You’ve got an important project coming up. You’ve mulled over whether or not you should do it in-house, or bring on a few contractors to do the job. It looks like your best bet is to outsource the job. That’s a good choice! Keep your team focused on what they do best in the meantime, and everything works out well.
Now that you’ve made your choice, your next step is finding the right development house to use. One of the more important decisions you’ll make is choosing between upwork and working directly with an outsourcing company. Before you choose, keep reading. We’ll go over the pros & cons of doing both.
About Upwork
We’ve chosen Upwork for this comparison. However, the truth is, there are multiple companies just like them. What Upwork does is match companies with freelancers and development teams for the projects they are working on.
One benefit of using Upwork is that it’s very hands off. Most of the billing and accounting can all be done through the company. They also do the selecting for you. All you have to do is provide the project details and requirements. If there are any issues, they say they will take the reins and help you solve them.
Upwork is among the most well-known sites for freelancers and development teams. They don’t just work in the IT arena though. They are a bit of an all-purpose website. They work with graphic designers, writers, and more.
The Downside
Those are the positives about Upwork. Unfortunately, there are also some negatives. First, if you look through a site like Trustpilot, you will find a lot of negative reviews. Many freelancers have had very negative experiences with them. There are also unhappy clients. Before using their services, you might have to ask yourself, ‘Am I okay with a company that treats its people that way?’
There’s another issue with using companies such as this. You’ll spend a lot of time dealing with representatives and salespeople. When you deal with a developer, it’s likely going to be someone who is carefully selected to communicate with you, not necessarily the one who will be working on your project. You miss out on any real chance to determine whether or not the developer or team you work with is really up to snuff.
Another issue is that because things are so hands off, the platform might shift developers on you mid-project. For example, the advanced developer you work with during the initial stages could be pulled off your project. That might leave you working with a junior developer.
Customer feedback can also be a problem. It may not reflect reality. In many cases, businesses like these will negotiate refunds with unhappy customers. Basically, they get their money back. In return, they delete any negative feedback they’ve left on Trustpilot or other review sites. This leaves a false impression that there are fewer negative reviews than their really are.
Here’s one last thing to consider. Upwork is a company that is connected with 1000s of freelancers and businesses. It’s all a bit impersonal. If you need ongoing support and maintenance or have a new project, chances are you’ll be matched with workers who are completely unfamiliar to you.
Working With an Outsourcing Company
Things work quite a bit different when you reach out to an outsourcing company directly. When you hire the developer or development team to work on your latest project, you work in direct contact with the people who will be doing the design, development, and implementation of your project.
Yes, this means that you have to work with that company when it comes to writing up a contract, and invoicing them. However, most well-established businesses have systems in place to make all of this very easy for you.
Many customers who take this route, appreciate the personal touch. They know that during the process, they’ll be communicating with the people who are working on the project. They can also form great professional relationships along the way. Most people appreciate receiving support and maintenance from the same people who were responsible for development.
Now, let’s talk about pricing. As you can imagine, companies like Upwork act as a middleman. You will pay for the privilege of their matching you with someone to work on your project. Is that something you can afford? If that money is in your budget, it might be better spent on something project related, not paying a finder’s fee.
The final benefit is all about quality work. When you hire an outsourcing firm directly, that is the start of an ongoing relationship. These are businesses that rely on reputation, and the word of happy clients to succeed. They cannot afford your bad feedback or reviews. Your business isn’t one of the thousands. You are a valued customer and a potential reference for future business. Will your complaints or concerns be as important to a company that has thousands of workers, and even more clients?
The Bottom Line
If you have a quick, one-off project that is ideal for a junior developer, going through Upwork or other similar firms might work out just fine for you. In most cases, you are probably better going with a firm you can work with directly. There’s more quality control, and you’ll be treated as an important client, not just one of the thousands. If you’ve tried Upwork or other agency, we invite you to give Brainberry a try. We sincerely believe you’ll be glad you did.