Staying competitive and getting products to market is tough. Especially if you are a small business that does not have the IT staff to develop the apps that you know are marketable or that you need to for your business processes.
In these cases, the best option will be to outsource your IT needs. And here’s why.
- Cost Control
If you attempt to develop an in-house IT staff, you will incur the resulting expenses – salary, benefits, training, etc. that can drain a budget pretty quickly. When outsourcing, you only pay for the services you purchase as you purchase them.
- Avoid Hiring Temps
A lot of small businesses try to bring in temps from local services. There is always the issue of their background and experience and a learning curve that they may have once they come on board.
- Certifications vs. Experience
Lots of It pros have certifications of all sorts. And this is a good thing. But, what types of experiences do they really that are related to what you need? When you have identified the development needs you have, you can find an outsourcing firm with the specific experience you are seeking.
- Time Savings and Efficiency
When companies are able to outsource their development, they can negotiate timelines for completion, as well as regular discussions and updates regarding those timelines. There are contracts that will stipulate all of the details of development that you cannot always nail down with an in-house staff or even temporary employees.
- Shorter Time to Market or Implementation
When you are able to locate the right outsourcer, you will have found the resource that can begin new projects immediately. While in-house staff or new hires may need time to research and train, outsourcers who have the experience you need can provide rapid development and deployment.
- Focusing on Other Priorities
Every business owner has a lot of demands on his time and energy. And, if that business is small, the owner often wears many hats, as do the others that make up a small team. There is marketing, accounting functions, customer relationship management, and a host of other functions to administer. When IT development can be outsourced, the focus can be placed on running the business while others are developing the products.
- Risk Reduction
In product development, there are a number of issues that must be addressed – compliance and regulation factors, bugs, changes in technology, data analysis, and more. When solid outsourcers are secured, these types of risks are off your plate. It is their responsibility to ensure compliance, testing, debugging, and follow-up support if any issues do arise.
- Competing with the “Big Boys”
Large enterprises have the budgets and the development staff to create new products that are competitive and meet their customers’ needs and wants. Small businesses do not have the expertise and the technology to compete. Unless, of course, they choose to outsource product development and have the same access to expertise as the “big boys.”
- Security
Into any software product must be built in high-level security measures. Consider, for example, an app that either offers products or services for sale or that has a price tag itself. Keeping customer personal and financial information safe is an essential element of any product or service that is offered for purchase. When professional developers with plenty of experience, who are current with the latest security measures, businesses can have the confidence of knowing that breaches of their product will be functionally eliminated with the latest technology.
Are There Disadvantages?
Of course, there are disadvantages when IT or any other business functions are outsourced. Knowing them up front can help a business be proactive in preventing these from creating problems.
Risk of Exposure of Proprietary Information or data. Before ever signing that contract with an outsourcing firm, you have two tasks. Ensure that they have a full explanation of how your information is protected. And as for references that you can contact to check on this very thing.
Timelines that get stretched due to issues on the development end. Again, it is your responsibility to check that you will have a dedicated team and a project manager who provides consistent updates on the completion schedule
Hidden costs. The agreed-upon cost of any outsourced project should be determined in advance and become a part of the contract. Further, there should be penalties in place if deadlines are not met. Unless you change the parameters of the project, the costs should be fixed.
Outsourcing is a cost-effective solution that can move a small and/or mid-sized business into competition with large enterprises. Clearly, you can have all of the advantages of an IT staff without the financial and training costs involved in ramping up an in-house IT function. The key is to find the right organization with background and experience in your niche and a reputation for professionalism and success.
If you are ready to find that perfect solution for your IT outsourcing needs, then Brainberry is our option. Get n touch, and let’s discuss your needs.