of what a good idea this is, making the right choice will be critical for success. Nearshoring can help scale operations and reduce the burden on your own team without sacrificing quality, that much is clear, but when looking for a partner, it’s important to align on culture, core values, and technical capabilities.
To that end, it’s important to do your research and make sure that you’re working with a team with a business culture that matches that of the organization you work for. Take some time to ask questions about their processes, their continuity plans, and what makes them stand out from other Nearshore contenders—this will help narrow down your list of potential candidates, but also make sure you know their approach to collaboration, sharing of knowledge, and how communication and trust are usually built between teams. You should also ascertain whether or not they have experience dealing with existing infrastructure and whether they are properly certified in every framework and tool that best suits your plans. ast but not least, it’s sensible to check that the individuals involved have the necessary skill sets needed by your company, if they are open to learning and growing their skills, and ensure that there is clear communication between them and you throughout the whole process. Letting this kind of effort into developing a strong relationship with a Nearshore provider will pay off when it’s time to make decisions and get results delivered.
“The benefit of connecting with a Nearshore development partner for a small IT department trying to implement a new software solution cannot be understated”, says Rod Aburto, Service Delivery Manager, and Partner, at Scio. “It’s more efficient, cost-effective, and hassle-free compared to hiring additional employees or plain outsourcing. By engaging in Nearshore development, you or your team will have direct access to experts who have infrastructure and resources right on hand, so you can trust that any implementations or changes will go smoothly, without worrying about time zone differences or language barriers. And you can be certain that the process won’t stretch out of control as it often does when using offshore solutions. Given their efficiency, working with Nearshore solutions means less stress on budget concerns allowing the Head of IT to find the best route forward for their company.”
In the case of the best software development in Mexico, Scio offers expertise and technical know-how to engage and deliver the best software solutions around, with a collaborative approach that can augment any project from the get-go. We know that finding the right software solutions for a small IT department can often be a daunting task, and limited resources and staff make it difficult to find solutions quickly and efficiently in an organization of any size. That’s why the Scio approach to Nearshore partnerships remains the best option to bridge this gap, providing efficient IT solutions developed with experienced developers ready to seamlessly integrate with any workflow. Legacy systems and other barriers to innovation in companies that traditionally don’t do software can build these partnerships to deliver a wealth of knowledge and experience, allowing for quick scalability and turnaround times—ideal for teams who are looking for solutions with minimal risk. By having dedicated back-end support, location flexibility, reasonable cost savings, and considerable expertise available at the same time, Nearshore partnerships are one of the best options for any small IT department that needs quality software fast. At Scio, help is on the way, with all the skills you need.
The Key Takeaways
- IT is the cornerstone of many mid-sized companies and beyond, but if software is not the priority, budget, and resources might not be the best.
- Ideally, the IT department of any organization would have enough resources to implement any innovative solution that might make work and productivity more efficient, so alternatives should be considered.
- In that sense, Nearshore development partners might be the answer for a small IT department, offering the flexibility and scalability necessary for any kind of budget and support.
- However, you should make sure that the business culture matches your organization, as this will guarantee that any partnership and collaboration effort will yield the best outcomes.