Offshore Development: An Exploration of Myths and Realities

As the CEO of a software development firm that does most of our development offshore, I am acutely aware of the concerns around offshore development. First, people inside and outside the IT field often need clarification over the terms onshore and offshore. Both terms refer to software development services, which are designing, creating, deploying, and supporting software. The difference on the surface is the location where the software is being developed. 

So, if the only difference is location, why should it matter?

The first exercise any organization or individual should do when considering outsourcing software development is to understand the factors. The most important factors to consider are cost, time zone, availability of resources, culture, language, and security. The question to ask is what is important to me and my organization. On the face of things, the table below describes these factors. 

As you can see, the decision can be entirely based on your project, and both models have pros and cons. As an offshore development firm, I want to debunk some myths around offshoring and talk about how ConcertIDC manages the risks of outsourced software development (notice I said outsourced, not offshore, because the risks are present for all outsourcing).

It's critical to partner with a firm like ConcertIDC that really understands how to manage offshore teams. ConcertIDC is a US-based company with development team employees in the US and India.  

Our US-based Client Product Managers are experienced software development professionals who liaise between clients and engineers. Unlike many firms, liaison does not mean this is the only person you talk to. For success, clients must have direct communication with the Technical Lead and Project Manager/Scrum Master on your project. We do not gatekeep those relationships; we encourage them.  

Beyond just have a US based resource, our team in India works overlap hours with our clients. Every workday, and on nights and weekends, our team is available to work through issues, have meetings and build together your software. This blended team approach is the foundation of our success.

Myth 1: Communication is too hard with an offshore firm.

Communication is the first and most important thing when providing any service to a third party. I won't pretend that accents can't be challenging at times, but communication is much more than what is spoken in meetings. Good processes and documentation are critical to the success of any software development project. By rigorously applying discipline to written communication and process, communication should not be a barrier. 

Myth 2: There can't be real-time collaboration.

For some offshore firms, this may be true, but ConcertIDC requires our employees to work at a minimum four-hour overlap of the client time zone. So, each day there is real-time collaboration with your development team. 

Myth 3: Quality Assurance is a problem with offshore. 

I have heard some say it is easier for local resources to implement things correctly. The truth is that a bad process will equal bad software. Quality starts during the design phase and is built into every part of the process. Accurate User Stories and Test Acceptance criteria should be documented before writing the code. Continual feedback will also ensure that quality is not an issue. To learn more about ConcertIDC's specific processes, check out our blog about QA and UAT, written by one of our Quality Analysts. 

Myth 4: There is increased flexibility with onshore resources.

Increased flexibility is based on close collaboration with the client, rapid response time, scalability, etc. These factors can ensure that the project stays on track and meets all client needs. There is no reason an offshore firm can't meet and exceed all these requirements just as well as any onshore firm. The real value of ConcertIDC comes in knowing how to manage a remote team and building constant communication. 

Advantages of Choosing Offshore Software Development with ConcertIDC

Value

Doing a project with the help of ConcertIDC can be cheaper but most importantly it can provide your organization great value. You don't have to neglect and sacrifice the quality or level of expertise to decrease the cost.

High Scalability 

The development process can be arduous. There may not be a fixed time for the process to complete, though you can tell an approximate time for the development. When opting for ConcertIDC, we have the ability to scale up the number of developers and speed up the delivery if you need it. 

Access to The Latest Technologies

Due to the breadth of talented technologists in India, ConcertIDC has access to developers with specialties in rare technologies. Sometimes, hiring a team onshore can limit your project, causing you to compromise on features. ConcertIDC has well-trained developers who can do the work and provide results. 

Improved Focus on Core Business Activities       

Our motto is You build your business; we build your software.  

The truth is that onshore and offshore software development both have advantages and disadvantages. Each initiative or project should be evaluated based on its criteria. Offshore development should absolutely be an option considered for anyone building software. ConcertIDC is committed to our customers' building great software and freeing up valuable resources for other parts of the business.