Have you ever called a carpenter to make your home furnishings or connected with a baker to bake a cake for you? Yes, we all would have done this at a certain point in our lives.
But do you know what this activity is termed when you get the work done by external professionals? It is termed "outsourcing.”. But, when we talk about it from an IT point of view we can term it software development outsourcing.
According to one study by Fortunly, the global outsourcing market is expected to grow by a huge $98 million from 2020 to 2024.
This shows that outsourcing software development to external companies has become common among established businesses and startups. But which type of software outsourcing would help you attain business growth is still a question.
In this article, we’ve covered all the main types of software development outsourcing that you can choose from. Let’s understand all of them one by one.
Now, let’s first begin by understanding the different types of software development outsourcing.
There are various types of software development outsourcing models; these models can be broadly divided into three categories:
The three categories are as follows:
Location-based Outsourcing
Relationship-based Outsourcing
Contract-based outsourcing
All the above three are further divided into various sub-types. Before understanding the subtypes, let’s understand all three main categories in brief with their subtypes.
In this type of software outsourcing, decisions are made primarily based on geographical and economic factors. For example, it would be much cheaper to outsource software development work to an external team in another part of the world.
There are namely five subtypes when we talk about location-based software development hiring.
In this kind of outsourcing model, a team is sent to work from an external premises for as long as the organization needs them. In this model, they will be employed by the outsourcing company itself. An onsite outsourced team would be closely working with the existing team to speed up the development process.
In this type of outsourcing model, the outsourcing work is delegated to an outsourced team that is from the same country in which the existing team exists. This won’t be in the same city or region, but it would still give you access to expertise without any hurdles. Despite this being one of the simplest location-based outsourcing models, it has some limitations.
Nearshore outsourcing expands the options slightly, offering enhanced access to specialized skills and cost savings without the logistical challenges of significant time zone differences. Typically, this involves engaging an outsourced team from a neighboring or regional country.
Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that cultural, linguistic, and legal nuances might still present challenges, contingent on the specific countries in question.
Offshoring involves delegating tasks to a global outsourcing firm, offering cost benefits and continuous work cycles. Success hinges on partnering with a trusted provider known for robust communication and secure data handling. We also provide a detailed guide on leveraging offshoring for business growth.
Software development outsourcing offers the flexibility to mix different models based on your project needs and integration with your team. For instance, you can employ an onsite company for UX support while outsourcing intensive back-end development to a cost-effective Asian partner.
Under this structure, various teams are formed based on the nature of the relationship between the client & the outsourcing firm. Specifically, determining whether the outsourced team is integrated as a component of the client's internal operations or functions as an independent organization is essential.
There are namely three subtypes of this outsourcing type
Staff augmentation involves hiring personnel from an outsourcing company to enhance your in-house team's capacity and skill set. These staff members can work either on-site or remotely, for a set duration or a specific project, offering a swift way to increase capabilities without the costs and delays of recruiting full-time employees.
In this outsourcing model, a dedicated team of developers is deployed to work on a specific project requirement. This time would work for the client for as long as the services are required.
Based on this relationship-based model, the outsourced development partner would manage & supervise the whole development work based on different project requirements.
In this type of outsourcing model, it is to be seen how the outsourcing company is paid and for what tasks it is paid. This can be through a fixed price or a flexible payment option, etc.
There are namely two subtypes in the last category of types software development outsourcing.
This approach involves agreeing on a total price for a development project's scope, skills, and deliverables upfront, providing financial predictability and avoiding cost overruns. However, significant changes in project scope could still lead to additional costs.
Alternatively, consider the time and materials model, where the outsourcing firm tracks resource use and bills you accordingly. While costs might exceed initial estimates, this model offers flexibility, allowing adjustments to meet changing needs without compromising app quality.
In the below table, we’ve mentioned the Pros & Cons of all ten types of Software Development Outsourcing
Outsourcing Type | PROS | CONS |
Onsite Outsourcing | Close collaboration with the in-house team. Immediate response to project changes | Higher costs compared to other outsourcing models. Possible cultural and language barriers |
Onshore Outsourcing | No significant cultural or language barriers. Easier coordination and legal compliance. | Higher costs compared to nearshore and offshore. Limited access to global talent |
Nearshore Outsourcing | Cost-effective compared to onshore
| Potential cultural and language nuances Limited talent pool compared to offshore |
Offshore Outsourcing | Significant cost savings Access to a global talent pool | Cultural and language barriers |
Multishore Outsourcing | Flexibility to combine different models | Complexity in coordination and management |
IT Staff Augmentation | Quick scaling of team capabilities | Can be expensive in the long term |
Managed Team Model | Dedicated focus on specific projects | Less control over team dynamics
|
Project-based Outsourcing | Fixed scope and deliverables | Limited flexibility for scope changes |
Fixed-Price Model | Predictable budgeting | Risk of quality compromise to stay within budget |
Time & Materials Outsourcing | Flexibility in scope and requirement changes | Uncertain total cost |
Now, let’s compare which outsourcing model will suit your business needs the most.
Certainly, each application development project and business is unique, which means a variety of factors must be considered when selecting among different software development outsourcing models. Nonetheless, the table provided offers a broad overview to help you identify which models suit your needs and which ones you should steer clear of.
Software Development Outsourcing Model | Choose if you: | Avoid if you: |
Onsite Outsourcing | Want to boost your in-house skill set | Simply want to outsource to save costs |
Onshore Outsourcing | Want more skills without facing a language or cultural barrier | Want to work in a country with a limited talent pool |
Nearshore Outsourcing | Want to save money by hiring an outsourced team in similar time zones | Want to operate with a region with many different cultures |
Offshore Outsourcing | When you want to maximize your cost efficiency by broadening your skills | Do not have clear communication in place |
Multishore Outsourcing | When you have a chunk of work to complete in a single timeframe | When you are not able to manage multiple arrangements at the same time |
Staff augmentation model | When you lack an in-house team budget to hire full-time employees | When you are struggling to integrate a fixed-term staff into your team |
Managed team model | When you need a group of developers across a range of skills | Want to have a close collaboration with your team |
Time & materials model | You want a guaranteed delivery of the project | When you are concerned about cost overruns in the longer run |
Fixed-price model | Want a full predictability of costs & prices | When you are looking to have lots of changes in the project scope |
Project-based model | When you do not have time to manage the project | When you are aiming to retain control over costs & data. |
Now, let’s understand what factors are important to analyze while choosing the right software development outsourcing partner.
Before hiring a software development outsourcing partner there are some factors you need to consider.
Read How to Choose the Right IT Outsourcing Partner? to know all the factors that will affect your outsourcing software development decision.
Software Development Outsourcing has become an effective method to build custom software. In this article, we learned the different types of Software development outsourcing options available. We also learned the factors that are important to analyze when you are opting for a software development outsourcing partner.
If you are fascinated about Software Development outsourcing & love this series then go nowhere as we have a lot more to cover in the upcoming parts. Stay Tuned!. Also, if you missed out on reading the first part then worry not you can read it right now!
I love to make a difference. Thus, I started Acquaint Softtech with the vision of making developers easily accessible and affordable to all. Me and my beloved team have been fulfilling this vision for over 15 years now and will continue to get even bigger and better.
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