{"id":75668,"date":"2018-12-03T05:56:28","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T05:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/?p=75668"},"modified":"2024-05-30T12:47:07","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T12:47:07","slug":"software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Mistakes to Avoid When Outsourcing Software Development"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s true that every business process takes time to learn, execute, and grasp\u2014but they are essential steps, nonetheless, and thus should be meticulously done to keep the company going.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-75669\" src=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Software-Development-Outsourcing-Mistakes1.jpg\" alt=\"Software Development Outsourcing Mistakes\" width=\"1280\" height=\"855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Software-Development-Outsourcing-Mistakes1.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Software-Development-Outsourcing-Mistakes1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Software-Development-Outsourcing-Mistakes1-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Software-Development-Outsourcing-Mistakes1-1024x684.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it\u2019s also true that all businesses aim to be the best in their industry and to achieve that, they need to focus more time and effort in the activities in which they intend to be experts. When you become the best in the field, you become more globally competitive, giving you an edge against other companies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But that would mean abandoning other activities which may still be necessary. To solve this dilemma, outsourcing some businesses processes can help, especially with things like IT-related tasks. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outsourcing software development<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other functions will allow you to focus your resources on your area of expertise, so you can have more time to modernize offerings, give better customer service, and increase profits.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Rising demand for software developers makes this a more competitive playing field, so it helps to know the best practices to take:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>The Selection Process<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you\u2019ve decided to get into outsourcing, it\u2019s time to find the right partner. Keep in mind that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.business.com\/articles\/choosing-software-developers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not all software development services are created equal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, so you need to be on the lookout for considerations that fit your needs. Due diligence can make or break the quality of the software, not to mention your business relationship with your third-party service provider.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some factors to consider include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Location and distance of the outsourced company<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experience and qualifications\u2014including communication skills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technical expertise <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cultural considerations <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rates<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legal, physical, and technical protection<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Costly_Mistakes_When_Outsourcing_Software_Development\" title=\"Costly Mistakes When Outsourcing Software Development\">Costly Mistakes When Outsourcing Software Development<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Not_doing_market_research\" title=\"Not doing market research\">Not doing market research<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Poor_selection_process\" title=\"Poor selection process\">Poor selection process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Unclear_requirements_and_vision\" title=\"Unclear requirements and vision\">Unclear requirements and vision<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Putting_hourly_rate_ahead_of_everything\" title=\"Putting hourly rate ahead of everything\">Putting hourly rate ahead of everything<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Resisting_knowledge_of_modern_trends\" title=\"Resisting knowledge of modern trends\">Resisting knowledge of modern trends<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Ignorance_of_cultural_differences\" title=\"Ignorance of cultural differences\">Ignorance of cultural differences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Not_considering_the_difference_in_time_zone\" title=\"Not considering the difference in time zone\">Not considering the difference in time zone<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Poor_communication\" title=\"Poor communication\">Poor communication<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Not_hiring_your_own_in-house_developer\" title=\"Not hiring your own in-house developer\">Not hiring your own in-house developer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/software-development-outsourcing-mistakes-to-avoid\/#Not_considering_security_and_protection\" title=\"Not considering security and protection\">Not considering security and protection<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Costly_Mistakes_When_Outsourcing_Software_Development\"><\/span><b>Costly Mistakes When Outsourcing Software Development<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_doing_market_research\"><\/span><b>Not doing market research<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before even attempting to outsource software development, do a bit of market research. Understand the hurdle that you want your solutions to overcome, then find the market for service providers that address said hurdle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify what solutions your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">competitors are using<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Look at some of the more successful brands in your industry. What are they offering? How do they execute their strategies? Don\u2019t worry too much about the negative perception with copying your competitors\u2019 strategies because without market research, you will fail even if your idea is original.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Poor_selection_process\"><\/span><b>Poor selection process<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned, a thorough selection process can help you find the best service provider. In essence, not considering the factors (perhaps, just choosing one because it\u2019s cheap) is a recipe for disaster. Conduct research and analysis on your prospects, including cost-based and non-cost-based factors, operating model, and get an understanding of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how the market functions<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also check reviews and feedbacks from previous customers, read their portfolio, website, blog posts, and social media accounts, or learn their company values and culture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unclear_requirements_and_vision\"><\/span><b>Unclear requirements and vision <\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without details of the project, your outsourced team won\u2019t be able to work on anything, and things can get worse if your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">details are incomplete<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You first need to know exactly you want to create to form the idea and implement it through the software. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along with a vision for the project, you need to have a plan on how to see it through. More importantly, communicate it clearly to the team\u2014everyone from both sides must have a deep understanding of the project and should ask any questions if anything is unclear.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Putting_hourly_rate_ahead_of_everything\"><\/span><b>Putting hourly rate ahead of everything <\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rates will always be a consideration when it comes to outsourcing, but the problem occurs when hourly rates become the main determinant when choosing a team. What many businesses don\u2019t realize is that, in the long run, they could be <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spending much more on fixing the mistakes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> made by their badly-picked team. However, it\u2019s also true that high hourly rates don\u2019t guarantee high-quality work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, pay attention to the hourly rate but don\u2019t consider it as the most critical consideration, as low prices don\u2019t guarantee savings. Have a range of hourly rates that you\u2019re happy to work with, filter the potential candidates by this factor, and then continue checking for other necessary elements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Resisting_knowledge_of_modern_trends\"><\/span><b>Resisting knowledge of modern trends<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few reasons why some software development teams are not able to keep up with the newest techniques or trends in their industry. The problem lies when your work requires those modern ways to come into play. However, it\u2019s also never a good indication when an outsourced company fails to learn new solutions to obstacles using the latest technology trends.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ignorance_of_cultural_differences\"><\/span><b>Ignorance of cultural differences <\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This often happens when the outsourced company is located abroad, or a country that is not of your own. Even if there\u2019s no language barrier (as long as both parties speak proper English), <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">discrepancies between cultures will always be evident<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, whether it\u2019s through the gestures, speaking intonations, traditions, and customs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When not appropriately handled, differences may cause communication breakdowns and process inefficiencies. Therefore, it\u2019s also important to get acquainted with your partner\u2019s cultural norms and orient your own staff about them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_considering_the_difference_in_time_zone\"><\/span><b>Not considering the difference in time zone <\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another problem that may arise when getting a partner abroad is the difference in time zones. Communication is essential when working with an outsourced company to ensure that the process is going smoothly. However, a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">difference in working hours<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may be a problem when progress gets halted due to delays that are the main consequences of different work schedules. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite this, there are ways to stay productive and keep the work going. May it be adjusting schedules as necessary or overlapping work hours to give both parties a chance to align, you need to sidestep this hurdle and work with this time zone difference in the best way possible (if applicable).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Poor_communication\"><\/span><b>Poor communication<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contrary to what you may think, having a partner in a different country isn\u2019t the only root cause of poor communication between teams. After all, there are tools like email and instant messaging that can make remote staffing work. It\u2019s merely because, for some reason, there are teams who refuse to collaborate or stay informed about what\u2019s going on. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utilize multiple channels, so you have a backup just in case one doesn\u2019t work. Make sure to respond promptly when questions or concerns are raised. Having regular meetings to keep the teams up to speed about any problems or what needs to be done next is also important. Orient the team, as well, on how to appropriately respond to emails or messages.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_hiring_your_own_in-house_developer\"><\/span><b>Not hiring your own in-house developer<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may have a solid team of software developers as partners, but who will supervise their work? This is where an expert can help you. Someone who has at least some degree of knowledge in software development can look after the quality and aptness of work. This employee can also set clear-cut requirements for the outsourced team to follow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_considering_security_and_protection\"><\/span><b>Not considering security and protection<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Privacy is essential when it comes to many things, including software development. Different countries <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have different legal systems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; therefore, it\u2019s likely that when you get a partner from abroad, you are not automatically bound by the same intellectual property rules.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you hire an offshore vendor and trust them with potentially sensitive information, pay close attention to the contract management. Have a legal expert on staff so you can properly set a non-disclosure agreement with all areas clearly defined to protect your project as your intellectual property.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Get Outsourcing Right<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, the right outsourcing company is one that is equally motivated as you are because you share the same vision, especially if your requirements are bespoke in nature. Having a working partner also entails building and maintaining a good relationship. After all, you\u2019re basically working toward the same goal, and it\u2019s a lot easier to meet the objectives when working in harmony.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Looking for an outsourced software provider to enhance your business&#8217; IT capabilities? Look no further than your expert team at Intelligent Bee!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s true that every business process takes time to learn, execute, and grasp\u2014but they are essential steps, nonetheless, and thus [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":75669,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77],"tags":[1505,1624,1625],"yst_prominent_words":[1614,1623,1622,1621,1620,1619,1618,1617,1616,1615,268,1613,1503,1209,1207,320,311,308,307,275],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75668"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75668"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":133034,"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75668\/revisions\/133034"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75668"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intelligentbee.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=75668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}