Near-shore Outsourcing: Practice and Process to Selecting the Best Software Development Services Partner
By Jay Elliott and Victoria Lohvin,
Orbital Technologies Inc.
Maintaining software development competencies across various platforms and OS versions is no easy feat. With today’s mobile devices running on any number of platforms from Linux to Symbian to Windows Mobile, many organizations have to invest considerably to build and maintain technical expertise to remain competitive.
Cost, quality, security and turn around time are more critical than ever to a software company’s success. To maintain a competitive edge, companies often seek to outsource software development to focus on their core business, gain resources in an otherwise unfamiliar development environment, or simply add resources to augment their busy in-house development teams.
While many companies have previously outsourced software development overseas, there is a growing industry desire to work with software development services firms closer to home – more recently referred to as near-shore outsourcing.
Near-shore software outsourcing is growing in popularity as companies are discovering that their software projects are becoming increasingly complex, require closer integration with other business or software development objectives, or are too critical to risk Intellectual Property (IP) infringement in distant overseas development shops.
With near-shore outsourcing, proximity is key. Geographically close relationships between client and software development partner create greater synergies, often resulting in tighter project management and reporting. Issues that arise during planning and development are more quickly resolved when outsourcing near-shore, and communication and scheduling are easier when working with a partner in the same or just a few time zones away.
North American software development services companies, like Vancouver’s Orbital Technologies (www.orbitaltech.com), have built and maintain a significant competency in wireless application development and Smartphone software solutions. Servicing the wireless sector means being always on the cutting edge of the technology, and companies such as Orbital have developers with experience and expertise to develop on multiple platforms, including all versions of Symbian, Windows Mobile and Linux.
IP infringement is generally less of a concern when outsourcing in North America. North American software development services companies are subject to familiar laws for safe guarding client IP. Working with an A-list software development partner like Orbital Technologies provides greater peace of mind, as the company has safety protocols and procedures to keep client IP separate and safe. At the end of the project, the client is also assured that all IP will be turned over to them and they will own all rights.
So how do you select the best software development services partner? Here are some things to look for.
Expertise – Look for a software development services firm with expertise and experience developing within the environment that you require, as well as other environments. Expertise and experience in other environments is beneficial, as concepts and knowledge can often be applied from other areas, resulting in a more robust and competitive solution.
Scalability – Ensure that a software development services company has the capability to ramp team size up or down. The very nature of software development services is gaining development resources. Make certain that the firm you choose has the capability to add or remove development talent to deliver your project complete and on time.
Commitment – Ask whether the development resources will be committed for the life of your project. Part of a software development services firm’s commitment to you should include dedicated development resources. New teams replacing old teams on your project require ramp time, which costs you money. By dedicating development resources to your project, you are assured that your project continues to efficiently and cost-effectively move forward. Your project will be delivered faster and cheaper, and you will have seamless knowledge transfer at the end.
Value – Look for software development services firms that provide value. The adage, ‘you get what you pay for,’ is true, cautionary and wise. Don’t necessarily decide upon the lowest hourly rate for development services; assess the entire project approach, the software development firm’s experience and expertise, the project delivery date and the firm’s track record for delivering complete solutions on time, and the overall involvement and commitment of the firm to work with you to plan and develop your project, ensuring a faster turn around and total success.
Financial Stability – Look for a software development partner that has a solid business model and is financially stable. Ensure the software development partner that you choose is focused and committed to providing software development services first and foremost. This ensures that the focus will be on you and your project, and that the firm has appropriate and proven processes in place to understand your needs and deliver your project complete and on time.
To view the WINBC publication of this article, click here.
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