IT Outsourcing Partner: How To Choose The Perfect Match?

Many companies are increasingly relying on outsourcing, especially for tasks which don’t require ongoing development. Thanks to that, they can reduce resources or time-to-market. However, as a project manager, I know that working with people can be a challenge. There are several aspects to pay close attention to when selecting an IT outsourcing partner to get a great result.

Read this article to learn what to look for when searching for an external service provider. Be confident that your choice will help you significantly reduce costs, introduce future-proof solutions and stay ahead of the competition. Remember, that outsourcing is usually not a one-time situation, so it’s crucial to find the right outsourcing provider.

Is outsourcing the right choice for you?

Foremost, consider whether you can handle the project within your own company or you need a support of outsourcing partner.

If you want to implement an off-the-shelf product, build a solution that you will use rather than continuously develop for the next 10 years, or modernize legacy systems, outsourcing is a better option. In that case, you’ll save a lot of money on regular salaries, time in completing a team from scratch or generally figuring out what such a solution should look like.

A good service provider will conceptualize, design, build and implement the solution, yet will be consulting each step with your needs. But if you want to build a product that will be continuously improved with new features, you should think more on the in-house team. Of course, the final decision is yours. After all, many businesses use outsourcing service for some processes that recur every month instead of investing in their own team, so put your needs first. And if you want to know why it is still worth outsourcing custom software development, read this.

Sometimes an outsourced team can be a lifesaver even if you have in-house resources. The skill base may be not sufficient. With IT outsourcing partners, you can easily scale your team up or down as needed. You get access to a wide range of skills that are not available within your organization. That frees up opportunities and removes constraints on your path to creating better projects. An example might be the implementation of a new technology that would improve your work, but is unknown to your on-site team. By finding a dedicated team to handle it, you gain access to competitive advantage.

Choosing an IT outsourcing partner: what to look for

The decision on who to select as an IT outsourcing partner cannot be a random one, as it can affect the future of the company. You need to invest enough effort and energy to find the perfect one.  

Choosing the right outsourcing partner, you will be able to gain a long-term service provider who you can always come back to with new topics, or get some useful recommendations.

To help you, I’ve compiled a list of important aspects you should consider when choosing an IT outsourcing partner and shared some best practices.

Expertise and experience

This may seem to be an obvious point, but there are situations when matching technology stack does not mean that a company will take your project. A good deal of IT outsourcing services companies operate only in their own specialization. Therefore, look for an outsourcing partner who has expertise in the specific technology AND field you require. For example, JavaScript may be used for the creation of games for mobile devices as well as for development of desktop applications, yet an outsourcing company may have no clue on building games. 

Check on the website, or ask for a portfolio, and case studies that can assess a company’s experience and skill set. This will not only provide you a broader view of expertise, but you will see if they have proven experience. IT outsourcing companies that worked on several different projects will handle problems better, solve them quicker and provide the highest quality of service, due to gained know-how.

Communication skills

Good communication is the foundation of successful development process. It will allow you to avoid misunderstandings at every level of the project. The right outsourcing partner wants to understand you. The service provider should be available, responsive, inquiring, and have clear communication channels to properly define plans and goals. Outsourcing requires constant communication to ensure that the processes are being fulfilled as agreed. If you don’t exchange ideas and opinions, even the best-qualified team won’t get the job done 100% satisfactorily. 

I believe communication should be combined with proactivity. Pay attention to how the outsourcing company approaches the project, whether they see room for development, offers you various options, additional solutions, or just wants to bounce the task off as quickly as possible and move on to the next one. Remember also to set clear and understandable rules of cooperation or billing at the very beginning.

Quality

Quality is another key factor to consider when looking for an IT outsourcing partner. This means providing services that meet customer expectations, are reliable, and delivered on time. A right IT outsourcing partner will have a well-defined quality control process. This process should include steps for testing and verifying the work before it is delivered to you.

A good partner should also be able to provide you with regular reports on the project’s progress and be transparent about any problems that arise. This is the point where you should check other client testimonials. It’s also a good idea to ask for a workshop or trial period to assess their ability to respond to your needs yourself.

Cost

There’s no denying that financial aspects are often a key factor in the selection of a service provider, but should this really be the case? In my opinion, it is not worth sacrificing quality for savings, especially if the differences are not really significant.

It is worthwhile to be guided by all the aspects mentioned, not just some, when making your decision about outsourcing company. Look at the full picture of the potential partner, so you will select the one that can provide quality services at a reasonable price. Compare quotes from multiple providers to make sure you’re getting a fair price, but look at the big picture as well. How they talk to you, what they offer, etc.

Cultural fit

Working with an outsourcing partner involves frequent contact. Make sure the partner you choose shares your values, work ethic and communication style for a successful and productive partnership. With a cultural fit, he or she will integrate seamlessly into our team.

The process of vetting a potential partner takes a long time, and so it should. As a result, the company may gain a reliable supplier with whom it can work again years later when it starts a new project.  Is there anything you think should be added? I encourage you to leave a comment, perhaps we can expand the list together.

Devapo – your next outsource partner?

At Devapo, we have a vast array of IT professionals with diverse skill sets and the ability to work in different models. We are confident in our team’s expertise, as each person has gone through thorough recruitment and internal verification processes. Our team comprises: front-end developers, back-end developers, UX/UI designers, business analysts, DevOps engineers, project managers, and certified process management and automation specialists.

Areas of our specialization include:

•  process management and automation,
• data management,
• legacy systems transformation, 
• cloud migrations. 

We focus on streamlining processes and operational activities for companies. With our expertise and experience, we can provide effective services for businesses. See our Case Studies.