When looking at global digital trends, it’s safe to say that outsourcing software and web development has become a global phenomenon over the years, and today, it’s more or less considered the norm in several different niches and industries. 

Still, what are the pros and cons of outsourcing web development? On that note, how do you outsource web development to make the most out of it? 

In this article, we’ll aim to focus on not just the advantages of outsourcing web development but the strategies and tactics that may yield the best benefits in your case. 

How To Outsource Web Development: A Practice Born out of Necessity

The progress made in the digital landscape in the last two decades made having an online presence a must. As such, most industries and niches with experts less tech-savvy in this particular field of knowledge found themselves in a situation where they’d either hire web development experts to work with them in-house or hire them to do it (literally outsource the web development tasks).

Nowadays, outsourcing has become the norm, even for larger businesses. For example, 66% of US firms outsource at least one of their departments. Out of all outsourcing segments, the IT market is among the largest, with an anticipated spending of around $1.3 trillion by the end of this year. Lastly, the most popular IT outsourcing categories are web hosting, software and web development, and administration outsourcing, making up more than half, or 63.5%, of the market’s total worth.  

Still, choosing the best web development services needs at least some careful planning and research. 

Why Do Companies Outsource Software Development: Five Reasons

Several companies started off small, then through hard work, dedication, and smart business decisions. Some experts say that the reason behind their success is the ability to delegate their increased number of tasks and processes to outsourced teams. Namely, they’ve outsourced web development projects to save both time and resources while ensuring a stellar return on their investment in not just the monetary sense.  

So, why do companies outsource software and web development? Here are a few main reasons:

Smart Planning and Resource Management

One of the most obvious advantages of outsourcing web development is cost reduction. You don’t need to hire and train an entire development, designer, and project management team. Instead, you hire a fully staffed company that has all the knowledge, staff, and systems to implement your project. This saves precious time, as you don’t have to build your own in-house team, and you aren’t responsible for paying your development team’s taxes, insurance, social benefits, office space, and so on.

Access to Industry-Leading Talent

For outsourcing firms, being competitive and offering top-notch services is pivotal. Again, one of the reasons to outsource web development is simply because these firms have probably already hired the best professionals with a strong portfolio, rock-solid experience, and outstanding results. If you choose to create your own in-house team, chances are you won’t be able to hire top experts right off the bat.

Easy Scaling

How fast you can scale your web development projects is a pretty good indicator of your firm’s overall growth. As such, it can also serve as a great reason to outsource web development, as agencies will be striving to meet your requirements and will always be flexible enough to meet your growing needs. Chances are, they are also working on several more ongoing projects, which means that they will always have the human resources to accommodate your project, no matter how large it gets. 

You Will Have The Time To Focus on Your Business

Why do companies outsource software development? Simple, to have more time to focus on their business efforts. Typically, if you choose to outsource, you will be most involved with the agency’s work during the onboarding process, when the project managers and developers ask you about your goals, needs, and, generally, about your project. Once these meetings and arrangements are over, you won’t be involved in the web development project that much and will only have to answer a few questions, review the progress already made, and, ultimately, approve the final product. 

Fast Product Launch

No matter whether you need a new website, an app, or any other piece of software, these highly skilled developers will be lightning-fast to validate your business idea, create the final product, fix any bugs, and launch your site fast. 

The Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Web Development

To outsource a web development project implies that you, as the project owner, entrust another company and its team to do the project. This means that the hired company will provide the developers, designers, content experts, and other specialists who are managed by project managers who will regularly report the progress of the development process.

That said, what are the pros and cons of outsourcing web development? In short, clients will generally point out the following:

Pros:

• Less expensive than in-house development.
• Working with skilled experts.
• Having a fully-staffed team right from the start.
• The development process is already organized.
• The project starts off quickly.
• It is ideal if you are starting your project from scratch.

Cons: 

• Transparency may lack a bit.
• The client has less control over the development process.
• Remote collaboration may prove to be difficult.
• Clients may risk revealing confidential information.

Still, it’s important to understand that each project is different, so that doesn’t mean that the disadvantages will ultimately outweigh the advantages of outsourcing web development. 

Simply put, you will have to do your research, find the company you have faith in, weigh every other factor, and pick an option that suits your needs.

How to Outsource Web Development: Quick Guide

So, how should you get started with outsourcing your upcoming web development project? The following few steps may help you find the ideal outsourcing partner,

Define Your Main Business Goals and Requirements

Define the kind of website you want the outsourced team to build. What are the goals you want to achieve by building a website? Who is your target audience? Will they be able to benefit from your website? 

If you want the partnership to work on your end, you will have to answer all these questions and be really specific about your needs and goals. This will make the initial onboarding faster and lead to a higher satisfaction rate on your side since the web development team will know exactly what your expectations and needs are. 

Determine a Budget and a Time Frame for Your Project

Defining a budget is also a crucial part on your end because it will directly influence the complexity of the project, not to mention it will also influence the outsourcing company you’ll need to choose. 

How much do outsourcing companies charge? The answer to this question will depend on several factors and will also be something you will have to research, as you will want to find a company that suits your needs and budget. 

Regarding your timeline, the exact release or launch date will probably be established after finding an outsourcing agency and finishing up the onboarding process. 

Nonetheless, when considering an outsourcing web development company, the projected time frame derived from the project’s technical prerequisites could also play a role in your decision-making process. Companies boasting extensive experience and a team of exceptional specialists are generally better equipped to meet stringent deadlines and swiftly deliver the desired outcomes.

Establish Your Requirements Refaring Your Partnership

Before finding a partner, you will have to determine the characteristics you are looking for. Indeed, you will want to partner up with an agency with a stellar portfolio, rock-solid past experiences, and several successful projects. 

Also, you will want to work with a company where you can communicate effectively. Look for reviews, and do your research. Make sure to make a list of the most suitable options. Also, don’t be afraid to contact each of your candidates to get a first impression and gain some insight into their work processes. 

Choose a Trustworthy Partner

As mentioned above, make a list of your potential candidates. All of them should meet your criteria regarding experience, location, budget, and so on. 

Make sure that you’ve reviewed all of their case studies and read the reviews about their previous works and projects. After you’ve conducted all the research, reach out to them and talk business. 

Choose a Partner That Offers an NDA Agreement

Excerpts will always want to do things officially, legally, and professionally. Make a contract that will cover the following:

• The terms of the project.
• The budget of the web development project.
• The obligations and rights of both partners involved.
• Warranties.
• The main definitions of the project and development process.

The NDA (non-disclosure agreement) should also be confidential, meaning that the outsourcing agency will have to safeguard the information you share with their teams.

Create a Model To Oversee The Project

Before you actually begin the project, establish the basic terms of communication with the agency. This will help you monitor the entire process. That said, typically, you will need to discuss:

• The best times for meetings, especially if there are time zone differences,
• Final deadlines for progress reports and intermediate applications
• When the preliminary design will be available
• The approximate budget for strategic items and the website development project. 

How to Outsource Web Development: Additional Tips 

Before we wrap this up, here are a few more tips that will help you find the best agency that will suit your needs: 

• Narrow down your choices to those companies that have previous experience with web development projects in your field. For instance, if you are in the medical field and looking for app development services, it’s essential to look for a potential partner who has a proven record in healthcare app development.
• Do your research on your potential candidates. Rarely do outsourcing companies share their failures and tend only to focus on their success stories. Be thorough and look for reviews all over the internet. There are several platforms where you can perform a more profound background check, and you can always reach out to previous or current clients to learn more.
• Strive for solid communication. It’s pivotal that both sides are on the same page to create an effective partnership. Ensure that the agency understands your requirements and requests and that problems with time zone differences are handled. Make sure to give timely feedback and enforce the same if you have any concerns or questions. 

Final Words

Entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes increasingly embrace web development outsourcing services as a strategic choice. This approach offers multiple advantages, including cost reduction, access to top-tier web developers worldwide, and accelerated product launches. 

However, the key to a successful outcome lies in your collaboration with a dependable and proficient outsourcing team.