Offshore software development may seem very different from working with a local vendor. While the general perception is that getting issues resolved through an offshore vendor can be very time consuming, the fact is, very often issues do not get resolved even with resources present in the same office! What is to be understood is that offshore software development has been an incredible boon for those who have learned to make it work to their advantage. One way to ensure a successful outcome is to identify the challenges and risks of offshore software development, and embrace certain best practices:
1. Start with a relationship-based approach:
Many organizations tend to take a transactional view of their offshore project in order to get the most of what they can at that particular instance. However, in any offshore software development project, beginning with a long-term, relationship-based approach works better than a short-term, transactional approach. A relationship based approach with an offshore service provider that is reliable, predictable and trust-worthy enables you to get the results you are looking for, within the allotted time frame.
2. Enable efficient communication:
Strong communication is key for the success of offshore projects, especially due to language barriers. Therefore, setting up the right communication plan is very important. Right from the kick off meeting to post deployment support, communication should be efficient and transparent – transparent communication between your organization and your offshore partner leads to best results, as it does not generate any false hopes and allows everyone to convey their thoughts and concerns.
3. Ensure overlapping working hours:
One of the biggest concerns of offshore development is the existence of multiple time zones. Certainly, most companies would prefer to do business in their own time zone for maximum results, but that’s not always feasible while working with an offshore development partner. To ensure you get the most out of your offshore development, make it a point to have overlapping working hours in order to always have some support available during your working hours and avoid costly delays down the road.
4. Have a robust escalation mechanism in place:
No offshore project can succeed when carried out in isolation. Although offshore partners have the capability to work independently, one of the best practices for successful offshore development is a good dose of collaboration and a robust escalation mechanism in place. Make sure your local team works in tandem with the remote team to jointly achieve business goals. Assign a dedicated project manager that acts as a primary point of contact between two teams in order to deal with any issues or escalations in time.
5. Maximize engagement:
Remote workers aren’t robots, but contractors who need just as much motivation and investment as local employees. Therefore, it is necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the offshore team by recognizing their efforts and accolades, as well as holding them accountable for roadblocks and issues. Make sure to organize regular status calls and meetings, and whenever possible have in-person meetings to keep offshore and local workers in the same loop.
Best Practices for Outstanding Results
Outsourcing is never easy, but by carefully choosing the right vendor, defining your project plan, and creating effective workflows, you can ensure your efforts are a success. Following certain offshore development best practices like beginning with a relationship-based approach, enabling efficient communication, ensuring overlapping working hours, having a robust escalation mechanism in place, and maximizing engagement is crucial if you’re looking to improve the quality of your software. Best practices not only help deliver products on time, and within budget, but also create and maintain healthy business relationships with your vendors.
